Many students struggle with managing time while reading longer passages carefully, distinguishing between main ideas and supporting details, and making inferences based on textual evidence rather than prior knowledge. Others find it difficult to understand vocabulary in unfamiliar contexts or to recognize how authors develop arguments and tone. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps students identify their specific weak areas and build targeted strategies to address them.

Expert tutors work with students to develop active reading strategies, such as annotation techniques, question prediction before reading, and systematic approaches to eliminating incorrect answer choices. Tutors also provide personalized feedback on practice passages, helping students recognize patterns in their mistakes and build confidence with different passage types. With targeted practice and individualized guidance, students typically see measurable improvement in both speed and accuracy.

During the initial session, a tutor will assess your student's current reading level, identify specific comprehension challenges, and understand their learning style and goals. The tutor may administer a diagnostic passage or review previous practice work to pinpoint areas like vocabulary recognition, inference-making, or time management. This personalized assessment guides the tutor in creating a customized study plan tailored to your student's needs.

Preparation timelines vary based on a student's starting point and target score, but most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent tutoring leading up to the exam. Students who begin earlier can work at a comfortable pace, building foundational skills and practicing with full-length passages. Those with less time can focus on high-impact strategies and targeted practice on their weakest question types.

Tutors use official ISEE practice materials, released passages, and diagnostic tests to ensure students are practicing with authentic content. They also incorporate supplementary passages from literature, history, and science to build broad comprehension skills and expose students to diverse writing styles. Regular practice with timed conditions helps students develop the pacing and confidence needed for test day.

Several independent and selective schools in the Buffalo area use the ISEE as part of their admissions process. If your student is applying to a specific school, let us know—tutors can tailor preparation to align with that school's expectations and student profile. With 24 school districts and 98 schools across the Buffalo area, personalized tutoring ensures your student is fully prepared for their target institution.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ISEE preparation and have experience working with students in Buffalo. Simply tell us about your student's needs, timeline, and goals, and we'll match them with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit best. You can get started with a personalized tutoring plan designed specifically for your student's reading comprehension challenges.