Roadmap to secondary school admissions test prep

For students beginning freshman year at a private high school, getting ready for back-to-school season is about more than just planning out first-day outfits and gearing up for sports practice and homework. In fact, the secondary school admissions prep (SSAP) process generally starts more than a year in advance. Studying for the ISEE or SSAT—the two exams most commonly required for acceptance into private high schools—is a large part of that prep, and navigating the process can feel like a bit of a maze. However, the timeline below provides a handy roadmap to guide you through the process.

Timeline

May–June

This is when your 7th-grader should take a diagnostic ISEE and/or SSAT if they're planning to apply for admission into a private high school starting freshman year. These exams test students on verbal skills, reading comprehension, and math content knowledge. If you’re working with ArborBridge, we can help you decide which test is best for your child.

June–August

Summer is an ideal time to begin work with a tutor. Your child will focus on fundamental math content review and vocabulary practice and learn how to navigate standardized test questions.

August 1^st

Registration for the ISEE and SSAT opens on August 1^st for the upcoming academic year. For the ISEE, it’s advisable to register for two test dates, typically in November and December, to cover both the fall and winter test seasons. If your child is taking the SSAT, then, depending on your preparation timeline, consider registering for two to three test dates, including October, November, and December. Data indicates that students who take the test multiple times tend to perform better, so planning for more than one test can be beneficial.

August–September

The prep process continues! If your child is working with an ArborBridge tutor, the tutor will discuss approaches for the whole test—that means navigating pacing, addressing content gaps, and introducing tools to cultivate a strong test-taking mindset.

October

If your child is taking the SSAT, October is often an ideal time for a first real exam. This test is often framed as a practice round to reduce stress, as there will be other available SSAT or ISEE test dates in the coming months.

November

The practice test process and work between the tutor and student continues. Your child should plan to take their first ISEE or second SSAT this month. Their results will guide the plan going forward.

December–January

If your child is taking the ISEE, they will take their second ISEE this month. If your child has opted to take a third SSAT, they will also take an exam this month. In general, it's ideal to take the final SSAT no later than December to ensure scores are returned in time for January application deadlines. Reminder: Students may take up to two computer-based SSATs, five paper-based SSATs, and one Flex test. ISEE test-takers are limited to two exams during the application season—one during the fall testing window (August–November) and one during the winter testing window (December–March).

Whether you’ve got questions or are ready to get the process started on your secondary school admissions test prep, we’re here for you. Contact us today for more information.