Who online one-on-one tutoring suits
This section answers the first question most families ask: whether tutoring is the right form of preparation for a particular student. Online one-on-one tutoring suits students who need instruction matched to a specific gap, who have a fixed test date, or who prepare more effectively with a tutor than alone. Families who want to compare tutoring with self-study and with an online practice platform can start at the test preparation overview.
Tutoring is most useful in four situations:
- A student whose practice results show one weak section, such as Verbal Reasoning, and who needs focused teaching rather than more of the same practice.
- A student who is strong in mathematics but reads slowly, or whose first language is not English, so that vocabulary and reading speed limit every section.
- A family with a narrow window before a testing season that wants a written plan and a steady weekly structure.
- A student who has tested once and needs an error-by-error review before a retake in a later season.
Students who are self-directed and who score steadily in untimed practice may not need a full package. The study plans page describes a structured self-study route, and tutoring hours can be added later for the sections that remain weak.
How sessions work online
This section describes the format. Every session is one-on-one and takes place online, so a student in any state can work with the same teaching team. Sessions are scheduled around the family’s time zone and weekly availability, and the schedule may change as the test date approaches and the plan shifts from teaching to timed practice.
The content covers vocabulary, reading, writing, mathematics and logic, which together correspond to every section of the test. A tutor does not teach all five areas in equal measure. The emphasis follows the diagnostic: a student who reads at grade level but loses points on quantitative comparisons spends most sessions on mathematics and logic, while a student whose vocabulary lags spends more time on word study and reading.
The four-step process
This section lists what happens from the first conversation to the weeks before the test. Each step produces something the family can keep, and a family may stop after any step.
- Diagnostic. The student completes a timed set at the level that matches the grade being applied to, and the result is sorted by question type. A useful finding names a skill, for example “information extraction in geometry word problems”, rather than a general label such as “weak at math”.
- Written plan. The advisor reviews the target schools, the grade, the chosen testing season and the weekly time available, then writes a plan that sets section priorities and a recommended number of hours. The plan states its reasoning so that parents can judge it.
- Section-by-section lessons. Lessons are arranged around the diagnostic and cover only what needs work. Vocabulary building, timed sets and error review all take place inside the lessons, and parents receive a short note after each one describing the range practiced, the change in accuracy and the goal for the next lesson.
- Mock-test review. Before the test, the student sits one or more full-length practice tests under timed conditions to build stamina and pacing. After scores arrive, the tutor and the family decide whether a retake is worthwhile, bearing in mind that a student may test only once per season. The scores guide explains how stanines and percentiles are read.
A student who wants a first look at the test before committing can use the free trial, which includes one full-length practice test with section scores and an error report.
Tutoring emphasis by level
This section explains how the teaching focus changes with the level. The level is set by the grade the student is applying to enter, and each level has its own page with its structure.
| Level | Applying to | Typical tutoring emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Primary 2–4 | Grades 2–4 | Parent-led practice, test-format familiarity, reading habits; few sessions |
| Lower | Grades 5–6 | Vocabulary growth, reading pace, adjusting to the full four-section structure and the essay |
| Middle | Grades 7–8 | Vocabulary volume, passage strategy, timed Quantitative Reasoning |
| Upper | Grades 9–12 | Vocabulary volume, time-pressure decisions in Quantitative Reasoning, more mock tests and review |
Source: E3n, ISEE overview (admission.org), checked 2026-08-24. The emphasis column is a teaching recommendation, not a specification from E3n.
Three points sit behind the table. At the Primary levels, the most effective support is often a parent who reads aloud, asks the student to explain answers and keeps practice short; the tutor shows the parent how. At the Lower Level, words are the main lever, because a wider vocabulary improves Verbal Reasoning and makes the reading passages easier at the same time. At the Middle and Upper Levels, the volume of vocabulary expected is larger, and Quantitative Reasoning rewards a student who can decide quickly which questions to answer first and which to skip and return to. Time management is therefore taught as an explicit skill at these levels rather than left to chance.
Packages and prices
This section lists what tutoring costs. The trial lesson lets a student and tutor test the fit, and the larger packages are chosen after the diagnostic and the written plan.
| Package | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Trial lesson | 1 hour | $150 |
| Starter package | 20 hours | $3,000 |
| Standard package | 50 hours | $6,500 |
| Comprehensive package | 100 hours | $12,000 |
Prices checked 2026-09-30; confirm at enrollment.
Every package is online and covers vocabulary, reading, writing, mathematics and logic. The package a family selects depends on the written plan, and the plan can be purchased in part. The consultation that precedes the diagnostic is free and carries no obligation to enroll. Students who also want independent practice between lessons can add an account on the online learning system, which is priced separately.
What tutoring does not promise
This section sets expectations. Tutoring does not promise a particular score, a particular stanine or an admission offer. Admission decisions are made by each school, and the ISEE is one part of an application that also includes grades, recommendations and an interview. ISEEPrep is an independent preparation service and does not have an official relationship with E3n (formerly ERB), the organizer of the ISEE, or with any school.
Families should be cautious about any provider that guarantees a result. What a tutor can offer is a clear diagnosis, a method that the student can repeat, a record of progress after each lesson and an honest recommendation about the number of hours.
Families who need in-person instruction
The tutoring on this page is online only. Families who prefer in-person instruction can read the program published at edub.us/isee, which describes a separate local offering. A family that is unsure which format fits can describe the student’s grade, goals and timeline when it books a free consultation, and an advisor will suggest a next step.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ISEE tutor work with a family in a different time zone?
Yes. Sessions are online and are scheduled around the time zone and weekly availability of the family, so students on the East Coast, in the Midwest or on the West Coast follow the same program. Families name the days and hours that work, and the advisor matches them with a tutor whose schedule fits.
How many hours of ISEE tutoring does a student need?
It depends on the level, the starting point and the time left before the target testing season. The diagnostic shows which sections need work, and the written plan states a recommended number of hours with the reasoning. A family may enroll in only part of that recommendation.
What happens if a student does not get along with the tutor?
The one-hour trial lesson exists to test the match before a larger package is purchased. If a family wants a different tutor after enrolling, the request goes through the advisor. The process for changing tutors is confirmed at enrollment, before payment for a package.
What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy for sessions?
Notice periods, rescheduling terms and the treatment of unused hours are stated in the enrollment terms rather than on this page. Families should read those terms before buying a package and ask the advisor to explain any point that is unclear.
Does ISEE tutoring promise a higher score or admission?
No. A score depends on the starting point, the effort invested and the student's condition on test day, and admission decisions rest with each school. ISEEPrep does not promise a score increase or an admission result. It can describe the method, the plan and the progress record for each step.
Is ISEE tutoring useful for students applying to grades 2, 3 or 4?
It can be, in a lighter form. At the Primary levels the goals are familiarity with the test format and steady reading habits, so sessions are fewer and a parent usually practices at home between them. The plan states which parts of preparation do not require lessons.
Is in-person ISEE tutoring available?
The tutoring described on this page is online only. Families who want in-person instruction can review the ISEE program published at edub.us, which describes a separate local offering.
Sources2 sources · checked 2026-09-30
Last reviewed 2026-09-30 · Next review 2026-12-31 · Reviewed by ISEEPrep teaching team
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