The exam includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement sections. Many students struggle most with Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning because they require both content knowledge and strategic test-taking skills. Personalized tutoring helps identify your specific weak areas and builds targeted strategies rather than generic test prep.

Classroom instruction moves at a fixed pace for all students, while personalized tutoring adapts to your learning speed and focuses on your specific challenge areas. A tutor working one-on-one can spend extra time on quantitative reasoning if that's your weakness, skip topics you've mastered, and teach strategies tailored to how you learn best—leading to more efficient improvement and higher scores.

Most students benefit from 3-6 months of focused preparation, ideally starting 4-5 months before their test date. Starting early allows time to build foundational skills, practice with full-length exams, and refine test-taking strategies without rushing. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can create a customized prep timeline based on your starting level and target score.

Score improvements vary based on starting level and prep duration, but students typically see 50-150 point increases with consistent, focused preparation. The key is identifying specific weak areas—like struggling with word problems or vocabulary in context—and addressing them systematically. Personalized instruction accelerates improvement because tutors teach to your exact needs rather than generic test prep content.

Verbal Reasoning success requires strong vocabulary and the ability to understand relationships between words quickly. Effective strategies include building context clues skills, learning word families rather than isolated words, and practicing timed drills to improve speed and accuracy. Tutors can teach you which strategies work best for your learning style and help you practice until they become automatic.

Quantitative Reasoning tests both math skills and logical reasoning under time pressure. Tutors help by teaching efficient problem-solving methods, identifying calculation errors, and building confidence with unfamiliar question types. Personalized prep means focusing on the specific concepts giving you trouble—whether that's ratios, geometry, or working backwards from answer choices—rather than reviewing everything.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in ISEE prep and understand the demands of Portland's competitive private school admissions process. Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement, then your tutor creates a personalized study plan targeting your goals. You can start whenever works best for your timeline and test date.