If your student is applying to independent schools, they may benefit from a Columbus ISEE course provided by Varsity Tutors. The ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Examination, is used by independent schools to assess prospective students. Your student's score on the ISEE could be critical to making a good impression on school admissions boards. The test covers a lot of scholastic fundamentals, like a range of math, language, and critical thinking skills, and you might find yourself unsure of how to get your student on track to do well on test day. This is where a Columbus ISEE course can be a great asset. These courses will familiarize your student with the testing process and the format of the test, as well as aiding them in reviewing the content material they'll be tested on, so they can feel confident going into the exam.
A Columbus ISEE class is also designed to be easy to use and to suit just about any schedule. The class takes place online and is taught by an expert teacher who has gone through an exhaustive interview process. Your student will be able to access their class from anywhere they have internet access, so they can study wherever they feel most productive. You also won't have to worry about adding another commute to your life, and there are plenty of class times to pick from when you're getting signed up. If you need a night course, a weekend course, or something else entirely, we can have you covered.
What will my student review in a Columbus ISEE course?
There are several different versions of the ISEE, and your student will take one that's intended for the grade they're entering next year. The Primary Level ISEE is taken by students entering the 2nd through 4th grades, the Lower Level by those entering 5th or 6th, the Middle Level 7th and 8th, and the Upper Level 9th and above. We'll spend some time here looking at each version of the ISEE so you can have an idea of what your student will be studying in a prep course.
At the Primary Level, the ISEE involves two multiple-choice sections, Reading and Math, where they'll be tested on their reading comprehension and basic math skills, respectively. There's also a Writing sample, where your student will be given a pictorial prompt and asked to write a story about the picture. On no level of the ISEE is the Writing section graded. Instead, it's meant to be a chance for schools to get to know your student's personality and creativity. Exclusive to the 2nd grade ISEE is an additional Auditory Comprehension section, where students will have to listen to passages and answer questions about them.
The Lower Level course establishes the format used for all other sections of the test. There are Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and Essay sections. Verbal Reasoning will test your student's vocabulary as well as their ability to use context to understand sentences. Quantitative Reasoning is intended to assess mathematical thinking skills and will cover estimation, comparison, and probability. Reading Comprehension asks students to be able to locate important information in texts and use it to answer questions. Math Achievement test math operations skills, and on the Lower Level this will involve simple algebra and geometry. The Essay will give your student a prompt intended to interest elementary school students, and they'll be asked to respond in a piece of writing.
On the Middle Level ISEE, the Verbal Reasoning section will now be looking for a middle school to high school-level vocabulary, and for students to be able to use parts of words, like suffixes and roots, to be able to discern their meanings. Quantitative Reasoning will add more problem-solving skills to the mix, and ask students to use formulas to calculate measurements, like finding the lengths of lines and the areas of quadrilaterals. Reading Comprehension will ask students to be able to compare and contrast information, as well as to infer information that might not be stated outright in the text. Math Achievement will require students to understand estimation and proportion, area and perimeter, Venn Diagrams, and prime factorization. The Essay section will provide a prompt aimed at middle school students.
For the Upper Level of the test, Verbal Reasoning will now demand a high school vocabulary, as well as an understanding of synonyms, word roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Quantitative Reasoning will zero in on your student's math problem solving, data analysis, and probability skills. They'll need to be comfortable making inferences about data, working with variables and exponents, and using the properties of geometric shapes to solve problems. Reading Comprehension will ask students to understand authorial intent, cause and effect, and relationships between passages. Math Achievement will ask students to perform a variety of high school level geometry and algebra operations. The Essay is still ungraded, but students will want to demonstrate to school admissions boards that they can craft a well-written, interesting, and organized work.
How will a Columbus ISEE course present this information?
A Columbus ISEE class is taught entirely in an interactive online classroom. Here your student will see their instructor and their classmates and be able to speak with them just as if they'd gathered around a table together for a review session. This type of group learning has been shown to help students more easily internalize information and recall it later. By learning in conversation with their peers, your student may be exposed to new ways of thinking about course content by students their age, which can help them come to grips with material. They can also demonstrate their own knowledge to others, which can strengthen their skills and may boost confidence in their abilities for the test.
All of this will be guided by a qualified professional instructor, who will also be available for one-on-one review time with your student if they find themselves struggling with some of the material and need an extra helping hand. Courses are offered in 2-week and 4-week sessions to make enrollment easy and flexible, and new courses start every week. Whether the ISEE is right on your student's horizon, or they're getting a head start on prepping, a Columbus ISEE course is available for them. These courses have been built from the ground up to be highly accessible and to give your student many avenues to pursuing success on the ISEE.
How can I get my student signed up?
If you contact Varsity Tutors today, we can provide more information about our offerings, find a course that feels right for you and your student, and get them enrolled. The ISEE may be what you're thinking about most urgently, as it can have a real impact on your student's chances at admission to the independent schools they're applying to, but you should also take a long view here. The ISEE tests students on academic fundamentals. The skills that your student can learn in a Columbus prep ISEE course can continue to pay off even after admission, and you can be investing in their future success today by contacting Varsity Tutors.
Education & Certification
- Wayne State University - Bachelor of Science, Drama and Dance Teacher Education
- Ohio State University-Main Campus - Doctor of Philosophy, Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ESL/ELL
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
- Middle School Writing
- +78 subjects

Michelle: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...preparation, project planning, organization, and study skills. I am extremely patient and have a calm, easy-going personality. I appreciate a good sense of humor, and I teach from the heart. When I'm not working, you might find me taking a walk with my little chihuahua, Toro, reading, doing aerial silks, or enjoying a sunny day outside. I'm looking forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals and achieve greater success as a...
Education & Certification
- Otterbein University - Bachelor of Science, Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Test Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- Essay Editing
- +24 subjects

Billie: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...love helping students understand Math. I have a very approachable, student-centered teaching style. I understand that everyone thinks differently and at different speeds. I want my students to end their sessions with me feeling confident and successful and looking forward to our next time together. Teaching isn't the only thing I enjoy doing, I am very active and enjoy being outdoors, yoga, cooking, church, reading for pleasure, and cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes! I...
Education & Certification
- Capital University - Bachelors, Middle Childhood Education
- University of Phoenix - Masters, Curriculum and Instruction
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Test Prep
- SSAT
- Pre-Algebra
- +20 subjects

Wendy: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...years of teaching experience under my belt and am certified to teach grades K-8. I especially enjoy English/Language Arts and Math tutoring. This year I decided to step out of the classroom in order to pursue some personal ambitions and to focus on tutoring students one-on-one. I love helping students make connections between the known and the unknown. Being a Varsity Tutor means that I get to have that experience and work with students week...
Education & Certification
- University of Toledo - Bachelors, Elementary Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Elementary School Math
- Arithmetic
- Math
- +17 subjects

Emily: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...for over ten years, with highlights being a librarian at an elementary school and most recently as an assistant at a Hawaiian school. I have the most experience with K-8 and in English, language arts, and grammar. The highlight of being a tutor is finding the right "click" with my student. Sometimes it's the third way of explaining the math problem when the light bulb finally goes off and a smile lights up their face....
Education & Certification
- University of California-San Diego - Bachelors, Literature/Writing and Religious Studies
- New York University - Masters, Humanities
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Reading
- SSAT- Middle Level
- English
- +28 subjects

Latasha: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...matched well with my personality. Through my efforts I wanted lives to be enriched, and sometimes totally chanced because of our encounters. As an educator I have seen so many lives enhanced through education, individual accountability, and firm concern. As an administrator I have seen many adults and students lives enriched because I merely cared and would not give up on them. As a tutor I will do my very best to continue helping others...
Education & Certification
- Capital University - Bachelors, Health/Physical Education
- Ashland University - Unknown, Educational Administration
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- PARCC
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- SSAT
- +12 subjects

Merlene: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...am not in school or tutoring, you can find me hanging out with friends on campus, attending general admission concerts, and watching soccer! In fact, before transferring to OSU, I played college soccer at Wright State for two years before suffering a career-ending injury. Ultimately I think everything happens for a reason, so I'm happy with playing recreationally. With all that being said, I am excited to meet you and hopefully, I can get to...
Education & Certification
- Ohio State University-Main Campus - Current Undergrad Student, Communication, General
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Art
- Elementary School Reading
- ACT
- +32 subjects
Education & Certification
- Ashland University - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics Teacher Education
- University of Dayton - Masters in Education, Educational Administration
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement
- Test Prep
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
- +59 subjects

Krystal: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...happy to work with you on your academic goals. I'm an experienced, licensed classroom teacher who has taught pre-k through adults in all areas of reading, writing, special education, organization, study habits, test prep, public speaking, and personal and professional development. I've done extensive research in dealing with academic and social anxieties as they impact school performance. My areas of licensure are language arts and special education. I can't wait to see your academic growth!
Education & Certification
- Ohio State University-Main Campus - Bachelor of Education, Education
- University of Dayton - Masters in Education, Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- MTC - Missouri Teacher Certification
- Test Prep
- Short Story Fairytales
- +57 subjects

Leo: Columbus ISEE course instructor
...from the Columbus Academy high school in 2011, I earned a B.A. in Political Science and Government from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. My favorite academic subjects are international relations and environmental science. As a tutor, I particularly like helping students prepare for standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, and sharing the strategies and methods that I've found particularly effective. I enjoy working with students of all ages; I've found success in tutoring...
Education & Certification
- Dartmouth College - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Pre-Algebra
- Middle School Math
- GED Science
- +70 subjects