SSAT & ISEE Prep

Get Your Child Into the
School They Deserve

Expert 1-on-1 tutoring for the SSAT and ISEE. Personalized prep, proven results, and the guidance your family needs to navigate private school admissions.

View Packages Free Consultation
Online & In-Person All Grade Levels Flexible Scheduling Significantly Lower Rates Than Competitors
Accepted at top schools including
Andover Exeter Choate Hotchkiss Deerfield Lawrenceville St. Paul's Groton Loomis Chaffee
1,200+
Schools accept SSAT or ISEE scores
1-on-1
Personalized sessions, not group classes
Top 5%
Where Ivy Bound children consistently score
Why Ivy Bound

Everything your child needs to score higher

We don't do one-size-fits-all. Every prep plan starts with a diagnostic and is built around your child's specific needs.

Diagnostic-First Approach

We start by pinpointing exactly where your child stands, so every tutoring hour targets the areas with the most room to grow.

Vocabulary & Verbal Mastery

Both tests reward a strong vocabulary. Our tutors build it systematically through analogies, synonyms, and sentence completion practice.

No-Calculator Math

Neither test allows a calculator. We sharpen arithmetic, algebra, and geometry fundamentals so your child computes with confidence.

Reading Comprehension

Strategies for complex passages, poetry, and inference questions — the kinds of reading that trip up even strong academic children.

Essay Coaching

The unscored essay still goes to admissions committees. We help your child write clearly and compellingly under time pressure.

Full Practice Tests

Timed, full-length practice under real test conditions builds stamina, reduces anxiety, and reveals exactly what to work on next.

Ivy Bound tutor working one-on-one with a middle school child on SSAT prep
The Ivy Bound Difference

More than test prep

Many children who come to us for SSAT or ISEE prep also benefit from broader academic support. Our tutors are skilled at building the habits that carry children through prep school and beyond.

  • Study Skills & Organization We help children develop the routines that make prep school manageable from day one.
  • Online & In-Person Options Flexible sessions that fit your family's schedule, wherever you are.
  • Tutor Matching We pair each child with the tutor who fits their personality, learning style, and schedule.
  • Rates Significantly Below Competitors Premium tutoring without the premium price tag. More hours, better results.
Find Your Tutor
Know Your Test

SSAT or ISEE — which is right for your child?

Most schools accept both. The right choice depends on your child's strengths and your target school list.

Full Name
Secondary School Admission Test
Levels
Elementary, Middle, Upper
Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-PG
Retakes
Unlimited
Monthly in-person test dates available
Verbal Section
Synonyms + Analogies
Rewards strong language arts skills
Guessing Penalty
Yes −¼ per wrong answer
Skip questions you're unsure about
Test Duration
~2 hrs 50 min
Middle & Upper Level
Best for verbal-strong children
The SSAT's unlimited retakes and analogy-based verbal section favor children with a wide vocabulary and strong language arts background. Preferred by many New England boarding schools.
Full Name
Independent School Entrance Exam
Levels
Primary, Lower, Middle, Upper
Grades 2-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12
Retakes
Once per season
3 seasons per year — prep early
Verbal Section
Synonyms + Sentence Completion
Tests vocabulary in context
Guessing Penalty
None
Always answer every question
Test Duration
~2 hrs 40 min
Middle & Upper Level
Best for math-strong children
The ISEE's two separate math sections and no guessing penalty reward children with strong quantitative skills. Widely used by NYC and Mid-Atlantic prep schools. Limited retakes make thorough prep essential.

Not sure which test to take? Contact us and we'll help you decide based on your child's strengths and school list.

How It Works

From first session to acceptance letter

A simple, structured process designed to get your child ready — and keep you informed every step of the way.

01
Diagnostic Test

We establish a baseline score and identify exactly where to focus prep efforts.

02
Custom Plan

Your tutor builds a personalized study plan around your child's gaps and your target schools.

03
Weekly Sessions

1-on-1 tutoring online or in-person, with full practice tests woven in throughout.

04
Test Day Ready

Your child walks in confident, prepared, and ready to perform at their best.

Prep Options

Find the right fit for your child

Whether you prefer flexible 1-on-1 sessions or a structured classroom setting, we have a path that works for your family.

Private Tutoring
1-on-1 SSAT & ISEE Prep
$48/hr
Starting rate · online & in-person available

Fully personalized sessions built around your child's diagnostic results. Your tutor focuses on exactly what your child needs — nothing more, nothing less.

Diagnostic assessment included
Flexible scheduling — days, evenings, weekends
Online or in-person sessions
Full practice tests woven in throughout
In-Person Class · Greenwich, CT
SSAT / ISEE Essentials
Summer Sessions
Greenwich, CT  ·  Grades 6–8

Preparing for private high school? This course introduces middle schoolers to the SSAT and ISEE — verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, and math.

  • 6 hours of live instruction
  • Essential verbal & math strategies
  • Reading comprehension techniques
  • Vocabulary & analogy practice
  • Timed practice test included
  • Test-day tips & pacing drills
  • Small class size — personalized attention
Enroll Now
Buying multiple hours?
Package rates are available — reach out and we’ll find the right fit for your budget.
Contact Us for Discounts
Our Approach

No two students are the same.

Our tutors use our proprietary material as a foundation, then tailor every session to the learner in front of them.

Diagnostic or score report first

We start with a diagnostic or your child’s existing score report. Either way, we map every strength and gap before session one so nothing is wasted.

A plan built for them

No two students get the same plan. The tutor builds a roadmap around that child’s specific gaps and target schools.

Proprietary curriculum

Our material is a toolkit, not a script. Tutors pull from it selectively based on what each student actually needs.

Adjusts in real time

If something isn’t clicking, the tutor changes approach on the spot. They don’t move on until it sticks.

Timed practice built in

Practice tests are woven throughout prep, not saved for the end. Your child walks in having already done it many times.

Parents stay informed

After every session you know what was covered, what improved, and what’s next. No guessing whether it’s working.

Parent Reviews

Families who've been through it

Real results from real families who trusted Ivy Bound with their child's private school journey.

52nd 88th +36 pts
★★★★★

“Honestly I was skeptical at first but our daughter went from the 52nd to the 88th percentile. Her tutor just got her. She actually looked forward to sessions which I never expected.”

Parent of an Andover admit
Upper Level SSAT
61st 91st +30 pts
★★★★★

“We tried two other companies before this. Ivy Bound was the first one where my son felt like someone was actually paying attention to him. And the price was way more reasonable than the others.”

Parent of a Hotchkiss admit
Middle Level ISEE
45th 84th +39 pts
★★★★★

“My daughter was a nervous wreck about this whole thing. By the end she was walking into test day like it was nothing. Her tutor built her up in a way I really didn’t expect.”

Parent of a Choate admit
Upper Level SSAT
58th 93rd +35 pts
★★★★★

“Our fall was insane with sports and school but the scheduling was so flexible it never felt like a burden. He went from the 58th to the 93rd percentile. We were floored.”

Parent of a Deerfield admit
Middle Level ISEE
45th 84th +39 pts
★★★★★

“The diagnostic at the start was so helpful. We finally knew what to actually focus on instead of just throwing everything at the wall. Worth every single penny.”

Parent of an Exeter admit
Upper Level SSAT
40th 79th +39 pts
★★★★★

“We started with only six weeks to go and I was panicking. Her tutor stayed calm, focused on the right things, and she hit her target score on the first try. I couldn’t believe it.”

Parent of a Lawrenceville admit
Upper Level ISEE
Common Questions

Things parents ask us

The summer before the fall testing season is ideal. Starting early lets your child build skills gradually, take a diagnostic, and have time to retest if needed. We recommend aiming for a first official test date in October or November — before most application deadlines in January or February.
The ISEE can only be taken once per testing season (fall, winter, spring/summer). In practice, that means two attempts per admissions cycle. The SSAT has no such limit — your child can retake it as many times as needed, which gives more flexibility for nervous test-takers.
Most schools accept both, but many have a quiet preference. New England boarding schools (Andover, Exeter, Choate) tend to favor the SSAT. Many NYC and Mid-Atlantic prep schools lean toward the ISEE. Always call the admissions office and ask directly before committing to one test.
Schools care most about percentile rankings, not raw scores. Highly competitive boarding schools typically look for the 75th percentile or above. Your Ivy Bound tutor will help set a realistic target based on your child's school list and current baseline.
Yes. Ivy Bound offers both online and in-person tutoring. Online sessions are just as effective and give families far more flexibility in scheduling and tutor selection. Many of our best tutors work exclusively online.
There is no minimum commitment. Tutoring is completely pay as you go, so you can book one session or fifty. That said, most families find that 10 to 20 hours of focused prep makes a meaningful difference. If you plan to do more sessions, we do offer bulk discount packages. Just reach out and we can put something together that fits your budget.

Ready to get started?

The sooner your child begins, the more confident they'll be on test day. Let's build a plan together.

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