For families in Yorkville, applying to independent schools means getting comfortable with the Independent School Entrance Exam. The ISEE is the standardized test that many private schools in and around the neighborhood use in their admission process, and several of New York City’s best-known independent schools sit right here in the East 80s and 90s. Whether your child is aiming for a private middle school nearby or the high school of your choice elsewhere in Manhattan, the ISEE is often the first big step.
Kelly Clement of MindMine Education helps Yorkville students get to know the test inside and out. The ISEE looks different depending on your child’s grade, so choosing the right test level matters. The Lower Level exam, Middle Level, and ISEE Upper Level each include four scored sections: verbal reasoning, the quantitative reasoning section, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement. The essay section is the fifth section, and while it’s unscored, it’s sent to every school your child applies to. The Primary Level exam works a bit differently, with a shorter format designed for the youngest test takers.
Here’s some good news that surprises many parents: there is no incorrect answer penalty on the ISEE. A student’s raw score simply counts correct answers, so students should answer every question. Kelly teaches test-taking strategies built around this, from narrowing answer choices to pacing within each time limit to translating word problems in the math section into steps a student can actually follow.
Families can also choose between the paper test and the online version of the test, and Kelly helps students prepare for whichever format they’ll face on test day.
Yorkville sits inside the Upper East Side, so families weighing options across the wider neighborhood can also read about Upper East Side ISEE test prep, which goes deeper on practice tests and score reports.
Covering:
Yorkville families have a variety of options for test preparation: a prep book from the bookstore, a self-paced prep course, online courses, small group classes, or a private tutor. Each works in different ways, but the best way to prepare depends on your child, not the industry average. A generic program moves at one speed. A tutor moves at your child’s.
Kelly starts every student with an ISEE practice test to see where they stand, then builds a personalized study plan around the results. Instead of reviewing everything at the same depth, the prep plan targets the specific areas where extra practice will lift the overall score most, whether that’s vocabulary for verbal reasoning or multi-step word problems. Practice questions come with clear answer explanations, not just an answer key, so students understand why an answer works and can repeat it on the real thing.
Along the way, Kelly tracks student progress and adjusts the plan as skills solidify, keeping sessions matched to your child’s grade level and your family’s target schools. She also points families toward additional resources for practice between sessions, including MindMine’s own materials like 16 Timed Sets for the Lower Level ISEE and Watermelon Math.
An 8th grader prepping for Upper Level exams needs a different plan than a fourth grader just meeting the test. That’s the whole point of working 1:1.
Covering:
My daughter thoroughly enjoyed Kelly’s rapport and style. The idea of a “tutoring session” sometimes is not very appealing to an adolescent. However my daughter always ended her sessions feeling relieved and positive about her progress”.
Sounds like the right fit?
Send us a message via our contact form (or via email), and we'll be happy to help! Click the button below.
