Best Private School Test Prep in Los Angeles

One of the biggest changes that the pandemic has brought in private school admissions is the testing policy. Travel restrictions hampered the ability of families to go to testing centers to take the tests. As a result, schools revised their admission process to accommodate these changes. Terminologies such as test-optional and test-blind came about causing confusion among applicants. 

The test-optional policy gives students the option of whether to submit test scores or not. Schools with this policy claim that they will accept test scores but these will not affect their decision in any way. This means admission decisions will rely more heavily on other factors like transcripts, essays, parent statements, and virtual interviews. Many schools also replaced the tests with writing assessments done on Zoom and required students to answer questions in real-time while being proctored online by an administrator. 

Test-blind means that schools will not accept test scores so there is no point in submitting. Schools with this policy claim to follow a holistic approach and assess students based on their overall impression. 

Based on our experience, students who submit test scores get more admission advantage than those who do not. High test scores show academic achievement, readiness to take on a more challenging curriculum, and a student’s ambition and drive to succeed, qualities that private schools are looking for. Test scores differentiate one student from another who has the same grades, GPA, and extracurricular activities. 

In our practice, if a school is test-optional, we treat standardized tests as part of the application requirements and encourage our students to take the tests. 

If you’re applying to a private school in the Los Angeles Area, we recommend that you start SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT test prep about six months to a year before the actual test. This gives enough time to take practice tests, review materials, and understand the format of the test without feeling overwhelmed. 

However, if you are not confident in your abilities and you have a packed schedule due to extracurricular activities, you might need more time to prepare. Also, if certain subjects are challenging for you, Math, for example, it would be beneficial to start earlier and engage in Math tutoring to refine skills and learn techniques.

Cardinal Education is regarded as the best in test prep for private school admissions in the Bay Area. We assess students and provide recommendations on what aspects of the application need more focus on. If it’s test prep, we will match you with a test prep tutor who will work closely with you in developing skills and test-taking strategies. Our practice test materials are very effective, and our students achieve the best test scores possible to get into their desired private schools.    

Preparing for private school entrance exams can be challenging for both students and parents. Private schools in LA frequently have stringent admission standards, and entrance tests are an important part of the application process for most schools. These tests assess a student’s intellectual ability and potential and can determine whether or not they get admitted to their selected school.

Here  are 3 Tips to Prepare for Private School Admissions Test

1. Start Early
   Early preparation gives your child enough time to hone his skills, be familiar with the format, and gain the confidence to take the tests. Ideally, you should begin test prep at least one year before taking the actual test. Starting early lessens the stress and gives your child the right mindset and attitude.
2. Time Management
   Maintaining a calendar is a very helpful tool for a successful life. Teach your child to prioritize tasks and create a schedule that will balance curricular, extracurricular, and other activities. There should be a set time and day devoted to test prep. By keeping a healthy schedule and making it a habit, your child can focus on the more important things and do away with distractions.
3. Work With an Expert Tutor
   The only person who can really help your child is an expert. Look for professional and reputable test prep tutors in your area and seek their services. They have a deep knowledge of the tests, whether it’s the SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT and they have access to numerous practice tests that your child can practice on. Aside from academic skills, they also teach test-taking strategies for example, which questions to answer first and what to do when they do not know the answer. It is best to work one-on-one with a tutor than group classes.

Most schools accept either SSAT or ISEE scores. Choose the test that is fit for your child and will highlight their skills. Here are some of the differences between the two standardized tests. 

1. The ISEE is given to younger children, those entering the 2nd grade. The SSAT is given to students entering 4th grade onward.
2. The ISEE can only be taken three times a year while the SSAT can be taken as many times.
3. The scaled score in the SSAT is converted into a percentile score that covers three sections–verbal, reading, and quantitative. The ISEE, on the other hand, presents four section scores– verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, and mathematics achievement, and the primary normative score is a stanine.
4. There is a guessing penalty for the Middle and Upper-Level SSAT where students receive 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for unanswered questions, and lose ¼ points for each wrong answer. The ISEE does not have a guessing penalty. Students get 1 point for each correct answer and 0 points for every incorrect answer or unanswered question.
5. The verbal section of the ISEE features sentence completions, while the SSAT has analogy questions.
6. The SSAT reading section includes poetry and older-style literature while the ISEE reading section generally focuses on more contemporary passages.
7. The ISEE math has a quantitative reasoning section focusing on problem-solving and critical thinking. The SSAT, on the other hand, has two quantitative sections composed of a mix of critical thinking and knowledge-based questions.
8. Students complete an unscored writing sample for both the ISEE and SSAT. The writing is sent to schools together with the scores for the multiple-choice sections of the test. This is part of a student’s application portfolio submitted to the admissions officers.