Making the Move: A First-Timer’s Guide to Private School Admissions

Are you considering having your children attend a competitive private school? It’s becoming a popular option for many families, which has the consequence of making selective middle and high schools even more difficult to get into. A big question for first-time applicants is the SSAT vs ISEE choice, since most private schools require one of these admissions tests.

A key component of private school admissions is standardized testing. The SSAT and ISEE are the two main standardized tests for private school admissions. Both measure verbal, math, and reading skills, but differ in format, scoring, and regional preference. Most schools accept only one of the exams, so families often compare SSAT vs ISEE when planning applications.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the two most common admissions tests: the SSAT and the ISEE.

Can we choose which test our child will take?

Maybe, but probably not. Unlike college admissions, where schools consider the SAT and ACT in equal regard, many independent schools partner with either the SSAT or the ISEE. Additionally, preference for either test tends to be regional, so hopefully your child only needs to take one test or the other.

My kid has great marks! What is the point of this test? 

These admissions tests allow schools to evaluate students with a standardized metric, creating a fair comparison across different schools, grading systems, and regions. The SSAT and ISEE provide admissions officers with a consistent way to assess academic readiness beyond classroom grades.

Should I send my child in blind to the test? 

Absolutely not! These tests are quite different from what students typically see in school. Even high-achieving students often struggle with the question types, timing, and logic of the SSAT and ISEE. Instead, have your student prepare ahead of time — the best step is to complete a timed practice ISEE test or SSAT practice under real conditions.

There are in-person paper options and online in-home options for the test. Which is best?

We would recommend in-person testing, especially for the younger grades. Both the SSAT and ISEE added at-home testing during the pandemic, but the tech can be unreliable, and creating a quiet, isolated testing environment at home can be rather challenging.

My child is always top of the class. Why is the percentile so low?

Both the SSAT and ISEE offer percentiles based on grade level, but these are based on students who are taking the test. These are not nationwide percentiles, as they only include a group of highly motivated and prepared students.

I can’t find a percentile cutoff for my top school pick. Why’s that?

Schools typically do not publish a percentile cutoff. The reason is that they need to build a campus culture with students of various academic and non-academic talents. The SSAT and ISEE are good at showing if students are strong at standardized testing, but it’s not the only admissions metric. Many schools choose to keep how they use these percentiles private rather than proclaim they only enroll students with 90th percentile or above.

Can a student’s score improve? We only have a few months.

Absolutely! Both the SSAT and ISEE are very coachable. Some strategies on specific question types, vocabulary review, and some math & reading practice can go a long way toward improving scores. For example, learning elimination strategies for multiple-choice questions often helps students raise accuracy under timed conditions. Professional ISEE test prep programs or SSAT tutoring can also help students boost their confidence and performance quickly.

When are the ISEE and SSAT test dates?

The ISEE does not offer nationwide test dates. You will need to look up when and where there are testing locations near you. 

The SSAT has nationwide test dates for paper testing October 11th, November 15th, December 13th, January 3rd, January 31st, and March 7th.

How many times can my child take the SSAT or ISEE?

On the ISEE, a student can only take the test once per testing season: Fall (August to November), Winter (December to March) and Spring/Summer (April to July). However, most applications close in January or February, which means that most students will only be able to take the ISEE a maximum of two times.

The SSAT offers plenty of options to take the test. They could take all of the nationwide testing days.  Additionally, a student can take one at-home SSAT, one flex test (scheduled with a provider), and two tests at a Prometric center. We suggest that you plan to have your student take the SSAT at least twice and leave time for a third test.