There are many reasons that a private school may be the best choice for your child. Some children flourish in programs that allow them to focus on language or arts programs that may not be offered in public middle or high schools in the area. For introverted students, the personalized attention and small classroom sizes may be crucial to their academic and social success.
However, gaining admission into some of the most competitive private school programs can be daunting. Many private schools rely on Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) scores for admission, and both parents and children can find these admission tests confusing and intimidating.
However, there are several steps …show more content…
Although the ISEE is geared towards private school admissions, some private schools use the SSAT test for admissions. The ISEE differs from the SSAT exam in some important aspects. For example, there is no guessing penalty for the ISEE exam, whereas there is one for the SSAT. The essay and vocabulary sections for these exams also differ significantly.
One of the first steps you should take is give your child a practice test in order to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses. A practice exam will also help your child know what to expect in advance of the actual testing process. If at possible, try to give the practice test to your child months before their actual testing date (six months would be ideal), so that there will be time to work on areas that need improvement.
Once you have determined the areas where your child needs to show improvement, plan out a strategy to help optimize their success in these areas. For some, tutoring many be your best option. Keep in mind that the best test-prep tutors are often booked full as fall testing dates approach, so the earlier you start making inquiries the