ISEE and SSAT prep for independent school admissions.
One-on-one preparation for the tests independent schools use, built around how each one is scored and planned around the schools on your list. Online from anywhere, or in person near Philadelphia. We prepare students for the Archdiocese's HSPT too.
- Prep built for each test's format and scoring
- Planned around your schools' requirements
- Coaching suited to your child's age
Sound familiar?
First high-stakes test
Often the first time a child has faced a test that carries real consequences. Confidence gets coached alongside the content.
Applying to selective schools
The score is one piece of an application with a deadline. Prep is planned backward from the test date the school requires.
Anxious about testing
Capable students who freeze on timed work. Familiarity with the format does most of the work here.
The ISEE and the SSAT, side by side
They measure much the same things: verbal reasoning, reading, and math. They differ in how they are built, scored, and scheduled, and those differences change how a student should prepare and which test suits them.
| ISEE | SSAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | Students applying to grades 2 through 12 | Students currently in grades 3 through 11 |
| Scored sections | Verbal Reasoning (40 questions, 20 min), Quantitative Reasoning (37, 35 min), Reading Comprehension (36, 35 min), Mathematics Achievement (47, 40 min) | Two Quantitative sections (30 min each), Verbal (30 min), Reading (40 min) |
| Unscored, but part of the test | A 30-minute essay. Families never see it; every school that receives scores gets a copy | A 25-minute writing sample, sent to every school that receives scores, and a 15-minute experimental section that does not count |
| Testing time | 2 hours 40 minutes, plus two breaks | 2 hours 50 minutes, plus two breaks |
| Wrong answers | No penalty. Answer every question | Lose a quarter point each. Guess only after ruling choices out |
| How often | Once per season (fall, winter, spring and summer), up to three times a year | Six standard Saturday sittings and one Flex test on paper, plus at-home and Prometric options |
| Where | At home, at a school, at a testing office, or at a Prometric center | On paper at a test center, at a Prometric center, or at home |
Middle and Upper Levels: on the ISEE, students applying to grades 7 through 12; on the SSAT, students currently in grades 5 through 11.
ISEE levels follow the grade you are applying to. SSAT levels follow the grade you are in.
The ISEE names its levels by the grade a student is applying TO. The SSAT names its levels by the grade a student is currently IN. So a 5th grader applying to 6th grade takes the ISEE Lower Level but the SSAT Middle Level, and a 4th grader takes the ISEE Lower Level but the SSAT Elementary Level. Mixing up the two conventions is an easy way to register for the wrong level.
ISEE
Named by the grade you are applying to
| Level | Who takes it |
|---|---|
| Primary 2, 3, 4 | Applying to grade 2, 3, or 4 |
| Lower | Applying to grades 5 to 6 |
| Middle | Applying to grades 7 to 8 |
| Upper | Applying to grades 9 to 12 |
SSAT
Named by the grade you are currently in
| Level | Who takes it |
|---|---|
| Elementary | Currently in grades 3 to 4 |
| Middle | Currently in grades 5 to 7 |
| Upper | Currently in grades 8 to 11 |
How many times you can take each one
These three tests could not be more different on this point, and it should shape which one a student prepares for and when.
ISEE
Once per testing season, up to three times a year
There are three seasons: fall from August to November, winter from December to March, and spring and summer from April to July. Test in September and the earliest retake is December.
SSAT
Six standard sittings a year at Middle and Upper level, plus more
Six standard Saturday sittings and one Flex test on paper, plus one at home and a Prometric test center option on computer. Elementary level is capped at three.
HSPT
Once. Ever.
No retake, no superscore, no second attempt the following year. This is the outlier and it is why preparation matters more here than for the other two.
Accommodations are the other thing to settle before registering. The ISEE and the SSAT both make you wait for the decision first, and registering ahead of it is how families end up paying to reschedule.
ISEE scores
Scaled scores from 760 to 940, percentile ranks, and stanines from 1 to 9
Stanines are what schools look at. One to three is below average, four to six average, seven to nine above.
The comparison group is students who took the ISEE in the past three years applying to the same grade. The test maker says outright that this is a competitive group and that a student may score lower here than on tests with a broader comparison group. That sentence is worth showing an anxious parent.
SSAT scores
Scaled scores by level, plus percentiles
The percentile is the number schools weigh, and it is a harder comparison than it looks.
You are ranked against first-time test takers in your grade over the past three years, in the US and Canada only. Repeat sittings are excluded from the pool, which means the comparison group is stronger than the full population of test takers.
One of them punishes a guess
The ISEE has no penalty for a wrong answer, so a student should answer every question. The SSAT deducts a quarter point for a wrong answer at Middle and Upper level, so random guessing costs you. Eliminate two of the five choices and an educated guess is still worth making. The Elementary SSAT has no penalty.
What Philadelphia-area schools require
Every independent school on this list accepts the ISEE for middle and upper school, and all but two accept the SSAT just as readily. Friends' Central and Shipley take the ISEE only.
Which is why, absent a specific reason to prefer the SSAT, the ISEE is the safer default here. It keeps every school on this list open, and at three of the Catholic high schools it can stand in for the HSPT.
| School | Middle and upper school | Younger applicants | First deadline, fall 2027 entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abington Friends School admissions page (opens in a new tab) | SSAT, ISEE, or a WISC-V evaluation (grades 5 to 12) | Grades 1 to 4 are assessed on the visit day | December 4, 2026 (first priority) |
| The Agnes Irwin School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 6 to 12); PSAT also accepted, typically for 11 and 12 | Grades 2 to 4: ISEE Primary or WISC-V | December 4, 2026 |
| The Baldwin School admissions page (opens in a new tab) | ISEE or SSAT, taken in person or online (grades 6 to 12) | Grades 1 to 5: WPPSI or WISC-V | December 1, for an early-January decision |
| The Episcopal Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 6 to 11) | Grades 2 to 5: ISEE (Primary, then Lower Level) | December 4 for grades 9 to 11; December 11 for grades 8 and below |
| Friends' Central School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE only (middle and upper school) | Kindergarten to grade 5: WPPSI or WISC | December 7, 2026 |
| Friends Select School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 5 to 12) | January 1 | |
| George School admissions page (opens in a new tab) | SSAT or ISEE, or a PSAT, SAT, or ACT score (grades 9 to 12) | January 15, 2027 | |
| Germantown Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 6 to 11) | Grades 2 to 5: WISC-V | File complete by December 11 for the first round |
| Germantown Friends School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 6 to 11) | December 16, 2026 (first round) | |
| The Haverford School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 6 to 12) | Grades 1 to 5: WPPSI-V or WISC-V | December 1 for grades 6 to 9 (first round) |
| The Hill School admissions page (opens in a new tab) | SSAT, ISEE, or PSAT (grades 9 and 10) | Grades 11 and 12: PSAT, SAT, ACT, or SSAT | January 31, 2027 |
| Moorestown Friends School admissions page (opens in a new tab) | Most recent standardized test scores; ISEE or SSAT recommended if there are none from the past year (grades 5 to 12) | November 30, 2026 (early decision); March 5, 2027 (regular) | |
| The Shipley School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE only (grades 5 to 12, Lower Level for grade 5) | Grades 1 to 4: WISC-V | December 1 |
| Springside Chestnut Hill Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | ISEE or SSAT (grades 9 to 12; 11 and 12 may send PSAT, SAT, or ACT) | Grades 5 to 8: ISEE or SSAT, or MAP, ERB, TerraNova, or PSSA reports | December 1, 2026 |
| Westtown School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | SSAT or ISEE, or another standardized test the school accepts (grades 6 to 12) | December 1 (day students); January 15 (boarding) | |
| William Penn Charter School admissions page (opens in a new tab) (PRISEC member) | SSAT or ISEE, plus a graded writing sample (grades 6 to 12) | Grades 2 to 5: ISEE | December 1, 2026 |
Many of them share one calendar
Schools marked with a dot are members of PRISEC, the Philadelphia Region Independent School Enrollment Consortium, and publish the same earliest dates.
- Earliest application deadline
- December 1
- Earliest notification
- January 10
- Earliest commitment deadline
- February 15
What that means for testing: a December 1 deadline leaves room for one ISEE, because the ISEE allows one sitting per season and the fall season ends in November. The SSAT offers more than one sitting in the same months. If the ISEE is the test, plan on the fall sitting being the one that counts.
Independent Catholic high schools
For 9th grade these schools use the HSPT, and three also take the ISEE.
- Academy of Notre Dame de Namur admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT or ISEE
- Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT
- La Salle College High School admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT
- Malvern Preparatory School admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT; ISEE or SSAT results also accepted
- Merion Mercy Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT
- Mount Saint Joseph Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT
- Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT (grades 9 to 12)
- Villa Maria Academy admissions page (opens in a new tab)
HSPT; ISEE taken elsewhere also accepted
New to independent school admissions? Start here.
Most of the process happens in the fall, and each school wants several pieces. These are the steps nearly every school on the list above asks for, in roughly the order they come.
Make a list, and visit
Most schools hold open houses and tours in the fall, and many invite applicants back for a visit or a shadow day. It is also the best way to learn what each school expects.
Check each school's test, then book it
Confirm what each school requires, choose between the ISEE and the SSAT, and register early. If your child needs accommodations, request them first: both test makers say to wait for the decision before you register.
Request records and recommendations
Nearly every school asks for transcripts and teacher recommendations, often from English and math teachers. These usually go through your child's current school, so give teachers time.
Interviews and the rest of the file
Many schools include an interview. Some also ask for a graded writing sample, a parent statement, or a student questionnaire. A few accept the Standard Application Online, one application sent to several schools.
Financial aid has its own deadline
Most schools take a separate financial aid application. Its deadline is often the same day as the admissions deadline, and sometimes earlier, so check both.
Then the waiting
At the PRISEC schools, decisions arrive no earlier than January 10, and families have until at least February 15 to accept an offer.
How long to prepare, and why nobody can tell you precisely
There is no independent research on how long to prepare for these three tests in particular. The figures in circulation range from two months to over a year, and every one of them, ours included, is judgment rather than evidence. So what matters is what the judgment is anchored to.
We anchor ours to something factual: how many times your child can take the test. That differs sharply across the three, and it is the honest reason a runway should be longer or shorter.
HSPT
Four to six months
One attempt, ever. There is no second sitting to fall back on, which is the only real argument for a long runway among these three. For an Archdiocese of Philadelphia family testing in late September, that means starting in the spring of 7th grade.
ISEE
Three to four months
Once per testing season, up to three times a year. Prepare for a fall sitting and keep the winter season genuinely in reserve, rather than burning both on the same level of readiness.
SSAT
Two to three months
Six standard sittings a year at Middle and Upper level, plus other options. You can iterate, so the first sitting does not have to carry everything, and a shorter runway is usually enough.
What the HSPT's own publisher says
Scholastic Testing Service, which writes and scores the HSPT, tells families plainly that they are best advised to avoid expensive preparation materials and to trust that a well-rounded education is the best form of test preparation.
We think they are largely right, and it is why our prep is built on the underlying skills rather than on tricks. Where we help is narrow, and worth naming precisely: knowing the format so test day is not the first encounter with it, pacing under a clock, and shoring up the specific gaps a diagnostic exposes.
If you are already inside the window
Plenty of families find this page in August with a September test date. Starting late is still worth doing, and it is worth being clear about what it buys: familiarity with the format, pacing practice, and a calmer test day. On a six-week runway it is optimization rather than transformation, which is worth knowing going in rather than afterward.
For the youngest test takers
Counterintuitively, a longer runway can suit a younger student better, not because they need more drilling but because it lets the work stay light and spread out. Short, frequent sessions over several months beat concentrated cramming at any age, and for a 10-year-old facing their first real exam, the difference between the two is also the difference between building confidence and burning it.
Meet our ISEE and SSAT tutors
Select More on a card to read an instructor's background.
Ren
Founder & Lead Instructor
Founded Telos in 2016. Nearly two decades of teaching, and a 99th percentile SAT scorer who still takes the test to stay sharp.
Alex
Associate Instructor
Seven years tutoring Science, Engineering, and Math at the high-school and college level.
Amos
Associate Instructor
Six-plus years in test prep, with a gift for putting math anxiety at ease.
Jeff
Associate Instructor
More than 25 years in education, specializing in individualized K-5 support.
In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the HSPT is in September and October.
There is no national HSPT date. The diocese sets the calendar, and Philadelphia’s is one of the earliest in the country, months ahead of Chicago or the Bay Area. The Archdiocese covers Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.
Testing for fall 2027 entry took place on the dates below and is now over. Results arrive by email on November 25, 2026. Registration for the next cycle opens in the first week of August.
The Archdiocese runs it as the Collaborative Scholarship Testing Process. 8th graders across the greater Philadelphia area take one standardized test, the HSPT, and send their scores to up to three of the 15 Archdiocesan high schools to be considered for academic scholarships.
You get one attempt, and scholarships ride on it.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is explicit: students applying to its high schools may take the HSPT one time. Unlike the SAT or ACT, there is no superscore, no best sitting, and no second try in the spring. Whatever a student scores on that one morning is the score that goes to their schools, and it is the score those schools weigh for academic scholarships.
It is also only open to 8th graders, so there is no practice run in 7th grade. The first time a student takes the HSPT is the time that counts.
The ISEE and SSAT work differently. The ISEE can be taken once per testing season, up to three times a year. The SSAT offers six standard Saturday sittings a year at the Middle and Upper levels, plus Flex, Prometric, and at-home options. The HSPT is the outlier: one sitting, ever.
Registration
- Opens
- First week of August
- Closes
- Two days before each test date
- Scores to schools
- Up to 3
- Results
- November 25, 2026, by end of day, emailed from STS
Free. The Archdiocese states the test is offered at no cost to the family.
Where your child registers
It depends on where they go to school now.
Students at an Archdiocesan elementary school or an Independence Mission School
Pre-register through your current school. Students test in their own building between Monday, September 21 and Thursday, September 24, 2026. Each school administers the test on its own date inside that window.
Everyone else: public, charter, private, independent, online, or homeschool
Pre-register to test at one of the 15 Archdiocesan high schools, on that school's date in late September or early October.
High school test dates, 2026
For students not attending an Archdiocesan or Independence Mission elementary school.
| Testing site | Dates |
|---|---|
| Bishop Shanahan | September 26 & 30 |
| St. Hubert | September 26 & 28 |
| Archbishop John Carroll | September 28 |
| Cardinal O'Hara | September 29 & October 3 |
| Father Judge | October 1 & 6 |
| Bonner & Prendergast | October 3 & 5 |
| Little Flower | October 3, 4 & 5 |
| Roman Catholic | October 3 |
| Pope John Paul II | October 3 |
| West Catholic | October 3 |
| Archbishop Ryan | October 4 & 6 |
| Lansdale Catholic | October 7 |
| Archbishop Wood | October 10 |
| Conwell-Egan | October 10 |
| Neumann Goretti | October 10 |
Testing accommodations
Nine Archdiocesan high schools offer testing accommodations to students who don't attend an Archdiocesan or Independence Mission elementary school: Archbishop Carroll, Archbishop Ryan, Archbishop Wood, Bishop Shanahan, Conwell-Egan, Lansdale Catholic, Pope John Paul II, St. Hubert, and Roman Catholic. Contact the high school directly to arrange them.
Documentation has to be in before the deadline, and every student must register in advance: the Archdiocese does not permit walk-in testing. This is the one part of the process not to leave until the end.
What a session includes.
In a session
- Targeted practice for the specific exam format
- Timed-section pacing
- Reviewing mistakes while they are fresh
- Building familiarity so test day is not the first time
Alongside the content
- Coaching suited to your child's age
- Steadying nerves on timed work
- Parents kept in the loop throughout
How admissions prep works
Free diagnostic
We start with a full-length diagnostic and a conversation. It reveals exactly where a student stands, and where the fastest gains are hiding.
A plan with purpose
Telos means purpose. Every student gets a clear, personalized roadmap tied to a concrete score goal, tracked in TestTracker so progress is never a mystery.
Weekly accountability
Focused sessions plus daily practice and check-ins. We target the weak points from the week, then work toward true mastery of each skill.
Confidence on test day
Preparation builds calm. Students walk in knowing the material and the strategy, and walk out with scores that reflect the work.
What it costs.
1:1 hourly and pay-as-you-go, with no minimum commitment. Your rate is locked when you enroll and stays unchanged for as long as you keep the service.
| Service | Associate Instructor | Lead Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| ISEE, SSAT, & HSPT Prep* | $140 | $180 |
* Plus a one-time materials fee. The amount depends on the test and level, and we confirm it before you enroll.
Common questions.
Which test does my child need?
The school sets it. Every independent school on our list accepts the ISEE for middle and upper school, and all but Friends' Central and Shipley accept the SSAT too, which makes the ISEE the safer default here. Archdiocesan high schools and the independent Catholic schools on our list use the HSPT, and three of those also take the ISEE. The tables above show each school. Bring your list to the free consultation and we'll confirm before prep begins.
My child is taking both the ISEE and the SSAT. Which level do they register for?
Check carefully, because the two tests name their levels by opposite conventions. The ISEE names levels by the grade you are applying to; the SSAT names them by the grade the student is currently in. A student applying to 9th grade from 8th grade registers for ISEE Upper Level and SSAT Upper Level, but the logic getting there is different, and at other grades the labels diverge: a 5th grader applying to 6th grade is ISEE Lower Level but SSAT Middle Level. Registering for the wrong level is an easy mistake to make.
How far in advance should we start?
It depends on which test, and the honest reason is retake structure rather than difficulty. The HSPT is one attempt with no second chance, so four to six months is warranted. The ISEE allows one sitting per season, so three to four months with a later season held in reserve. The SSAT offers six standard sittings a year plus other options, so two to three months is usually enough. We give ranges rather than one number because there is no independent research on prep length for these three tests, which makes the retake structure the firmer thing to plan around.
Is my child too young for test prep?
No, but the coaching has to suit the age. For most younger students the biggest gain is simply knowing what the test looks like and how it feels to work against a clock, so test day is not the first time they meet either.
Will I know how it's going?
Yes. Parents are kept in the loop throughout, and progress is tracked in TestTracker so it's visible rather than something you have to ask about.
What does prep cost?
ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT prep are all $140/hour with an Associate Instructor and $180/hour with a Lead Instructor. There is also a one-time materials fee, and because materials differ by test and level, we confirm that amount before you enroll. Sessions are pay-as-you-go with no minimum commitment.
Can my child retake the HSPT?
No. Students applying to Archdiocese of Philadelphia high schools may take the HSPT one time, and only in 8th grade, so there is no trial run in 7th grade. There is no superscore and no second sitting in the spring. Other dioceses set their own rules, so check with yours if you are applying outside Philadelphia. The ISEE and SSAT have their own, different retake rules.
When is the HSPT in Philadelphia?
Late September into early October, which is unusually early. Registration opens in the first week of August and closes two days before each sitting, and STS emails results to parents on November 25. This year's dates by testing site are listed above.
What are your affiliations and credentials?
AffiliateTutor Program
ACT's own program and directory for tutoring providers, which ACT runs in partnership with the National Test Prep Association. Membership licenses us to use official ACT test questions in our test prep materials.
The professional association for test prep. Every member subscribes to its code of ethics, and Telos belongs as an organizational member.
Performance Specialist certification in leading performance psychologist Dr. Ben Bernstein's model for overcoming self-doubt, overwhelm, and distraction.
Book your free
consultation.
Pick a time that works and we will map out a plan for your student. For test prep it includes a full-length diagnostic; for academic tutoring, an English and Math assessment is available on request. Not ready to book? Switch to Send your details and we will reply within one business day.
- Free consultation, no obligation
- An honest, personalized game plan
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