Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify your specific reading challenges—whether that's managing time pressure, inferring unstated meanings, or handling unfamiliar vocabulary—and create targeted strategies. Tutors work with you on active reading techniques, annotation methods, and question-type strategies while providing real-time feedback on your reasoning. For students in Mesa preparing for competitive independent school admissions, this focused approach helps you develop both speed and accuracy on test day.

Many students struggle with time management—the 35-minute window requires efficient reading and quick decision-making on difficult questions. Others find it hard to distinguish between main ideas and supporting details, or to make inferences without over-interpreting the text. Vocabulary in context questions can also be tricky since the correct answer might be an unfamiliar definition of a familiar word. Personalized tutoring addresses each of these challenges with targeted practice and strategy refinement.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to understand your current reading level, identify your strongest and weakest question types, and discuss your timeline and goals. The tutor will review your approach to passages and questions, observe where you're spending time, and begin introducing strategies tailored to your needs. This foundation helps create a personalized plan for your remaining preparation time.

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, with 1-2 tutoring sessions per week depending on their starting level and test date. Students who begin with weaker reading skills or lower baseline scores may need more time to build foundational strategies and confidence. Your tutor can assess your progress early on and adjust the timeline based on how quickly you're mastering new techniques and improving on practice passages.

Look for tutors with proven experience teaching ISEE preparation, strong backgrounds in English or reading instruction, and familiarity with independent school admissions standards. They should be able to explain their teaching methodology, share student success stories, and demonstrate knowledge of the test's specific format and timing. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Mesa who specialize in ISEE preparation and can provide references from families they've worked with.

Practice passages are essential—they help you build stamina, test your strategies under timed conditions, and identify patterns in question types and your own mistakes. Your tutor will use official ISEE practice materials to simulate test conditions while providing detailed feedback on your reasoning process, not just whether you got the answer right. This combination of practice and personalized analysis is what accelerates improvement and builds the confidence you need for test day.

The ISEE-Upper Level is a key component of admissions for Mesa's selective independent schools, with reading comprehension scores often weighted heavily alongside math and verbal reasoning. Strong performance demonstrates your ability to handle the academic rigor of upper-level coursework, which admissions committees use to assess your readiness. Investing in focused tutoring for this section can meaningfully improve your overall ISEE score and strengthen your application to your target schools.