If your student's test prep could use a boost, enroll them in our Dallas Fort Worth ISEE prep course today to help them reach for academic success. The Independent School Entrance Examination, or ISEE, is a standardized test used by independent and magnet schools across the country as one factor in the application process. The test may be taken by students entering second grade or over, and it's split into four levels (Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper) to provide a fair academic challenge to every student. The Primary ISEE is for students entering grades 2-4, Lower 5-6, Middle 7-8, and Upper 9+.
Taking a Dallas Fort Worth ISEE class may prove beneficial no matter which level of the exam your student is taking. Each class provides a comprehensive look into not only the academic skills needed on test day, but also test-taking tips that may help increase a test-taker's confidence. Keep reading to learn more about how we may be able to help you.
What are some of the subjects covered by a Dallas Fort Worth ISEE course?
The Primary Level ISEE is divided into three separate examinations as an acknowledgment that a lot of learning takes place between second grade and fourth grade, each signified by a numeral corresponding to the grade level a test-taker is entering. For example, Primary 2 is taken by students entering second grade. Each Primary ISEE contains multiple-choice Reading and Math sections that measure age-appropriate academic skills, and Primary 2 also has an Auditory Comprehension section based on listening packages. Each Primary Level ISEE concludes with a picture-based writing prompt that allows test-takers to share their personality with schools.
The Lower, Middle, and Upper ISEEs all share the same basic format. There are five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and Essay. Here is a closer look at what students can expect to see on each one:
1. Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section always consists of 40 multiple-choice items over a 20-minute testing session. Questions are structured as either sentence completions or synonyms, assessing a student's vocab skills. It's virtually impossible to try to memorize every word in the English language, so students might want to study Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, suffixes, and the parts of speech to help decipher what an unfamiliar term means. Reading can also provide a student with valuable experience using context to figure out what a word means.
2. Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning section contains 37 multiple-choice questions over 35 minutes on all three levels. This section measures a student's mathematical thinking skills, saving operations for a different portion of the exam. Some possible topics include multiplication and long division on the Lower Level ISEE, fractions and decimals on the Middle Level exam, and introductory statistics and exponents on the Upper Level test.
3. Reading Comprehension
The Reading Comprehension section involves 36 multiple-choice questions over 35 minutes. Every question is based on a reading passage, measuring how well students retain what they read. Test-takers at all levels must determine an author's intent, the main idea and its supporting details, and how a passage's structure influences its point. Students taking the Middle Level ISEE also need to draw inferences based on what they've read and compare/contrast multiple passages. Students taking the Upper Level exam need to do all of that across literary genres, making it more challenging. If your student could retain more of the information they read, active reading skills such as note-taking should be a focal point in their test prep.
4. Math Achievement
The Math Achievement section has 47 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. It emphasizes quantitative problem-solving skills, filling in the gaps of the Quantitative Reasoning section above. Some possible topics include decimals and percentages on the Lower Level ISEE, the geometry of triangles and quadrilaterals on the Middle Level ISEE, and algebraic equations and coordinate grids on the Upper Level ISEE.
5. Writing
The ISEE Writing section is not scored but photocopied and sent to each school a student applies to, allowing admissions departments to assess a student's written communication skills for themselves. It is structured as an introduction, but factors such as grammar and syntactic variety are also considered by most institutions. If your student gets intimidated by essays, learning how to outline them beforehand may help them seem more approachable.
Why should I choose a Dallas Fort Worth ISEE course provided by Varsity Tutors?
Every Dallas Fort Worth ISEE class we provide is taught by a knowledgeable instructor with great communication skills. It'll also take place on a live virtual platform that makes online instruction feel as intuitive as attending a class in person, without the usual logistical nightmare of going someplace.
Students can also interact with their peers while they study, allowing everybody to work together to establish a collaborative learning environment that may expedite the learning process. For example, hearing a friend explain something can help it feel more relatable than a teacher's perspective on the topic. Similarly, the student who does the explaining inadvertently reinforces their own knowledge of the material by teaching it to somebody else.
Studying as a group also allows multiple people to split the corresponding bill, making a Dallas Fort Worth ISEE class more affordable than you might think. If your student seems to be falling behind their new friends, you also have the right to set aside private study time outside of your student's scheduled class sessions to go over any concept they may need to.
Varsity Tutors also tries to make studying as convenient as we can. We launch new classes every week, so it's always a good time to get started. Similarly, two and four-week classes are available to make it easier to find something for nearly any schedule.
Can I sign my student up for a Dallas Fort Worth ISEE course right now?
Absolutely. Use the contact info provided on this page to reach out to a knowledgeable educational consultant for more information about each Dallas Fort Worth ISEE course option Varsity Tutors provides or to get the enrollment process started. We look forward to hearing from you!
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelor in Arts, History
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- PSAT Writing Skills
- Political Science
- +84 subjects

David: Dallas ISEE course instructor
I'm a computer and social scientist. I hold graduate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Chicago and earned my bachalor's at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate level, I research ways the natural sciences can be used to advance the study of anthropology and history. I start my PhD in the fall.
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, History, Computer science
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Masters, Sociology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Test in Biology E/M
- Microsoft Excel
- Calculus 3
- +105 subjects

Marie: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...have both participated in and coached most of my life. I walked on to the Harvard varsity team my freshmen year and ended up racing at nationals a couple years later. Athletics were a huge part of my college experience so I know how hard but important balancing academics with athletics can be. This caused me to be very organized and disciplined with my study habits, which is definitely something I try to impart on...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology and Government
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- 1st Grade Writing
- High School Level American History
- SAT Subject Tests
- +65 subjects

Sarah: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...graduated high school (2015), most of the material is still relatively fresh in my mind. At most, I’ll need a quick refresher on a certain topic, but I will be quick to remember and highly effective in helping a struggling student gain a better understanding. I have experience with taking standardized tests like the SAT, PSAT, TAKS, AND STAAR (among others) and with taking multiple AP classes and tests. I’ve been a very successful student...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Dallas - Bachelors, Literary Studies with minor in Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- AP English Language and Composition
- PSAT
- 9th Grade Reading
- +55 subjects

Jamila: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...100 of my students meeting the Approaches Grade Level (passing), 97 met the Meets Grade Level (passing), and 62 were Masters Grade Level (passing). When there was a writing assessment in place, 100 of my students achieved the minimum score, 100 met the Level II phase in score, 97 met the Recommended Level, and 32 were deemed Advanced. My primary goal is to make a difference in the lives of students who have the willingness...
Education & Certification
- Huston Tillotson University - Bachelor in Arts, English
- Concordia University-Ann Arbor - Masters in Education, Educational Administration
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- Study Skills and Organization
- Creative Writing
- +41 subjects

Ketaki: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...to see students come out and overcome their dislike of the subject and start enjoying it.I have always felt that having knowledge is a different thing and imparting it is essential to the learning process.I think I have that ability to impart it in a manner so that it is easily understandable.I hope to reach more and more children in need and help them enjoy the subject. My hobbies include listening to soulful music ,taking...
Education & Certification
- Engineering College - Bachelors, Civil Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Arithmetic
- ISEE- Upper Level
- 12th Grade Math
- +51 subjects

Jessica: Dallas ISEE course instructor
I have a B.S. in Education and Animal Science/Biotechnology with a Master of Education. I have been working with children since I was a downhill ski instructor in Minnesota during high school. I believe in multiple teaching styles because each student learns differently and requires various tools to be successful in the classroom. All students have the potential to be great, and its my job to help them to reach their goals!
Education & Certification
- University of Minnesota - Bachelor of Science, Education and Animal Science/Biotechnology
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Masters in Education, Education
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- English
- Study Skills
- +39 subjects

Connor: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...built my tutoring career on this premise. As an experienced tutor, I have continually enjoyed seeing my students achieve lofty goals under my instruction. I specialize in tutoring biology, chemistry, physics, and economics for high school students. In addition to this, I also tutor students in college level general chemistry, general biology, organic chemistry, introductory physics, economics and for the MCAT exam. I excelled in undergraduate coursework pertaining to these subjects and have prior experience...
Education & Certification
- Saint Louis University-Main Campus - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- College Biology
- HSPT
- High School Biology
- +42 subjects

Stacie: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...their specific needs and goals. I previously taught high school for several years and also have tutoring experience in a wide variety of subject areas. At this time, I focus almost exclusively on assisting students seeking top scores on graduate admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT and LSAT. In my free time I enjoy watching all kinds of sports, reading, playing board games, going to concerts, and spending time with my friends, family, and 4-pound...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelors, English
- Texas AM University - Commerce - Current Grad Student, Secondary Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Biology
- Statistics Graduate Level
- GMAT Quantitative
- +134 subjects

Rachelle: Dallas ISEE course instructor
...the student, but to get to know the student so I can be a more effective teacher. I recently graduated with my Elementary Education degree and I am so anxious to put what I learned to work. I also love being outdoors and being active. My favorite experiences growing up were going to camp, and I still love trying new things and being adventurous. I am a Kansas native but love to travel around the...
Education & Certification
- Wichita State University - Bachelor in Arts, Elementary Education
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Test Prep
- High School Level American History
- +20 subjects