The key to performing well on the verbal sections of the ISEE and SSAT tests is mastering vocabulary. One of the main ways to understand how words are built is to study prefixes and roots. It is important to be able to break words that you do not recognize into pieces and decipher the meanings, because it’s better to be able to understand how words are made up than to just memorize them by rote. …
The key to mastering the reading sections of the ISEE/SSAT tests is two-fold: reading the passage effectively, and answering the questions efficiently. The reading section of the ISEE/SSAT tests is designed to assess how well you are able to grasp the main idea and tone of a passage. The most important thing to remember is that you are not expected to retain details as you read. This is different from how you probably read other…
The key to performing well on the verbal sections of the ISEE and SSAT tests is mastering vocabulary. One of the main ways to understand how words are built is to study prefixes and roots. It is important to be able to break words that you do not recognize into pieces and decipher the meanings, because it’s better to be able to understand how words are made up than to just memorize them by rote. …
In order to perform well on the ISEE and SSAT tests, learning to study vocabulary is crucial. The Verbal section of each test challenges the vocabulary skills of even the strongest students. It can be difficult to study vocabulary with your busy schedule, but without making it a priority, you will not be able to perform well on the synonyms and analogies portions of the SSAT exam or the synonyms and sentence completions portions of…
If your child is interested in attending an independent school, they will likely need to take the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) in order to apply. We have the information you need on what not to do on the SSAT. Don’t guess unless you can eliminate one or more answer choices as wrong. To read more about the guessing strategy for the SSAT, click here. Don’t rush, but keep moving. Use your time wisely by…
Wondering what the differences are between the ISEE and SSAT tests? First of all, below are the levels of the test that your child would be taking: SSAT: Elementary Level SSAT, Students currently in grades 3-4 Middle Level SSAT, Students currently in grades 5-7 Upper Level SSAT, Students currently in grades 8-11 ISEE: Primary Level ISEE, Students currently in grades 2-3 Note: The Primary Level ISEE contains only Reading & Math sections Lower Level ISEE,…
Is your child taking the ISEE/SSAT? It’s important for you and your child to understand that the test is far more challenging than the typical tests they have taken in school. The test is taken by the best and brightest students applying for competitive schools, so the pool of students taking the test is already very high-achieving. The makers of the test have developed the content to be challenging enough that most students will not…
Private schools use the test scores for about ⅓ of their admission decision. They typically consider grades, scores, and extracurriculars/recommendations all equally. Remind your child that this test is not the end of the world, and will not be the only indicator of their ability to get into a good school. A perfect score is not necessary, and schools are looking for well-rounded students, so the test is just one part of the application. Private…
Our tutors are trained in the Princeton Review book as well as the official materials put out by SSAT.Org. Recently, both of these sets of materials have put out new editions for 2014. All of our tutors are informed about these changes so that we are using the most up-to-date materials and strategies. In the 2014 edition of the Princeton Review book, the differences are very minor from the 2013 edition. They are based on the changes…
Boston Tutoring Services uses two sets of materials for our SSAT test preparation. Our tutors are trained in the Princeton Review book as well as the official materials put out by SSAT.Org. Recently, both of these sets of materials have put out new editions for 2014. All of our tutors are informed about these changes so that we are using the most up-to-date materials and strategies. In the 2014 edition of the Princeton Review book,…
