Focus on G1-12 Education
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If you want to enroll your child in a private school this year, you’ll need to gather grade reports, teacher recommendations, and other documents for your child’s application portfolio. You’ll also need to prepare your child to take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) and SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test), two standardized exams that most private schools require for admissions.
The content of the ISEE and SSAT covers a range of topics, including reading, writing, and math. Your child will have to diligently study these subjects if they want to perform well. But fortunately, they don’t have to prepare for these tests alone. Here are three ways to help your child get ready to take the ISEE and SSAT.
The ISEE and SSAT focus mainly on math and English. For the math portion, they’ll need to study numbers and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis. For English, they should focus on vocabulary and analyzing the nuances of texts.
Your child doesn’t need to be a pro in these subjects, but they should understand the basics. For example, they don’t need to study hundreds or thousands of words individually. Instead, learning about common Latin roots and how to infer them will allow them to easily interpret the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Another way to help your child prepare for the ISEE and SSAT is to encourage them to practice. Ideally, your child should study the test material several times a week for short bursts of time—say, two to three times a week for half an hour to an hour. Once your child feels confident in the material, have them take timed practice tests. These practice tests will show the areas your child still needs to work on. They’ll also help your child get accustomed to the test format and what’s expected of them so they’re prepared for the real thing.
Yes, your child needs to do well on these tests if they want their top choice to admit them. But don’t let your child get too stressed. If they’re stressed going into the tests, they may not be able to concentrate well, which can lead to lower scores. In the days leading up to the tests, don’t force them to cram. Rather, they should focus on basic reviewing and doing activities that make them calm, happy, and focused.
Individual studying can greatly increase your child’s chances of performing well on the ISEE and SSAT. But if they’d like additional help, an SSAT and ISEE prep class can teach them all the concepts they need to know for these tests and assist with problem areas.
At A+ Programs, we understand how important the ISEE and SSAT are. That’s why we provide ISEE and SSAT tutoring programs: because we want to help your child succeed. Enroll your child in one of our programs today. We have both in-person and online classes available, all led by experienced tutors with master’s degrees or higher.
