Award-Winning ISEE-Upper Level Writing Tutors serving Memphis, TN

America's #1 Tutoring Platform

Who needs tutoring?

FOXNBCCBSUS NewsTIMEUSA Today

TUTORS FROM

  • YaleUniversity
  • PrincetonUniversity
  • StanfordUniversity
  • CornellUniversity

Award-Winning ISEE-Upper Level Writing Tutors serving Memphis, TN

Lena

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Lena

Current Undergrad, Political Science and Environmental Studies
Lena's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Subject Test in French with Listening

The ISEE Upper Level essay gives students roughly 30 minutes to produce a coherent, well-organized response to a prompt they've never seen — a challenge that rewards preparation over raw talent. Lena teaches a repeatable structure: a clear thesis, two to three developed examples, and purposeful tran...

Education

Brown University

Current Undergrad, Political Science and Environmental Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1570
Nicole

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Nicole

Master of Arts, Education
Nicole's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading

ISEE Upper Level Writing asks younger students to do something surprisingly sophisticated: produce a coherent, well-structured essay from a single prompt in a short window. Nicole walks students through planning techniques — quick thesis construction, paragraph mapping, strong closing sentences — th...

Education

University of Michigan-Flint

Master of Arts, Education

University of Innsbruck

Bachelor in Arts, Linguistics

Samantha

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Samantha

Current Undergrad Student, Psychology
Samantha's other Tutor Subjects
Applied Mathematics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

The ISEE Upper Level essay asks students to take a position and defend it in a short window, which can feel overwhelming for younger writers. Samantha teaches a simple framework: one clear claim, two specific reasons, and a conclusion that doesn't just repeat the introduction. Her background teachin...

Education

Princeton University

Current Undergrad Student, Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Francesca

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Francesca

Bachelor of Economics, Political Science and Government
Francesca's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Geometry

The ISEE Upper Level essay asks students to take a clear position and defend it in a short window — a skill that looks simple but trips up even strong writers who ramble or lose focus. As a current law student at Chicago-Kent, Francesca knows how to build a tight argument under time pressure and tea...

Education

Loyola University-Chicago

Bachelor of Economics, Political Science and Government

Test Scores
ACT
33
Victoria

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Victoria

Current Undergrad Student, Anthropology
Victoria's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Reading
SAT Writing and Language

The ISEE Upper Level essay asks students to build a coherent argument under time pressure, which is exactly the kind of writing Victoria has been teaching and editing for years. As a Brearley graduate and current Carleton College student, she knows what selective schools expect from young writers an...

Education

Carleton College

Current Undergrad Student, Anthropology

Test Scores
SAT
1420
Ben

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Ben

Current Grad Student, Creative Writing
Ben's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

The ISEE Upper Level essay asks students to take a position and defend it in under 30 minutes — a task that rewards structure over style. As a creative writing MFA candidate and high school teacher, Ben teaches a repeatable essay framework: clear thesis, two evidence-driven body paragraphs, and a co...

Education

Ball State University

Bachelor of Science, History

Northwestern University

Current Grad Student, Creative Writing

Kaitlyn

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Kaitlyn

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Kaitlyn's other Tutor Subjects
6th Grade math
6th Grade AP Language Composition
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra

The ISEE Upper Level essay trips up strong writers who don't know how to organize an argument under time pressure. Kaitlyn teaches a clear thesis-and-evidence structure that works for any prompt, then drills students on transitions and specific supporting details that elevate a score from average to...

Education

Fairfield University

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1500
ACT
33
Maddie

Certified Tutor

7+ years

Maddie

Current Undergrad Student, Classics
Maddie's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Genetics
Environmental Science

ISEE Upper Level Writing asks students to produce a polished essay under tight time pressure, which means having a reliable structure before the clock starts. As a Classics major at Yale, Maddie teaches students to outline an argument in under two minutes and develop each paragraph with specific, co...

Education

Yale University

Current Undergrad Student, Classics

Nicole

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Nicole

Bachelor in Arts, English
Nicole's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Human Development
PSAT Writing Skills

A strong ISEE Upper Level essay needs a clear thesis, organized body paragraphs, and specific examples — all produced in about 30 minutes. Nicole's English degree and her experience coaching college-level writing translate well here; she teaches students to outline in under five minutes and develop ...

Education

University of Miami

Bachelor in Arts, English

Test Scores
SAT
1450
Alessia

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Alessia

Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Alessia's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
ISEE-Upper Level Writing

Scoring well on the ISEE Upper Level Writing section means producing a clear, organized essay under time pressure — a skill that's very different from polishing a paper at home over several days. Alessia, who recently navigated competitive admissions herself and now studies at Penn, teaches students...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government

Frequently Asked Questions

The ISEE-Upper Level Writing section evaluates your ability to write a clear, well-organized essay in response to a prompt. You'll have 30 minutes to plan, draft, and revise an essay that demonstrates strong thesis development, logical organization, and effective use of supporting details. Schools use this section to assess your writing maturity and ability to communicate ideas persuasively.

Many students struggle with time management—balancing planning, writing, and revision in just 30 minutes. Others find it difficult to develop a clear thesis and organize their thoughts logically, or they focus too much on grammar at the expense of overall essay structure and persuasiveness. Personalized tutoring helps you identify your specific weaknesses and build strategies to address them within the test timeframe.

Tutors work with you to strengthen essay structure, thesis development, and argumentation through targeted feedback on your actual writing. They'll teach you time-management strategies, help you brainstorm and outline efficiently, and guide you through revision techniques that enhance clarity and persuasiveness. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you'll practice under test conditions and receive detailed feedback that addresses your unique writing patterns.

A strong approach typically involves spending 5 minutes planning and outlining, 20 minutes drafting, and 5 minutes revising for clarity and grammar. Your outline should include a clear thesis, 2-3 supporting points with specific examples, and a brief conclusion. Tutors can help you develop a personalized process that works for your writing style and ensures you manage time effectively while maintaining essay quality.

While the ISEE values clear, organized writing above all, your authentic voice and varied sentence structure do matter—they demonstrate writing maturity and engagement with your topic. Schools want to see that you can write persuasively and thoughtfully, not just mechanically. Tutoring helps you balance proper essay structure with developing a confident, natural voice that makes your writing more compelling.

Your first session typically includes a diagnostic essay where you write under test conditions, allowing the tutor to assess your current strengths and identify areas for improvement. You'll discuss your writing habits, time-management challenges, and goals for the test. From there, the tutor will create a personalized plan focused on essay structure, thesis development, brainstorming strategies, and revision techniques tailored to your needs.

Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, meeting 1-2 times per week, though the timeline depends on your starting point and test date. If you're working on foundational essay skills, you may need more time; if you're refining an already-strong foundation, less time may suffice. A tutor can assess your needs and give you a realistic timeline during your first session.

Varsity Tutors matches you with expert tutors who specialize in ISEE-Upper Level Writing preparation. You can reach out to discuss your needs, and we'll connect you with a tutor whose expertise and availability align with your schedule and goals. Whether you need help immediately or are planning ahead, we work with you to find the right fit for your test prep journey.

Connect with ISEE-Upper Level Writing Tutors in Memphis

Get matched with local expert tutors