Private School Prep

Prepare for Success in Private School

There are many reasons why a private middle school or high school could be the best option for your child. Some children need or prefer the extra teacher attention, while others prefer the additional academic challenges or more plentiful arts programs.

The admissions process can be just as stressful as the college admissions process. Just like college, private schools have their own exams that students must take and those scores are taken into account when offering admission. Schools decide whether they will accept the ISEE, SSAT, HSPT, COOP, or TACHS. These are 2-3 hour multiple-choice exams that focus on reading, writing and math. Just like the SAT/ACT, these tests require advanced preparation.

Let us Help You Prepare for Private School Tests!

At Servidio Education Solutions:

Students meet weekly with their tutors. Outside of class, tutors can monitor students’ progress on a daily basis.
Practice questions are assigned every week, but tutors can provide immediate feedback. If a student gets ahead, more practice can be given without having to wait for the next weekly meeting.
Tutoring runs for a few months, depending on your schedule. It can usually be shortened or extended if needed.

We will ensure that your child gets the individual attention they deserve, which will help them concentrate on the parts of the test they really need to work on. We’ve found that many test prep curricula have students study for the ISEE, SSAT, HSPT, COOP, or TACHS simply by doing set after set of practice problems. It’s like trying to learn an instrument just by playing songs rather than practicing scales or chords. You aren’t truly mastering the fundamentals.

When a slightly altered version of a practice problem comes up on the test, it can totally throw the student off. We have students take a few practice exams to find out what their weak areas are. Once those have been identified, the focus is to take a step back and actually dive deeper into the concepts that need work.

In addition, we will hold your hand through the admissions process and applying for scholarships where applicable. We will also prepare your child for the school interview going over everything from body language and dress to appropriate questions to ask, commonly asked questions and how to send a personalized thank you as a follow up.

When We Administer Practice Tests:

Students take a full exam so they get a feel for the pacing of the test which will help make sure your student doesn’t burn out early.
We keep strict timing on each section. Even an extra minute can artificially increase your child’s score. You also aren’t allowed to skip to the next section, or return to a previous one even if you finish early.
Students use only the allowed materials. Only use a calculator when permitted and make sure phones, computers or other distractions aren’t around.
Students take only official breaks. Entrance exams are a marathon with only a few breaks built in. Your student should get used to staying focused during long sessions.
Students take it at the same time of day that the entrance exams are normally given. Often exams are scheduled early in the morning.