ABOUT SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL GROUP LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Experience Matters Summit Portal For 30 years, Summit Educational Group has been This valuable tool allows families to manage their preparing students to maximize their scores on tutoring programs online. They can monitor Dear Colleagues, Parents, and Students, standardized tests. Summit’s customized one-on-one homework records, score practice tests, view results, tutoring service helps students prepare for the SAT, and submit feedback. Not many events in a young person’s life produce as much stress, angst, and confusion ACT, PSAT, SAT Subject Tests, SSAT, ISEE, and even as do school admissions and standardized testing. The onslaught of information and academic subjects. Our proven approach centers on School Partnerships questions can be overwhelming. both skill-building and test-taking strategies to help Whether it is SAT, ACT, or SSAT prep, the answer is • What score do I need to get into School Z? students reach their full potential. simple: no other company offers the quality, results, • How important are my test scores? and care found in a Summit program. We currently Personalized Service partner with many of the most demanding • How much preparation do I need for the test? We deliver exceptional service to all of our families. independent and public schools in the Northeast. At Summit, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional test preparation and tutoring, but From the first phone call, we make certain to But no two schools are alike, and neither are any we also strive to be a trusted resource for counselors and families navigating this process. understand the needs and score goals of the two Summit programs. We know that every school Our complimentary annual SSAT/ISEE Testing Guide is a valuable tool that will answer the student. After recommending the appropriate has a unique student body with different needs, and above questions and many others. Hang onto it, and refer to it often as you make this journey. program, we’ll match him or her with a highly skilled we’ll work with them to customize the best program tutor. Maintaining strong relationships with our for their students and culture. When it comes to admission tests, we have always counseled students and parents to clients and those who recommend our services is maintain perspective and to craft a sensible, individualized testing plan early in the process— important to us, so we encourage and actively solicit Course Materials and Services a plan that addresses which tests you’re going to take, when you’re going to take them, and feedback throughout the Summit experience. Summit has developed, and continues to perfect, how and when you’re going to prepare for them. A good testing plan is customized to the a suite of proven, results-driven course materials student. It puts the student’s well-being front and center, prioritizes school work, and doesn’t Expert Tutors which helps students improve critical thinking give the tests more life than they deserve. We carefully match each student with an expert skills and develop effective test-taking strategies, As you plan and prepare, try not to bring unnecessary stress to the process. Look ahead so tutor to ensure the best fit possible. A tutor who leading to higher scores. Our course books, that you can avoid unwelcome surprises and rest assured that you know what is coming. understands the student, engages and motivates, test analysis, and professional development makes the lessons fun, and builds confidence makes have helped hundreds of schools and tutoring This process can be confusing and it always creates some anxiety. However, don’t lose sight all the difference. This individualized approach companies worldwide generate higher test of the positives. This should also be a time of excitement! These school applications are an allows students of all learning styles to achieve their scores for their students. important step in setting up students for future opportunities. testing and academic goals. What’s more, our tutors If you’re looking for professional, thoughtful, personal guidance, expert tutors and teachers, come directly to the family’s home, or to a school Practice Testing and exceptional test preparation, we are here for you. We have been for 30 years. We offer a campus, to work with students at their convenience. Each program begins with a diagnostic test and variety of test preparation and tutoring programs, and I’m very proud that over 80% of our detailed score report that identifies strengths and families are referred to us by their friends, school counselors, private consultants, learning Online Tutoring areas for improvement. This allows our tutors to specialists, and others. It means we’re doing well by our students and families and the rest of For those families outside of our geographic customize their instruction accordingly. Real practice our constituents. footprint, we are pleased to offer live, online tutoring. tests throughout the program allow students to Our commitment is to your testing success, on your terms. I encourage you to contact us. Our remote tutoring tools and technologies bring practice what they’ve learned and provide valuable We’d be delighted to help in any way we can. all the conveniences of our one-on-one, in-home information on how they’re progressing. We also tutoring to your laptop or tablet. Your online offer free proctored practice tests in the community, Sincerely, tutoring program includes all that makes a Summit affording students the opportunity to take “dress program successful: personalized services with rehearsal” tests, so they know exactly what to expect a Program Director, access to our expert tutors, on the real thing. and a customized testing plan that is right for you. CHARLIE O’HEARN President/Founder Summit Educational Group TABLE OF CONTENTS Standardized Testing & Admission 1-8 Standardized Testing & Admission 2 Grades & Standardized Testing Scores 3 The Competitive Landscape 4-5 The Competitive Testing Population 6 Superscoring & Sending Multiple Scores 7 Test Prep & Planning 9-18 Considerations for Test Preparation 10 Foundations of Good Test Preparation 11 Test Dates & Administrations 12-13 Admission & Testing Timeline 14-15 SSAT & ISEE Accommodations 16-17 Character Skills Snapshot 18 MASSACHUSETTS SSAT 19-30 61R Chapel Street The SSAT 20 Newton, MA 02458 SSAT Levels & Structure 21 800-698-8867 SSAT Scoring 22-23 Process of Elimination 24 CONNECTICUT SSAT Quantitative 25-26 237 Elm Street New Canaan, CT 06840 SSAT Reading Comprehension 27 800-843-8867 SSAT Verbal 28-29 SSAT Writing 30 NEW YORK 611 W Hartsdale Avenue, Suite 201 ISEE 31-40 White Plains, NY 10607 The ISEE 32 800-391-8435 ISEE Levels & Structure 33 ISEE Scoring 34-35 mytutor.com ISEE Verbal Reasoning 36 ISEE Quantitative Reasoning 37 ISEE Reading Comprehension 38 ISEE Math Achievement 39 ISEE Essay 40 Comparison of the SSAT & ISEE 41-44 References & Resources 45-48 Copyright © 2018 by Summit Educational Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or retransmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of Summit Educational Group, Inc. *For all references herein, SSAT is a trademark owned by the Enrollment Management Association, and ISEE is a trademark owned by the Educational Records Bureau, neither of which were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, these materials. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE We’ve listed some of the most common questions and where you can find the answers. Of course, we welcome the chance to talk directly to you about these or other independent school admission testing questions. QUESTIONS PAGES STANDARDIZED How important are my test scores? 2 TESTING & ADMISSION What do my test scores represent? 3 What scores are needed to get into my choice of schools? 4-5 TEST PREP & When should I start preparing? 14-15 PLANNING When should I take the test? 14-15 Should I take the test more than once? 10, 15 Can I get testing accommodations for the SSAT or ISEE? 16-17 How expensive are registration fees? 12-13 SSAT What’s on the SSAT? 25-30 How do the SSAT levels differ? 20-21 How is the SSAT scored? 22-23 Are some test dates harder than others? 22 Should I guess on the SSAT or leave a question blank? 24 What math topics are covered on the SSAT? 26 How important is the SSAT essay? 30 ISEE What's on the ISEE? 36-40 How do the ISEE levels differ? 32-33 How is the ISEE scored? 34-35 Are some test dates harder than others? 34 Should I guess on the ISEE or leave a question blank? 34 How important is vocabulary on the ISEE? 36 How important is the ISEE essay? 40 STANDARDIZED TESTING TESTING & ADMISSION STANDARDIZED & ADMISSION 800 MY TUTOR | mytutor.com 1 STANDARDIZED TESTING & ADMISSION SSAT and ISEE test scores are an important part of all areas as they look for reasons to accept students. your independent school application, but they are For example, a great personal interview or strong just one of many criteria for admission. The proper teacher recommendations might offset lower test role of standardized tests in the admission process is scores. to complement the use of school grades and other Independent schools consider a variety of factors factors. when deciding whether to admit a student. While Today’s independent school admission process is a each school weighs admission factors differently, holistic one. Your SSAT or ISEE scores are just one most independent schools admit students based on aspect of a multi-faceted application. Rather than the factors shown below, in general order of look for reasons to reject students, admission importance.