Students applying to grades 5-12 · Ages 9-17
ISEE Tutor for Lower, Middle and Upper Level
One tutor for all four scored sections and the essay, matched to your child's level and test date.
Prefer to ask a question first? Chat on WhatsApp
How it works, in short
TaleemSquare ISEE tutoring is live, one-to-one preparation for the Independent School Entrance Exam that many US private schools ask for. In 45-minute online lessons, one tutor covers all four scored sections, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement, plus the unscored essay that is sent to schools.
At the Middle and Upper Levels, the ISEE has 161 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes, with no penalty for wrong answers. Students can test once per season, up to three times a school year. Lessons begin with a free assessment, and plans start at $85 a month.
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online
- Lesson length
- 45 minutes
- Level
- Ages 9-17
- Price
- From $85 a month
What changes after a term of lessons
Works to the real clock
Paces each section to the official timing, such as 40 Verbal Reasoning questions in 20 minutes at the Middle and Upper Levels.
Secure in the math the ISEE tests
Handles the arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data questions in Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement without rushing or second-guessing.
Plans a clear essay
Writes an organized response in 30 minutes, knowing the essay is unscored but read by the schools that receive it.
What we cover
Lessons follow your child's own school or homeschool curriculum. These are the areas we work on most at this level.
Quantitative Reasoning
Word problems, comparisons and reasoning questions where choosing the method matters more than long calculation, practised at your child's level.
Mathematics Achievement
Grade-level arithmetic, fractions, ratios, algebra, geometry, measurement and data, checked against what your child's school has and hasn't covered yet.
Verbal Reasoning
Synonyms and sentence completion, built through vocabulary studied in context rather than long memorized lists.
Reading Comprehension
Main idea, inference, tone and evidence in timed passages, with a way of reading quickly without missing the detail a question needs.
The essay
Planning, paragraphing and a clean finish in 30 minutes, from practice prompts, with feedback on structure and clarity.
Pacing and answering every question
The ISEE scores correct answers only, with no penalty for wrong ones, so students learn to answer everything and leave time sinks behind.
Full-length practice
Timed sections under test conditions, then a review of every miss, so the next week targets the gaps that showed up.
Signs your child could use help
- Applying to independent schools for next fall
- Practice test percentiles are lower than you hoped
- Runs out of time in Verbal Reasoning
- Strong at school math but stuck on reasoning questions
- Has never written a timed essay
- You want one tutor for the math and English sections
One of these on its own is normal. Two or three together usually point to a specific gap, and finding it is what the free assessment is for.
Taught to your curriculum, wherever you live
ISEE levels and testing seasons
The level depends on the grade your child is applying to enter: Lower Level for grades 5-6, Middle Level for 7-8 and Upper Level for 9-12. The seasons are Fall (August-November), Winter (December-March) and Spring/Summer (April-July), with one test per season.
Families in the UK applying to US schools
Families moving from the UK to a US independent school may be asked for the ISEE. Format availability varies by location, so check which formats are offered where you live before registering. For entry to UK independent schools, see our 11+ maths page instead.
Level: 11+ and 13+ independent school entrance tests
Families in Canada
Canadian families applying to US independent schools take the same ISEE levels. Independent schools in Canada set their own entrance requirements, so check each school's admission page for the test it accepts.
Level: SSAT and school entrance tests
Families in Australia
Students applying from Australia to US day or boarding schools take the ISEE level for the grade they will enter. Lessons can run in Australian time, with practice timed exactly as on test day.
Level: Selective and scholarship entrance tests
Inside a 45-minute ISEE lesson
One 45-minute session. Tutors adjust the timings to your child.
5 min
Vocabulary warm-up
Ten words in context, mixed with words from earlier lessons.
15 min
Skill focus
One quantitative, math, verbal or reading skill, taught and then practised.
12 min
Timed set
A short timed set from the week's target section.
9 min
Review
Every miss explained, including why it happened.
4 min
Next steps
Practice for the week and a note for you on WhatsApp.
How we prepare students for the ISEE
A diagnostic first
The free assessment shows which of the four sections costs your child the most points, so the plan starts there instead of at page one of a prep book.
One tutor, every section
The same tutor teaches the math sections and the verbal, reading and essay work, so nothing falls between two teachers.
Official timing for your level
Practice sections follow the format for your child's level, because pacing is where many capable students lose points.
Honest progress updates
You get a short WhatsApp note after lessons, and a timed section every few weeks shows which parts still need work.
Simple monthly plans
$85a month for 2 one-to-one math lessons a week
- Free 45-minute assessment first
- No contract, cancel any month
- No registration fee
- 4-class money-back promise
- Switch tutor at no cost
- WhatsApp update after every class
Starter
2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school
$85/mo
GrowthMost chosen
3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence
$119/mo
Intensive
4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement
$149/mo
Common worries, honest answers
“My child is a strong student. Why are the practice percentiles low?”
ISEE percentiles compare your child only with students applying to the same grade over the past three years, a competitive group. A percentile that looks low can still be a solid result, which is why reports also show a stanine from 1 to 9.
“Can you guarantee the score our school wants?”
No. Schools weigh ISEE scores alongside other information, and no tutor can promise a stanine. What we can promise is a clear plan, timed practice and honest feedback on what is improving.
“We only have a few weeks before the test.”
Start with the free assessment, so lessons go straight to the sections that cost the most points. If more time would help, a later season is an option: students can sit the ISEE once per season, up to three times a school year.
Frequently asked questions
What is on the ISEE Middle and Upper Level?
Which ISEE level should my child take?
How is the ISEE scored?
How much does an online ISEE tutor cost?
How many times can my child take the ISEE?
How long should ISEE prep take?
Book a free 45-minute assessment
Your child meets a tutor for a real one-to-one session. You get an honest read on where they are and what would help, even if the answer is that they don't need tutoring right now.
- 1
We reply on WhatsApp
Usually within 10 minutes, to find a time that suits your family.
- 2
Your child meets the tutor
A relaxed 45-minute session to see their level and how they learn.
- 3
You decide
You get a recommendation and a plan. No card details, no pressure.