If applying for 9th when do you start studying for the ISEE?

[Anonymous]

That’s the question.

[Anonymous]

Our kid took the SSAT, not ISEE, but started studying 2-3 times a week for an hour or so at a time over the summer before 8th. SSAT test date was early November. Our K-8 gave access to Test Innovators so we used their modules and practice tests as well as a couple hardcopy books of practice tests. DC is dyslexic so we wanted to be sure they were very comfortable with the test in advance.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is a good test taker, they may not need extensive prep. Our kid took one practice test a week or so before their test date and that’s it (SSAT though).

[Anonymous]

ISEE > 2 practice tests & 2 months of essay prep. Also worked on other application prompts.

[Anonymous]

Take a practice test early in the summer before 8th grade. Let their performance on that practice test guide how you proceed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is a good test taker, they may not need extensive prep. Our kid took one practice test a week or so before their test date and that’s it (SSAT though).

+1 to this. My kid is a good test taker and did well with the free practice test and a month reviewing the book. The free practice test was an eye opener on how short the time for the test was, and the book basically gave the strategies DC needed to handle the time. Otherwise DC was prepared just by school.

[Anonymous]

DD self-prepped for ISEE for 9th grade admissions. She started taking the various subject practice tests about 2.5-3 months before to the test date, starting in the fall. Then she analyzed the mistakes she made and if the question was about a concept she didn't understand, she reviewed it or learned it. I would say she spent about 1-1.5 total hours a week on average. The preparation was especially effective for the math sections, and she ended up doing very well. The only thing they need is access to practice tests and the answer keys, which you can purchase directly from test innovators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a practice test early in the summer before 8th grade. Let their performance on that practice test guide how you proceed...

This is the answer. DD did an hour or so of practicing a week in the fall of 8th till the November test. She didn't work very hard at it tbh, but is a strong test taker so needed less prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD self-prepped for ISEE for 9th grade admissions. She started taking the various subject practice tests about 2.5-3 months before to the test date, starting in the fall. Then she analyzed the mistakes she made and if the question was about a concept she didn't understand, she reviewed it or learned it. I would say she spent about 1-1.5 total hours a week on average. The preparation was especially effective for the math sections, and she ended up doing very well. The only thing they need is access to practice tests and the answer keys, which you can purchase directly from test innovators.

I just looked up the practice test info since it was digital, and prep brought up the math achievement section the most, from 7 on the first practice test to 9 on the actual test. DD says that the practice tests seemed harder than the real thing. Maybe they do this on purpose? I don't think she would have needed to prep at all, because I heard ISEE scores don't matter that much to admissions past a certain percentile, but we really needed aid and were hoping they would take scores into account for FA/merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD self-prepped for ISEE for 9th grade admissions. She started taking the various subject practice tests about 2.5-3 months before to the test date, starting in the fall. Then she analyzed the mistakes she made and if the question was about a concept she didn't understand, she reviewed it or learned it. I would say she spent about 1-1.5 total hours a week on average. The preparation was especially effective for the math sections, and she ended up doing very well. The only thing they need is access to practice tests and the answer keys, which you can purchase directly from test innovators.

I just looked up the practice test info since it was digital, and prep brought up the math achievement section the most, from 7 on the first practice test to 9 on the actual test. DD says that the practice tests seemed harder than the real thing. Maybe they do this on purpose? I don't think she would have needed to prep at all, because I heard ISEE scores don't matter that much to admissions past a certain percentile, but we really needed aid and were hoping they would take scores into account for FA/merit.

Private schools don’t tend to give much merit aid. Some Catholics give merit to the very top achievers on the HSPT (like 98/99), but for most private schools it’s just need-based FA, so ISEE scores are only going to influence whether your kid gets in, not how much aid they get.

[Anonymous]

My kid didn’t study and we didn’t even really talk about it. Crushed it, got into NCS. We decided not to go bc realized - wow this kid learned a lot in her shit DCPS school if she rocked that test cold. And she’s getting a whole lot more real world exposure than at a private. And…she’s happy. Just my experience tho.