I recommend the book and doing the practice tests. DD did this for 9th grade and did well enough.

DC just took the ISEE without any prep. I would not worry about it.

We had a tutor for DD but I also spent a lot of time helping her with practice tests from the Kaplan book and other online sources. I think those were more valuable than the tutoring.

Dear OP -- I wouldn't stress out too much about the tests. DC privates take who they want, and while I 've never been on an admissions committee my sense is that as long as a kid is in the ball park of the school on the SSAT, other factors will control whether or not they take him/her. Put differently, I know kids with very high test scores who were not accepted at some schools over classmates who had other characteristics or recommendations deemed more desireable by the schools. On the other hand, I will admit that getting some prep for the SSAT probably sets the ground work for later standardized testing. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the problem with these profit making tests isn't it? The playing field is not level. $300 an hour can get you a 10 percentile increase on the test because the tutors know what kinds of questions appear on the tests. It stinks all around.

The playing field also isn't level on Fin Aid. The more affluent are pummeled there. So relax.

The affluent are pummeled on FA? I'm trying really hard to see your point of view, but I'm failing spectacularly.

I said the "more affluent ". There is a subset if people in no mans land. 150k hhi or so who don't get any help and can't afford to send their kids to school. BTW. Kaplan book is more than adequate. 20 bucks. Playing field level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the problem with these profit making tests isn't it? The playing field is not level. $300 an hour can get you a 10 percentile increase on the test because the tutors know what kinds of questions appear on the tests. It stinks all around.

The playing field also isn't level on Fin Aid. The more affluent are pummeled there. So relax.

The affluent are pummeled on FA? I'm trying really hard to see your point of view, but I'm failing spectacularly.

Anonymous wrote:This is the problem with these profit making tests isn't it? The playing field is not level. $300 an hour can get you a 10 percentile increase on the test because the tutors know what kinds of questions appear on the tests. It stinks all around.

The playing field also isn't level on Fin Aid. The more affluent are pummeled there. So relax.

This is the problem with these profit making tests isn't it? The playing field is not level. $300 an hour can get you a 10 percentile increase on the test because the tutors know what kinds of questions appear on the tests. It stinks all around.

Anonymous wrote:Give Harriet Broder a call......

Is she more reasonable than some of the companies in this business?

Give Harriet Broder a call......

Definitely have your child take the test twice. The December test is always easier than the October and November tests.

Get the Kaplan book for SSAT/ISEE. It's pretty good. Lots of practice tests/questions. I just went through some of with DD over time, and she did bits of practice tests. She's not great at math and I guess if we were wealthy and also had a nanny who could pick her up from school and drive her to a tutoring class maybe she would learn content. But we're not doing that so it's really just about getting used to the test format and a book can do that for your kid.

I have looked into some of the suggested prep courses offered in DC and discouraged by the cost. Private will only be possible with FA and the cost of these courses would be a real strain for us right now. I plan on ordering the book from SSAT directly but hoping some of you that have btdt can suggest some combination of tutoring/parent help that will be most cost effective. TIA