OP, in terms of timing, our son took the SSAT in December last year. He was in a terribly hot room sitting on a science lab stool hunched over (he is big), and he did not do well; we were not sure if it was the test or the circumstances. He wanted to take them again. He did so in January and did much better . So I would have your son take them the first time in November, which gives him two more testing dates if he doesn't do as well as he/you would like. Good luck. It is a stressful process, but my experience is that kids coming out of K-8 schools really end up in the right places for them, which is a great thing!

Every child is different, but my kids found the ISEE to be a lot "easier" than the SSAT. They took both, but only once. You can also pay extra for your child to take the test alone, if a crowded setting makes him nervous. I would have him take lots of practice tests; you should see a significant improvement over time as he gets used to the types of questions. I would definitely invest in a tutor as well; someone who can advise you about when and how many times to take it. Breakthrough Test Prep is very good. Good luck!

help please!

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Our DS is in 7th at a progressive pre-k to 8, so he will have to apply to high schools next fall. He has some minor learning disabilities (dyslexia and ADHD) and is gets mostly Bs in school, and his ERBs were all around the 50th percentile for independent schools. Can anyone advise us on when he should take or start practicing for the ISEE and/or SSAT? Do kids typically take these tests in the spring or summer so they can retake in the late fall if they score poorly? Do you recommend any particular tutors or test prep programs? DS has taken very few standardized tests in his life and tends to get anxious, so I'd like to find some way for him to feel comfortable with the test rules and format before we're in a time crunch for applications.

thanks!