Though it is not likely the scoring system for the ISEE test is intended to confuse you, this is often the case. The score is not straight forward. The ISEE actually has three separate numbers. There is a percentile, a scale and a stanine score. Most high schools will ignore the scaled score, so you can do the same. Concentrate on the percentile and stanine score.

Percentile Score

The percentile score is a simple calculation of how many answers you got right. The scaled score weights those answers based on difficulty, but the percentile score does not. Remember: you do not get any points off for guessing wrong on the ISEE. So, you are only being counted for how many answers you got correct. The SSAT takes points off for wrong answers, and the scoring mechanism is different as a result. For the percentile score, you are not being compared to other students on that test day. Instead, you are being evaluated based on what the test creators think should be the average score at your level. So, a score of 50% means you are right on track. This can be confusing because earning a 50% on a math or history test would be bad news. The thing to remember is the ISEE is not designed so you can get all of the answers correct. Instead you are supposed to miss about half of the answers if you are a typical student in your grade. This is the only way to get an idea of which students, if any, are well above average.

Stanine Score

The stanine score is basically just a numerical interpretation of your percentage. Two student could get very different percentage scores, such as 45% and 51%, but both get a 5 on the stanine score. This portion is a statement of how well a student does compared to other students taking the test that day. So, the stanine score is more subjective. The stanine score is usually the score submitted to a high school. This can be tricky for you if you happened to have an off day. However, it also means you will not be discriminated against if you simply got a hard test. Since other students got the same hard test, you will only be expected to perform as well as they did and not suffer disproportionately.

What is a Good ISEE Score?

A good ISEE score is 5 or higher. So few websites are willing to provide you with this information, and the ERB and ISEE sites are not willing to say this outright either. However, it is safe to say a score of 5 or higher will mean you have a chance at acceptance to most private schools. If your score is a 5 instead of a 6 or 7, you may be excluded from some of the most competitive private schools. Ultimately, the school you are applying to is the one setting the standard for what is acceptable. You should also note your score does not exist in a bubble; you are compared to other students applying that year.

The cost of private college has capped $40,000 annually for most schools. This expense is too large for many families to handle alone, and student loans are becoming a more common issue for young college students. When considering whether it is best to attend a public college or a private college, there are factors other than college rank to keep in mind. The advice, “go to the best school possible,” may be outdated in today’s complicated environment. When filling out college applications, ask these questions:

Will I Go to Graduate School?

If you intend to go to graduate school, your choice of an undergraduate university becomes less important. A degree matters most in the first few years after graduating from college. When you do not yet have work experience for your resume, you will have to show your academic prowess indicates your ability to succeed. For this reason, a more prestigious degree and high GPA are important when you apply for your first job. However, if you are not applying for a job until after graduate school, then you can wait a little longer to go to a prestigious school. Top graduate schools will accept students from nearly any college if they have good grades and test scores.

Where do I Want to Work?

The school you graduate from will set you up with connections and internships in the area where the school is located. This is particularly true of public schools located in large markets. For example, attending a school like the University of Florida will present you with a number of connections with jobs in Florida. Since the school is so large, there are graduates form the school in most large companies. If you want to work in Los Angeles, you would be better off attending a University of California public school. Public schools have a greater connection to the local job market than most private schools.

What Will my Major Be?

If you already know the major you will pursue, you can elect a school that focuses on that particular major regardless of whether it is public or private. For example, the University of Missouri is a large public school known for its journalism program. Virginia Tech is known for its veterinary program. Some public schools are well-advanced in vocational majors while private schools tend to offer a more well-rounded liberal arts education.

What Connections Do I Currently Have?

One key advantage to attending a specific school is gaining contacts in your industry. For example, the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania is known for excellent connections in the business world. If you do not have connections in business and would like a job with a major financial institution, this pricey education may be worth the cost. On the other hand, if you intend to work for your family business and are well-connected, it may be worth your while to attend a less costly university. Look at reviews on placement in careers to determine how well-connected a school is in a particular industry.

Math anxiety is extremely common in children now in elementary and middle school. Math anxiety typically starts at a very young age, and it can carry over through high school and college. It is the reason identified for many low scores on SATs, and it is also believed to be the reason there is a shortage of math and science majors at college. This shortage even carries over to the professional field where math and science teachers are more scarce than social science teachers.

Math Anxiety in the United States

The New York Times highlighted the problem in a recent article that discussed how most students found participating on the American side of international math competitions are actually immigrants from other countries. In particular, India and China emphasize math as the basic skill that provides for growth of the professional workforce. In the United States, it is more common to emphasize reading and speaking skills as essential to personal and academic growth. Unfortunately, this means math typically gets the short end of the academic stick. Students think of it as unnecessary, a discipline to itself, and something to only be pursued if they want a math career.

Math Anxiety in Generation Y

Today’s students face a particular challenge because of technological impacts that reduce the need to learn arithmetic. Most students today have the opinion that they can use a calculator, which they almost always have access to thanks to cell phones and computers with the built-in function. They also tend to believe memorization is nonessential. For example, memorizing a formula seems unimportant if a student has constant access to the Internet and can simply look the formula up online. The result is a feeling that math is only taught in school because schools are outdated. Students seem to think they will never need the math again after grade school.

“Math as Life” Concept

One way to overcome math anxiety is to incorporate it more into basic and everyday needs. Students today, who are very in tune with the requirements of the real world, need to see how math can fit in and be useful on a daily basis. Introducing students to the idea math is a part of most careers is essential. For example, how will a student pursue a finance degree, keep accounting books or even simply verify a paycheck without a basic understanding of math? How about personal finance?

Interdisciplinary Instruction

In keeping with the idea that math is essential for life skills, parents and tutors can help incorporate a more interdisciplinary approach to math skills. Instead of keeping math confined to the math classroom, use the same math being learned in school to solve problems in science class or computer class. Teach students how their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem can help them understand how to build safe structures or even arrange furniture in a room. Never allow the same concept, such as algebra, to be taught in two classes without pointing out the connection.

With entrance exams fast approaching, many parents are wondering if their students can really benefit from a math tutor in the crunch. Even with as little as a week’s worth of tutoring, a significant change can be made. A tutor can try following these five steps to improving your student’s score on the test and improving math grades in the future.

Step #1: Assessment
The first step for a private tutor to take is always an effective assessment. Thankfully, most prep test review books include multiple practice tests to help a tutor get a clear picture of where the student will need help. The assessment does not need to be timed, though some teachers will recommend this. Most tutors find an un-timed assessment gives as clear a picture of strengths and weaknesses as a timed assessment.

Step #2: Arithmetic Review

Many students have the knowledge to do well in math but lack the skills. They have learned them in school, but they have forgotten them as new concepts are taught. Tutors can overcome this with a basic arithmetic review. The most common areas to forget are:

• Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions
• Multiplication and division of decimals
• Percentages, parts and statistics

Once a student has even a cursory review of these topics, the student will be able to approach the problems confidently.

Step #3: Geometry Review

Most standardized tests do not require a student to know complicated geometry. They may require a basic understanding of some geometric principles. Those principles include:

• Properties of triangles and angles
• Finding area, perimeter, surface area and volume of common shapes

A student will need to review these principles first by remembering them and second by applying them. The geometric principles are often tested most in the reasoning section of any standardized test, meaning the question may not be asked out right.

Step #4: Algebra Review

Students tend to remember basic algebraic principles, but they may miss some of the information required to build concepts in quantitative reasoning questions. Students may forget the principles of parallel lines, perpendicular lines or even absolute value. Reviewing graphs, number lines and principles of slope is key in building understanding of the algebra required on the ISEE, ACT, SAT, SSAT and even Catholic High School Entrance Exam.

Step #5: Reasoning Practice

Most students lack enough practice in quantitative reasoning to excel in this portion of the exam. Because they lack practice, they lack confidence, and this is an easy problem to remedy. Introducing students to as many reasoning problems as possible is key. They will begin to learn how questions may be asked on the test. Thankfully, again, the help of a good test prep book will take students through the required concepts for reasoning sections. Then, a tutor can simply watch the student go through the problems to gain an idea of when and how the student gets stuck. Most students will have the biggest challenge when they need to combine geometry and algebra to solve a problem.

Students and parents alike often have this question. While there are a number of potential answers on the subject, the best answer is usually “both.” The reason to take both is there is fairly low cost for a very high potential reward.

Cost of the tests
The SAT and ACT cost about $50 to register for. The student only spends about 5 hours in total taking the exams, or about one half of one day.

Studying for the tests
Most experts believe that the best way to study for both of these tests is to practice taking them. As such, it can be very beneficial to sit for as many standardized tests as possible in order to improve an ultimate score. Of course, no student should be asked to sit for the exams each time either one is given. However, sitting multiple times for both will typically result in the highest score possible from one particular student.

Benefits of taking both tests
Most schools accept either test or both tests on an admissions application. If a student performed better on one than the other, then the student can use only one test on the application. If a student did the same on both tests, then both scores can be used. Using both scores is a way to show the score was not simply a “fluke.” This is particularly important if a student has scored in the highest percentile. Achieving this score more than once is truly proving a high ability.

Point of the SAT
The SAT was designed in 1920. It is intended to measure a student’s aptitude and abilities, not necessarily a student’s knowledge. The SAT is said to require only pre-high school level schooling. However, it should be noted that students typically perform better at advanced ages and school levels. The test was initially designed for rigorous schools, like Ivy League colleges, to get an understanding of how well a student may perform in a typical freshman college course. It was a way to eliminate the gray areas surrounding high school grades as each high school had a different grading process.

Point of the ACT
The ACT was designed later in the Midwest as a comparable testing form to the SAT. The ACT, unlike the SAT, is meant to measure learned knowledge more. Instead of testing reasoning or aptitude, the ACT presents test questions similar to what a student would see on daily English, science or math exams. Most students find the ACT easier to take. However, since both tests are scaled in comparison to other test-takers, students typically perform fairly equal on the two tests.

If you have to choose one
If you are only going to take one test, then consider which colleges you will be applying to. Students applying to coastal colleges should typically take the SAT. Students applying to Midwest schools may be better off taking the ACT. If you have to take one or the other, the SAT is generally a better option because it is easier to compare than the ACT since more students tend to take the SAT each year.

There are many reasons why people need to change tutors. Tutors may not match well with students, tutors may have conflicting schedules and even the best tutors, sadly, may quit. Whenever this happens, the process of transitioning to a new tutor is crucial to continuing any success gained so far. A change in tutors can actually be traumatic for a student who does not have the confidence needed to easily move from one set of helpful hands to another. Try these tips to make the process easier:

Do not change mid-semester
It is best to ask your tutor to close out any current obligations before moving on. If your student is preparing for a test, make sure the same tutor carries out the full preparation. The same goes for changing in the middle of a semester. Students often see new semesters as a wholly new challenge, and they will accept a new tutor as easily as they accept a new teacher in a subject.

Talk openly about the change
Do not leave room for surprises when a new tutor shows up. Make sure your student is well-aware the tutor will be leaving and when that will occur. If the student has specific questions for the tutor, make time to have those answered. Some students will really like the way a particular tutor corrects papers, for example, so make sure they can have this done on a key term paper before the tutor leaves. Students who are surprised when their tutor leaves can end up feeling a loss of confidence on a test or paper.

Have the old tutor train the new tutor
If your tutor has worked with your student for a long time, suggest he or she meet with the new tutor briefly. The existing tutor can provide notes on the student’s strengths and weaknesses, so the new tutor can pick up right where the existing tutor leaves off. Starting from the beginning can set a student back.

Have some overlap
Its a good idea to have two tutors overlap with your student to make the transition easier. That way, if the student has specific questions for the old tutor, he or she can answer those questions and address the gap with the new tutor. You will be surprised to see how much a tutor has learned about your student’s habits after just a short period of time. Getting into the same flow with a new tutor can be a bit of a challenge, and an overlap will help this go smoother.

Work with an agency
If you use an independent tutor, you are more likely to have problems with the tutor quitting mid-semester or dropping the ball when its time to leave. Working with a tutoring agency means you will automatically have a new tutor in the door the second your existing tutor leaves. Agencies have practices in place to make sure there is not a gap, and all of their tutors have the same or similar training to ensure there is not a huge difference in expectations.

A lot of parents ask us how often we recommend having a tutor. There’s no real answer to this, but there is certainly strength in repetition.

Why Schools Can’t Repeat

One of the main problems with teacher cut back and overstuffed classrooms is teachers don’t get the chance to really repeat a lesson with students. This becomes an even greater problem when teachers are trying to teach to national standardized tests. Often, these tests are so broad, teachers are forced to give only a cursory review of a concept before moving forward. The losers? Students.

The problem is expounded when schools fail to use the whole education approach to teaching. While it would be ideal for a history teacher to correct grammar on a paper, this rarely happens. Similarly, it would be great if students used their algebra knowledge in chemistry, but they often don’t. The solution? Repetition at home.

Why Repetition Works

The main reason a tutor should favor repetition is to look for patterns in the student’s learning, behavior and abilities. When a student misses one question about an appositive phrase, for example, was it just the one question, or does the student lack an understanding of appositives? Repetition is most effective during homework time when a student is actually working out a problem he or she previously learned instead of just following along. Unfortunately, you cannot count on a student to force repetition on himself or herself.
You don’t have to take our word for it: there is scientific proof that repetition works. Studies show it forms the connection of synapses in brain cells. Only once this connection is made strong will a student truly learn the information. It then becomes easy to apply in the future, no matter how long down the line, and the student will not even remember when or how he or she learned the information to begin with.
For example, do you remember learning the Pledge of Allegiance? Probably not, but can you say it? Most likely. We learned this short pledge by repeating it every single day in school. Even if you haven’t said it since you were in grade school, you can still likely call upon this deeply formed memory to repeat the Pledge later in life.
Meeting Regularly and Repeating Exercises
Because it is essential to repeat, it is essential for a tutor to meet with a student regularly. Some students and parents would like a tutor to come for just one hour a week to answer math questions. But without actually going through the practice of doing the exercises with a tutor at hand, the student may not get an accurate feel for where he or she is strong and where the student really needs more work. Ultimately, it is best to meet for at least 3 hours a week for any subject a student is truly struggling in. This can be tapered off once the concepts are better-formed. If your student can focus, try to set longer sessions instead of just meeting more often.

Some parents will wonder if it is a good idea to have a student meet with a tutor over the holiday recess. While we generally advocate tutoring over summer break, the holiday period comes with more complications. There are some rewards to tutoring during this break, but here are also many draw backs.

Rewards to Holiday Tutoring

We all know students can lose track of their school work during the holiday break. Most teachers at the middle school level and above will assign some degree of work during this time period. Colleges typically have a semester break at this time. Secondary schools, however, often do not end their semester until after the holiday. Even if the semester has ended, secondary school students likely have the same classes for a full year, giving teachers the chance to assign work over the break.

If a student does no school work over the break at all, the student will likely be behind come January. Since students have trouble concentrating and keeping a schedule during this time period, having a tutor can increase the effectiveness of any study time. It is also possible to use a private tutor over the breaks to provide support in areas the student is weak in. This is ideal because the student is not distracted with the day-to-day demands of school outside of the tutoring sessions.

Downsides to Tutoring Over Break

• Some families simply want time to relax and be together during holiday breaks. This is a benefit students deserve, and you may find it is best to show that there is a time and a place to put down work and just relax.
• Just because a tutor is present, a student does not completely shift gears and get back into school mode when on break. While it is true a tutor will make holiday studying more effective, the same tutor would be most effective at a time when the student shows better focus.
• The tutor will have to create concrete lesson plans if the student does not have pressing academic needs. This works great with a dedicated tutor experienced with creating an agenda. Some tutors, however, are better suited to supplement education that is occurring in the classroom. They may have difficulty teaching a student who does not have an agenda from a teacher.
• Tutors are people, too. They may have busy schedules over the holidays that prevent them from being present when you most desire them.

Making the Choice

Ultimately, it is best to forgo tutoring during holiday break unless you know of a concrete need your student has. For example, SAT or ISEE tutoring can be moved forward during the break. Similarly, subject tutoring for a subject your student struggled in can be very effective. If your student mostly needs help completing homework or asking questions outside of class, it is better to only meet with a tutor when school is in session. Otherwise, you will likely find the lessons are much less productive.

Teachers are assigned finals to younger students than ever before. Today, it is not rare for a fifth grader to have finals. While this can be very stressful for such a young student, there are many advantages. The main reason students take finals at a young age is to teach them the skills they will need for taking much harder finals in the future. As such, it is critical for students to apply good study skills to their final exams early on.

Step #1 Make a Checklist

The first step in all successful finals studying is to sit down and make a checklist of items needing accomplished in each subject. Arrange these by subject. For example, an English final may include reviewing a study guide for a novel, completing practice grammar exams and reviewing all vocabulary. Once each subject has been covered, it is time to prioritize the checklist.

Step #2 Set Due Dates

Your due dates for each step should reflect your priorities, not just when the test happens to be occurring. For example, you do not need to make your Health test your number 1 priority just because it is first if you already have an A+ in the class. Prioritize based on how long each subject will take to study for as well as how high your grade is in the class. Even a difficult history exam may be a low priority if you already have a 95% there but only an 83% in Spanish. Based on priorities, due dates for each subject and each micro step can be set.

Step #3 Gather Materials

The best indicator for what will be on a final exam is the material on previous exams and quizzes. You should gather all previous exams and quizzes and place them in chronological order; note any that you received low scores on as you will need to study these more. Gather any study guides your teacher provided along the way. With these materials in hand, you have a “finals packet” for each subject to guide you in your work.

Step #4 Start Checking Items Off

The preparation is done, and its time to dig in and study! Students who start studying before they are fully prepared with checklists will often devote too much time to areas that are low priority. By setting the checklist first, you can move through your studying without worrying about the other items on your list. As long as you stick to your schedule, you will get through every thing you need to do prior to finals time.

Step #5 Leave time for Questions

You should leave a cushion of time after you have completed all your studying before the tests. One or two days is all you need to ask questions of a professor or teacher if necessary. You do not want to be going into the test with any item not 100% clear in your head. When you ask questions, you are also showing the teacher you have prepared well for the exam. While this becomes less important at a higher level, effort is rewarded among young students.

Most standardized test boards permit for at least two testing opportunities. This is not just true of the SAT, even in the future LSAT and MCAT tests permit retakes. Depending on the given procedure of the testing board, scores are averaged, combined or the highest score can be taken. While it is not the best idea to continually retake tests and place extra pressure on the test-taker, there are some scenarios when a retake should be used to your advantage.

You scored lower than on the practice exams

If you consistently received a higher score on practice exams than on the actual test, one of a few scenarios likely occurred. First, each of these tests is a little different, and some may play to your favor more than others. It is likely you simply got a test form that was poorly matched to your skill set. Second, it is possible your nerves got the best of you on test day. This is the more common scenario. In both of these cases, you will likely improve your score by a retest.

You failed to achieve the score required by your school of choice

If you know your college, high school or graduate school requires a minimum test score, you will want to retake a test to see if you can achieve that score. Going into the test, you should have a comfortable assumption of the score you can attain based on your practice test scores. If your practice tests are below the minimum required by the school of your choice, you may need to work on the other areas of your application in order to have a better shot at acceptance. While test scores are typically among the top three items considered, good grades and a good application can assist you in overcoming a lower score to gain acceptance. Nonetheless, it will not hurt you to try again in most cases if you are shooting for a score slightly over those you achieved on practice tests.

You were sick or distracted

You don’t usually have the luxury of changing your test date last minute if you become sick or suffer another distraction, such as a death in the family. As such, you may be forced to take the test when you are not in the best mindset. If your score comes back much lower than you’d hoped in this scenario, do not be afraid to simply take the test again. Every testing board, from the ISEE to the LSAT, knows people have off days. This is the main reason they offer the chance to retake the test.

When not to retake the test

• If you have taken the test twice and your score has not improved, you will save yourself a lot of stress and hassle by refusing a third attempt.
• If you are being pressured through an outside source, such as a school counselor, but do not want to retake the test, the choice is yours to say no.
• If your score qualifies you for the vast majority of schools you are applying to, and you are satisfied, then call it a day and take the score you have achieved!