Choosing an ISEE Test Prep Program
Important Questions for Parents to Ask
We have found over the years that not all ISEE test prep programs are the same, and many do not give students enough support to do well on the test. We have created a list of questions for parents to use in helping to evaluate an ISEE test prep program.
1. How well do you know the test? How many years have you been teaching the test material?
We have found that some parents took their children to tutors who had little to no experience with the ISEE, and as a result their children did not get everything they needed to do well on the test. These parents often come to us the year after their child did not get into an exam or private school, and they look to us to help them try again. We have been teaching this test to students for over 12 years, and every year we learn more and more about the test, and how best to teach the material. We have a very high success rate - over 90% of our students have been accepted to one (or both) of their top two schools.
2. What materials do you use to teach the test material?
Again, we have found many different approaches to teaching the test material. We use two of the best test prep books on the market, as well as proprietary lesson plans developed by people with degrees in mathematics from MIT. Our verbal lesson plans incorporate Latin and Greek roots to help students decipher words they are unfamiliar with on the test. Our lesson plans have been “road tested” and have stood the test of time. They are comprehensive and easy to understand and they teach the material, not just the tricks of the test. We have found some students who came to us after having attended other programs who had been taught material that was not even on the test! This is a waste of valuable test prep time. Their instructors were not sure exactly what was on the test, so they taught them what they thought they should know. It is important to note that the ISEE test changed in 2010, and none of the test prep books on the market currently are updated to include all of the new material. Our lesson plans have been updated to include all the new material.
3. Do you actually teach the material, or just tell students when they get something wrong?
This is a HUGE distinction between our program and most other programs. Many large group programs do not have the time or resources to teach the actual test material, they spend more time teaching students tricks and short cuts, but not the actual test material. Students know when they get problems wrong, but often they have no idea why they got the problem wrong. This is obviously not going to do them any good on the test.
4. Who are your instructors, how are they trained, and how experienced are they with the test?
Our instructors are all highly skilled education professionals. All of our instructors have Masters Degrees, and several are pursuing PhDs. They all have teaching experience ranging from middle school to college. We do not hire high school or college students to teach our classes. We are one of the only test prep programs in the area that teaches ISEE prep 12 months a year, so the material is always fresh in our instructor's minds. We do not hire seasonal workers to teach the test for a few months of the year. Our instructors are with us for an average of at least 3 years, and many have been with us much longer. We train our tutors on our methods and our curriculum, so that they are experts on the ISEE.
5. How do you evaluate students to determine what they need?
We are the only program in the area that meets with families individually, and administers a diagnostic assessment to determine exactly what the student needs. We do not assume a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Each student has a unique set of skills they bring to the table, and they have a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. By conducting an individual diagnostic assessment and meeting with each family personally, we get a good sense of what students need, and can make informed recommendations.
6. What is your success rate, and do you follow up with each student to see how he or she scored on the test?
We are the ONLY program in the area that can boast of a success rate of over 90%. We follow up with all our students and families to get the results of their test scores and see which school(s) they were admitted to. This data also helps us track trends from year to year and adjust our methods as necessary.
7. What ongoing support do you offer parents through the process of application to exam and private schools? Do you have children that have attended the exam schools or a private school?
At Boston Tutoring Center we have visited over 30 private schools in the area, toured the schools, met with admissions directors, and talked with parents and students about the schools. We have detailed admission statistics and financial aid data, and we can provide information on what schools have to offer and what they are looking for in an applicant. We have children that have attended exam and private schools. We are available to help you as you navigate the process and discuss important “dos” and “don'ts” with you throughout the admissions cycle. No other test prep program in the area has such extensive knowledge of the exam and private schools in the Boston area. Admissions directors tell us that we are the only test prep program that takes the time to meet with them and visit their schools.
8. How does your program help students get ready for an exam or private school?
We teach students math, reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing skills to help them do well on the test, and in the process help them strengthen their skills so that they are prepared for the rigorous programs they are applying to. We also talk to them about study skills, time management skills, and the importance of speaking up if they do not understand something. These are all skills that will help prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead in their new school. Parents report to us that their children are well prepared for the exam and private schools, and have an easier time adjusting than their peers who did not attend our program.
9. Will your program help my child do well in school this year?
Again, because we teach the material, and not just the tricks of the test, parents report that students can take the knowledge they learn in our program and apply it to the work they are currently doing in school. We have heard of students being moved up to honors math classes, winning awards for their writing, and gaining praise from their teachers for their vocabulary - all as a result of the work we have done with them in the program.
10. Do you have references and testimonials you can share with me?
We have hundreds of satisfied clients who continue to refer business to us. We would be glad to provide you with references and testimonials from the many happy families that have used our services over the years.
11. How important is it for my child to get a good score on the test?
For the exam schools it is critical that students do well on the test, as the test counts for 50% of the formula for admissions. Private schools also look very hard at tests scores. The ISEE is an equalizer in helping to compare the skill sets of students coming from varied elementary school programs. Many private schools also use the results of the test to award merit-based financial aid. We have had students awarded thousands of dollars in scholarship money to attend private schools based on how well they scored on the ISEE.