Award-Winning ISEE Tutors serving New York, NY

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James
Certified ISEE Tutor
James
BA Harvard University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.

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Michelle
Certified ISEE Tutor
Michelle
BA Yale University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am not tutoring, I enjoy baking, eating anything with chocolate, taking and editing pictures, reading, and singing.

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Bina
BA University of Pennsylvania
10+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a law student and am on the road to appreciating a new kind of study: that of various legal doctrines, statutory interpretation and methods of argumentation.

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Micah
BA Washington University in St. Louis • Degree in Biology Washington University in St. Louis
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Biology. I have three younger siblings, so I have had experience helping children with their homework from a pretty young age. Throughout college I participated in several tutoring and mentorship programs, helping students who were behind in math and reading raise their test scores and grades. As an instructor I have worked with students in every age level in all kinds of academic subjects, from math and physics to brainstorming and re- drafting English essays, and am truly passionate about helping students achieve their potential.

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Chelsey
BA Northwestern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I'm a recent graduate of Northwestern University, a native New Yorker, and a recent addition to Varsity Tutors. I grew up in Westchester County, where I volunteered as an assistant creative writing teacher in high school. After high school, I moved to Evanston, Illinois for school. I studied a wide variety of subjects in college: from Medieval Literature to Buddhist Psychology. I moved back to New York after graduating to pursue a career in the arts. I currently work as a reader for the literary director of an Off-Broadway theatre company.

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Moriah
BA Cornell University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Currently, I am working as an Assistant Director at a preparatory school managing and teaching students simultaneously. In the recent years at the school, I have been focusing more on the Reading portions of standardized tests but have at times assisted students in the math and science portions as well usually one-on-one. I strongly believe that every students has their own style of learning and must learn at their own pace. Although, sometimes giving them too much leeway may not always be the best solution, I am there to also provide encouragement and challenge to make the learning process enjoyable and beneficial. Apart from work, I do enjoy reading, jogging, exploring New York City, and playing the violin during my spare time.

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Mariya
BA University of Chicago
6+ Years Tutoring

I am a very patient tutor who tries to understand exactly where the student is struggling and how they can improve. Outside of the classroom, you can often find me baking or drawing!

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Zachary
BA Northwestern University • Studied Cognitive Science Northwestern University
10+ Years Tutoring

I am pursuing a career as an actor, but am thrilled to continue to flex my intellectual side and share my passion for learning with the next generation. In college, I studied Cognitive Science, not so much as a fallback career, but because I am fascinated by the subject. I succeeded in getting into Northwestern without the aid of any academic tutors or test prep classes. As such, I am confident in my standardized test-taking abilities, and happy to share the strategies I used for the ACT, SAT II, and AP tests. I am also prepared to tutor a variety of academic subjects as well, as reflected by my approved courses. I look forward to working with you!

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Margot
BA Dartmouth College
1+ Years Tutoring

I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, where I attended Menlo School, one of the top private high schools in California. Given my educational background, I am no stranger to the pressures facing today's students--from schoolwork to extracurriculars to college applications and test prep, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why one of my main goals as a tutor is to ease the stress in students' lives. I'm here to help your workload feel manageable (and hopefully fun!) and to encourage you to do your best work. I take this attitude and my teaching style and adapt it to the needs of each individual student. We'll work together to figure out how YOU learn best, what approaches work well for you, and ultimately, how we can achieve your goals. Whether you're a struggling student who needs a patient and a new way of explaining concepts, or a star student who wants a tutor who will challenge you at new levels, I can help you get there. I am passionate about making every student feel confident and prepared, no matter the academic situation.

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Victoria
Current Undergrad Student, Anthropology Carleton College
5+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of The Brearley School and Juilliard Pre-College, as well as a current student at Carleton College where I am studying Anthropology and Archaeology. I have previous tutoring experience in both essay writing/editing and SAT verbal. The subjects I am most passionate about are History, English, Creative Writing, and Literature. I truly love everything related to history, and am constantly reading and learning about the subject on my own time. My tutoring approach is to make the sessions as helpful and comfortable for the student as possible. I strongly believe that a student's best work is done in an environment where they feel they can ask questions and learn at their own pace.

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Laura
BA Princeton University
10+ Years Tutoring

I am committed to helping them reach their goals. I am excited to meet you and work with your student.

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Emily
BA Brandeis University • Current Grad Student, Medical Social Work Columbia University in the City of New York
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate student at Columbia University, working towards Masters degrees in Public Health and Social Work. I am a graduate of Brandeis University with Bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Science. I have been teaching students ages 9 and up for approximately 8 years, and I would love to help you reach your academic potential! My favorite subjects to tutor are reading comprehension, environmental science, and essay-writing.

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Testimonials

Because the right ISEE tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings

Worked with an ISEE Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

JA
Julio Aranovich
Worked with an ISEE Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

AH
Angela Hussein
Worked with an ISEE Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

TR
Tara R
Worked with an ISEE Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with an ISEE Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with an ISEE Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

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Rebecca Williams

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Frequently Asked Questions

ISEE scores range from 760–940, with most competitive NYC independent schools looking for scores above 850. However, acceptance depends on your target school's specific admissions criteria, your academics, essays, and recommendations. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who understand New York's selective school landscape and can help you work toward your target score.

Most students benefit from 3-6 months of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting level and target schools. Since New York's independent school application cycle typically closes in January, starting preparation in the fall gives you adequate time to practice and improve. A tutor can assess your baseline and create a personalized timeline based on your specific goals.

Many students struggle with the ISEE's Verbal Reasoning because it requires both vocabulary knowledge and the ability to understand context clues quickly. Effective strategies include learning common roots and prefixes, practicing inference questions, and timing techniques. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows a tutor to identify your specific weak areas and develop targeted strategies for improvement.

Math Achievement focuses on computational skills and procedures you've learned in school, while Quantitative Reasoning tests logic and problem-solving with less emphasis on formal operations. Students often find Quantitative Reasoning harder because it requires creative thinking rather than straightforward calculations. A tutor can help you master both sections by building computational confidence and teaching logical reasoning strategies.

Personalized 1-on-1 instruction focuses entirely on your individual strengths and weaknesses, whereas classroom prep moves at a standard pace for all students. A tutor can adapt to your learning style, spend extra time on sections where you struggle most, and create a study plan that fits your timeline. This targeted approach typically leads to faster improvement and better results on test day.

Most New York students take the ISEE in grades 4-6 when applying to independent middle schools, and in grade 8 when applying to independent high schools. The test adjusts in difficulty based on grade level, so content coverage and pacing strategies vary. Understanding your specific grade-level test format and expectations is key to effective preparation.

Reading Comprehension on the ISEE is timed and requires balancing thorough reading with efficiency—most students have 35 minutes for multiple passages and questions. Effective strategies include previewing questions before reading, annotating key details, and practicing under timed conditions. A tutor can teach you pacing techniques and help you practice full-length sections to build speed and accuracy.

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