All You Need To Know About The ISEE In Five Minutes

Are you and your child applying to private middle school or high school for fall 2011 admissions? Do you find yourself staring bewilderingly at the application request for your student’s recent ISEE scores, and reminding you that its never too early to consider SAT tutoring?

Sure, you may have questions – but you are not alone: every year about 45,000 kids take the ISEE, which means your questions have been considered, asked, and answered before. Short on time? Look no further – in just a few minutes you will understand the basics of the ISEE.

1. The ISEE sounds familiar. Has my child taken it before?

Unless you have applied to private school in the past, your child has not taken the ISEE. However, it is likely that you have heard of the company that makes the ISEE – the ERB. The ERB is responsible for the CTP (“ERBs”), an exam administered every year in private school to test student performance against “advanced” grade standards. The ISEE is based on similar expectations.

2. I went to the ERB website to register my child for the ISEE, and it asked me what grade we are applying for. Why?

There are three levels of the ISEE: the Lower Level, the Middle Level, and the Upper Level. The level your student will take depends on the grade your student is in. However, the ERB has clustered certain grades: students in 4th or 5th grade take the Lower Level exam, those in 6th or 7th take the Middle Level exam, and students 8th grade or above applying for any grade in high school take the Upper Level exam.

3. Does this mean that my 8th grader is taking the same test as a 9th grader? That’s not fair!

Correct. But your 8th grader’s performance will only be calculated and scored in comparison to that of fellow 8th graders.

4. How are the tests scored?

There are five sections on the ISEE: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an Essay. Each student’s raw score (per section) is calculated based upon the number of questions answered correctly (there is no penalty for an incorrect answer). Each raw score is then converted to a scaled score between 760 and 940 (according to the “three year rolling norm pool” for that section) and then converted in to a percentile (ranking) that appears in the form of a stanine (a number from 1- 9).

5. I’m confused. What is considered a “good score”?

Since scores are evaluated in various terms of “comparison,” we encourage students to simply do their best to achieve their potential. Each school accepts a range of stanine scores, but most admissions counselors I’ve asked want everyone to remember that ISEE scores aren’t the only factor considered in the admission decision – schools are building classes, and they emphasize that test scores are just one of dozens of factors they look at when considering a student for their school.

6. My child is nervous about the exam. What can I do?

As with any new experience, familiarity breeds confidence. We recommend having your child take practice tests so that he or she will know what to expect on test day – everything from how much time is allotted for each section to when they can take bathroom breaks.

Since the ISEE is standardized, with studying and review, students can become familiar with the types of topics the test will cover, improve their knowledge base, and practice efficient test-taking strategies (like ways to derive the correct answer choice without taking the time to “solve” the question). The more comfortable students feel with the task at hand, the more they will feel like they can put their best foot forward.

Unfortunately, the ERB has only published one real ISEE from each level, which makes the “test-day” experience difficult to match. That said, since rehearsing what will happen on test day is a key component to any student’s preparation, Launch Education Group has created two practice exams based on the published ISEE exams from the ERB to provide more opportunity for practice. Princeton Review and Kaplan also offer practice exams, although they have not been updated for the new ISEE format.

7. When is the test? Can my child take it more than once?

Testing this year starts December 4th. Most schools recommend taking the ISEE as soon as possible, but there are test dates offered throughout the early spring. Check with the schools on your application list to make sure the test date you have selected is within the deadline. Students can only take the ISEE once every six months. Therefore, plan accordingly!

For registration and more information, visit the ERB website.

Good luck!

NYC: A Sea of Schools

Enrolling your child in a private school in New York City is no easy feat. There are over 900 privately run schools in the city, some of which are among the most competitive independent schools in the nation. From researching the schools to registering for standardized tests to submitting applications, the process can be overwhelming. I’m no expert, but something tells me that the key to staying above water is staying informed.

The first step is narrowing your search. Learn as much as you can about the schools you are considering, and decide which ones could be a good match for your family. Talk to friends, do research online, attend workshops, visit and request information from schools—do what you need to do in order to finalize the list of schools to which your child will be applying.

Next, register your child for any standardized tests he/she will need to take, and remember it is never too early to start SAT test prep. Most middle and high schools require the ISEE (check the school's website or admission material). The sooner your child starts preparing for this test, the better. But don’t get bogged down trying to figure out what score is needed to get admitted here or there as this information is often hard to come by.

At some point, you’ll find yourself neck deep in test prep, applications, interviews, shadow days, and a number of other things on your admissions checklist. As you muddle through, remember to keep one eye on the present and one eye on the looming deadlines. Most applications, including essays, test scores, recommendations, and transcripts are due in January or February. For some, this is the hardest part; for others, it’s the uncertainty that surfaces right after.

Will my child get accepted? Waitlisted? Rejected? The truth is, once the application is out of your hands, so is the school’s decision. My advice: focus on the part you can control. There are a ton of available resources to make this otherwise taxing application process manageable—and hopefully, worthwhile!

Here are a few good place to start:

The National Association of Independent Schools

The Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York

The Parents League of New York

Behind “Beyond the Brochure”

Sallie and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Christina Simon, the co-author of “Beyond the Brochure: An Insider’s Guide to Private Elementary Schools in Los Angeles”. “Beyond the Brochure” is an excellent resource for any Los Angeles parents planning to send their child to private elementary school, and helpful to get into the mindset of preparing your child early with SAT tutoring. 

The direct, matter-of-fact style gives the reader the true “inside scoop” from actual LA private school mothers who have been through the process several times.

Christina also authors an excellent and very popular blog about the private school admissions process and the life of an LA private school parent in general (beyondthebrochure.blogspot.com).

It was wonderful to meet Christina in person. She is extremely bright and down-to-earth, and it only reinforced our belief that she has a great voice to share with the LA private school community! Check out her book and blog for more insights.

Knowing the Score

Imagine you’re a quarterback. There are two minutes left in the game and your team has the ball. The pressure’s on for you to drive your team down the field. But there’s just one thing…

You don’t know what the score is.

Maybe you’re up by three (in which case the right move would be to kill time and try to run down the clock). Maybe you’re down by three (in which case you’d want to carefully drive down the field to at least get into field goal range). Maybe you’re down by ten (in which case the only option would be to try to make a quick drive for a touchdown and then get the ball back again).

But since you don’t know the score, how do you proceed? You have a problem, right?

Naturally, every quarterback would be well aware of the score at all times in order to be effective.

But if knowing your current grade is just as important for a student trying to get the best grade possible (and it is), then why are so many students clueless about where they stand in their classes most of the time and never prepare early with private SAT tutors?

Like a quarterback, a student who knows the "score" at all times has a huge advantage over one who doesn't.

Just say your goal in history is to get an A-. This means your average needs to be above that magic “90” line when the semester or year ends. Most schools and teachers round off to the nearest whole number, so for most students, the true magic number to get in the A range is an 89.5.

89.5 (or 79.5) is a very important number to get in your head, and in order to have the best chance of achieving it, you, like the quarterback, must know:

A) each class’s grade breakdown, and

B) your current average in each area of the breakdown

So back to that history class. Let’s imagine this is the grade breakdown:

Papers: 30%

Tests: 30%

Quizzes: 15%

Homework: 15%

Participation: 10%

In order to figure out your grade at any point in time, you need to know your current averages in each area. You’ll often be able to find these numbers just by looking at what’s been handed back to you so far, and if not, you can always ask your teacher.

Once you have these numbers, all you have to do is multiply each by its weight percentage and divide by 100. So let’s say that your breakdown with a month left in the semester is as follows:

Papers: Two handed back (B and A-) = about an 88 average

Tests: Three handed back for an 86 average

Quizzes: Eight handed back for an 88 average

Homework: Doing well here—98 average

Participation: You’re pretty active in class and the teacher likes you—let’s estimate a 90

You would do the following calculation—

(88 x 30) + (86 x 30) + (88 x 15) + (98 x 15) + (90 x 10)

And then divide by 100 to find your current average at 89.1. This is a crucial piece of information! Now, like the quarterback, you can plan accordingly. You’re close—but you’re in danger of falling short of the A range, so you really need to nail that last paper and the final exam.

Give it a try for your classes. You’ll be surprised how helping knowing the score can be.

Making The Academic Journey Part of Everyday Life

I find myself reading and talking a lot about “how busy kids are these days,” but it has come increasingly apparent how much busier their parents are – and how little support they receive in respect to managing their kid's academic futures.

In the same breath, I also hear a lot of parents say that “it just seems like everything is happening younger and younger” – like students taking the SAT in 9th grade when most used to only take it in 11th -which makes keeping up with academic trends and timelines seem hard to plan, let alone accomplish.

However, there are easy ways to keep up with academic planning that will enable you to seamlessly (especially with private SAT tutors) incorporate steps toward your student's academic future in to your everyday routine – so while it may seem that “everything happens so quickly,” at least you will be prepared and already half-way there!

Steps To Achieve Higher Education Goals
By Jeannie Borin M.Ed., College Connections
In addition to the challenging academic workload most teens are faced with, many students are simultaneously working, engaged in extracurricular activities and want social time. Compile this busy lifestyle with the time and energy it takes to prepare and apply to colleges.

Step One: Guidance

Applying to college is no easy task. Examine a college application and you will see the various elements required. Universities require more information from students now than ever before to make distinctions and admission decisions. Applications are often difficult if not impossible for students to complete without the proper support and direction.

Most colleges suggest support and counseling, but from whom and how?

Well meaning high school counselors are often spread too thin and many families do not know the current application requirements, options, statistics or what university admissions officers want to see. If universities are requiring numerous components to the college application process, students are entitled to know what to do. Before even beginning the college process, families should learn exactly what is involved and make sure their children have the proper guidance.

Step Two: Stay Current

There are factors in the admission process that change from year to year. What are the different ways to apply? Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive First Choice Early Action, and Rolling Admissions... What do these terms mean? What is the best strategy? Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia along with other select universities have eliminated their Early Admission Plans. How do students and their families become aware of such news? A few ways include:

1. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) will have current college news and updates. Visit www.nacacnet.org

2. Contacting university admission officers as well as carefully reviewing college websites will provide current brochures and admission information for free

Step Three: Testing

Each year, students face additional concerns regarding the standardized testing process. Families we work with are constantly unsure about what tests to take (ACT and/or SAT I), what colleges require SAT II Subject Exams, when they are given and where and how to register to take them. The testing requirements change as some universities require certain tests and some do not or simply recommend them.

Step Four: The Essay

Since over 800 universities in the United States are test optional, often greater emphasis is placed on the college essay. What are these university admission officers looking for in the student essay?

Although many universities do give a “topic of your choice” there are also those questions that are specific. For example, an essay question may quote legendary philosophers and tell the applicant to decipher the content and connect it on a personal level. To write intelligently anywhere from 100 to 600 words (depending on the institution) is yet an additional skill. Essays should be in story format, creative and wonderfully intriguing. However, students generally do not learn to write first person essays in high school, which makes the process more challenging. Many colleges require three to four essays; some long and some short – but nevertheless all different.

Step Five: Recommendations

The amount of recommendation letters necessary vary per college. Here are a few of the questions I get from students and parents: “How many do I need?” “What information should be included?” “Who should I give them to?” “Should I submit my recommendations with the rest of the application?” “Should I waive the right to see them?” The answer is that universities have different methods of how they want their applicants to submit recommendations.

Step Six: The Brag Sheet

The “Brag Sheet” is essentially a list of extracurricular activities, honors and awards received in high school. Students need to know the best way to state and present their activities. In most cases, applicants are given approximately seven short lines to list years of experience and accomplishments. They are entitled to know how to maximize this space.

Step Seven: Financial Planning

Most families approach college years for their children without having given much thought to how they will finance their children’s college education. Funding college education for your children will probably represent the second largest out of pocket expense that a family will incur in their lifetime

Author Bio:
Jeannie Borin, M. Ed, is Founder and President of the independent educational and college consulting firm College Connections.