Applying to an elite private secondary school can be as challenging as applying to college. The challenge is made all the all the more difficult by the fact that the students are much younger, and therefore have less experience, and usually a shorter attention span. Most private schools require either the ISEE or the SSAT entrance exams as part of the application process. Some schools have an entrance test that they have prepared themselves. In any case, Creative Dimensions is prepared to help your child excel.

The Independent School Entrance Examination, or ISEE, is an admissions test administered by the Educational Records Bureau for placement in independent schools for grades 5-12. There are three levels: the Lower level, for entrance in grades 5-6; Middle level, for entrance in grades 7-8; Upper level, for entrance in grades 9-12. All levels consist of five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement, and a 30-minute essay section. The test is 3 hours long in total, plus time for 2 breaks.

The Secondary School Admission Test, or SSAT, is an admissions test administered to students in grades 5-11 to help determine placement into independent or private junior high and high schools. Despite its similarities, the SSAT is not related to the SAT Reasoning test and is not administered by the College Board.

There are two levels of the SSAT: the Lower Level, for students in grades 5-7, and the Upper Level, designed for students in grades 8-11. The SSAT consists of two parts: a brief essay and a multiple choice test that includes Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Verbal sections. In all, there are five sections.

Our full ISEE/SSAT preparation course consists of ten one-hour private sessions with a tutor trained to work with younger children. We HIGHLY recommend the full preparation in order to assure maximum results, and the highest possible composite score. However, in some situations, a review of only one subject area is ideal for the student. The sessions are broken down by skill area in the following manner: