Private School Admissions – ISEE Test Study Plan

Private School Admissions – ISEE Test Study Plan

What is ISEE? 

The ISEE is an independent school entrance exam that measures how you think rather than focusing solely on what you know.  There are different exams for students entering 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade,  5th & 6th  grade, 7th or 8th grade, and 9 10 11 or 12 grade.  

Who needs to take the ISEE?

Anyone looking to attend a private or independent school will need to take this entrance exam. 

What topics are covered on the ISEE Test? 

  • Reading
  • Math
  • Upper grades (5 and up) add quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, reading comprehension

Top 5 tips for doing well on the exam:

  1. Start with a benchmark test: use this information to make realistic goals and a study plan
  2. Get private instruction to teach specific content areas in math 
  3. Practice ISEE vocabulary everyday
  4. Practice a few math problems each day
  5. Use test-taking strategies for a timed test

Study Plan

It’s best to start instruction in the summer to avoid burnout during the school year. We recommend the following study plan to space your topics out, allow time for mastery, and to prevent burnout and cramming.

  • Summer
    • Start with a benchmark test as a starting point and to identify areas of opportunity.
    • Enroll in private instruction for math content
    • Practice vocabulary
  • Fall
    • Practice math content
    • Practice vocabulary
    • Take a practice test to track your  growth.
  • Winter
    • Take the test

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The details

SAT/ACT Foundations

Who is it for?

High school upperclassmen looking to solidify content areas in order to improve test scores. 

How it helps:

Students will gain a deeper understanding of content areas in order to better prepare them for the variety of questions found on the tests.

What it includes:

  • First semester is focused on direct instruction in all math content found on the SAT and ACT tests. Check for understanding and additional practice is provided as needed. 
  • Second semester is focused on test prep and test taking strategies for all sections of the SAT or ACT test. **Instruction is tailored to each student depending on their test of choice.
The details

7th and 8th Grade Study Skills

Who is it for?

Current 7th and 8th grade students who are looking to strengthen executive functions to improve study and work strategies. 

How it helps:

This class fosters independence, helping students learn how to plan their week, study efficiently, and manage their time. Students are able to complete their homework with the guidance of an executive function coach.

What it includes:

  • Organization of binder, backpack, and academic planner.  
  • Creation of weekly study plans. 
  • Tracking grades to look for patterns that can help improve study strategies.  
  • Practice of concepts and methods needed to increase study efficiency and improve critical thinking.  
  • Application of work and study strategies to homework, essays, projects, and assessments.
The details

5th and 6th Grade Study Skills

Who is it for?

Current 5th and 6th grade students who are looking to strengthen executive functions to improve study and work strategies. 

How it helps:

This class fosters independence, helping students learn how to plan their week, study efficiently, and manage their time. Students are able to complete their homework with the guidance of an executive function coach.

What it includes:

  • Organization of binder, backpack, and academic planner.  
  • Creation of weekly study plans. 
  • Tracking grades to look for patterns that can help improve study strategies.  
  • Practice of concepts and methods needed to increase study efficiency and improve critical thinking.  
  • Application of work and study strategies to homework, essays, projects, and assessments.
The details

High School Study Skills

Who is it for?

Current high school students who are looking to strengthen executive functions to improve study and work strategies.

How it Helps:

This class fosters independence, helping students learn how to plan their week, study efficiently, and manage their time. Students are able to complete their homework with the guidance of an executive function coach.

What it includes:

  • Organization of binder, backpack, and academic planner.  
  • Creation of weekly study plans. 
  • Tracking grades to look for patterns that can help improve study strategies.  
  • Practice of concepts and methods needed to increase study efficiency and improve critical thinking.  
  • Application of work and study strategies to homework, essays, projects, and assessments. 

 

The details

7th and 8th Grade Thesis Writing

Who is it for?

Current seventh and eighth graders looking to advance their expository writing skills and reading comprehension in preparation for high school and beyond.

How it helps:

Students learn how to become independent writers using strategies to organize, revise, and edit their writing.

What it includes:

  • Annotate a text to find evidence for an essay.  
  • Use visualization strategies to enhance reading comprehension. 
  • Learning how to answer an essay prompt and brainstorm ideas. 
  • Outline a 5+ paragraph essay with topic sentences and supporting details. 
  • Identify and write a thesis statement. 
  • Find evidence to support ideas.
  • Use a thesaurus to improve word choice. 
  • Revise a rough draft for better clarity. 
  • Apply capitalization and punctuation rules while writing and editing 
The details

5th and 6th Academic Advancement

Who is it for?

Current fifth and six grade students looking to supplement their school instruction and strengthen skills in reading, writing, and math.

How it helps:

The small group setting includes custom lesson plans for each student and helps students improve work endurance, task initiation/engagement, and self-advocacy while mastering foundational skills.

What it includes:

  • Application of English rules for spelling  
  • Application of capitalization and punctuation rules while writing and editing  
  • Sentence combining  
  • Paragraph writing: outlining, topic sentences, supporting details  
  • Reading/Listening comprehension strategies with higher order thinking questions  
  • Greek and Latin roots  
  • Mental math strategies for addition, subtraction, and multiplication 
  • Math concepts including, but not limited to:  
  • Decimals 
  • Fractions 
  • Percent (if applicable)  
  • Area and perimeter  
  • Order of operations  
  • Word problems 
The details

3rd and 4th Grade

Who is it for?

Current third and fourth grade students looking to supplement their school instruction and strengthen skills in reading, writing, and math.

How it helps:

The small group setting includes custom lesson plans for each student and helps students improve work endurance, task initiation/engagement, and self-advocacy while mastering foundational skills.

What it includes:

  • Handwriting: Proper letter formation for cursive  
  • Application of English rules for reading and writing  
  • Application of capitalization and punctuation rules while writing and editing  
  • Sentence and paragraph writing  
  • Reading/Listening comprehension strategies   
  • Mental math strategies for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (if applicable) 
  • Math content including, but not limited to:   
  • Place value  
  • Decimals 
  • Fractions 
  • Word problems
The details

1st and 2nd Grade Academic Advancement

Who is it for?

Current first and second grade students looking to supplement their school instruction and strengthen foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. 

How it helps:

The small group setting includes custom lesson plans for each student and helps students improve work endurance, task initiation/engagement, and self-advocacy while mastering foundational skills

What it includes

  • Proper pencil grip and letter formation for manuscript writing 
  • 71 Orton Phonograms: read and spell  
  • Application of English rules for reading and writing 
  • Sentence writing 
  • Reading/Listening comprehension development with visualization strategies  
  • Mental math strategies (addition, subtraction, multiplication) 
  • Math content including, but not limited to: 
  • Place value  
  • Telling time  
  • Identifying coins/bills and working with money  
The details

Kindergarten Academic Advancement

Who is it for?

Current kindergartners who are looking to supplement their school instruction and strengthen foundational skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. 

How it helps:

The small group setting helps students improve work endurance, task initiation/engagement, and self-advocacy while mastering foundational skills

What it includes:

  • Correct pencil grip and letter formation  
  • Fine motor development  
  • Phonemic awareness activities  
  • Practice the 71 Orton phonograms for reading and spelling  
  • Application of English rules while reading and writing 
  • Listening comprehension  
  • Oral directions  
  • Number identification  
  • Finding and creating patterns  
  • Comparing quantities  
  • Place value  
  • Addition and subtraction 
  • Select reading, spelling, and math activities dependent upon the student’s level.