Accommodations for the ISEE and SSAT

December 4th, 2017|

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS TAKING THE ISEE    Educators are fully aware that many very capable students struggle taking standardized tests because they have learning or physical challenges. This is why accommodations are offered to students who "are unable to take the ISEE under standard conditions" These challenges must be documented and upon approval, a student may be eligible to receive [...]

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September To Do List for Independent School Admissions

September 18th, 2017|

September is when families are embarking upon the admissions process for the following school year.  This is a time to gather information about the schools to which you're applying and plan for their specific requirements for admission.  One of the most important pieces of advices that we give parents is to make sure you are not holding up [...]

What Are Schools Looking For in the Writing Section?

February 10th, 2017|

It’s not easy to put together a good writing sample on the test if you don’t know what your schools will think is good.   Do they want formal writing? Should there be astounding thoughts that unlock the secrets of the universe? Should it be in iambic pentameter?   Don’t worry. None of those things [...]

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Reading Comprehension – Finding the Best Strategy for You

February 1st, 2017|

     The first thing to know about the reading comprehension section of any test is that it is not a test of how well you read. It's a test of how well you take a reading test.      What this means for test takers is that to do well on this test section, [...]

The Three Most Important Things to Remember on Test Day

November 5th, 2016|

The SSAT and ISEE test dates are here! In preparing for your exam, there is nothing better than continued, ongoing practice to make testing language second nature. But if you’re gearing up to test in the coming days and haven’t had a chance to formally prepare, there are three pointers that by keeping them in mind can [...]

Keeping Your Test Skills on the Front Burner

August 4th, 2016|

In the classic movie Bull Durham, Kevin Costner walks along dark street at night and stops underneath a streetlight.  A gift wrap tube is sticking out of the nearby garbage can.  Costner picks up the tube and practices his swing while finding his reflection in a window.  This scene brilliantly captures what every master-of-their-craft knows [...]

Knowing the Test Prep Track

June 8th, 2015|

When we were starting our test prep program, a school principal asked us why anyone would practice for a test that they can’t see beforehand anyway. I had just seen a documentary on a race called the Baja 1000, and so had a pretty good metaphor ready to go. The Baja 1000 course changes every [...]