If your student is taking the ISEE soon, reach out to Varsity Tutors so we can enroll them in a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE prep course. The Independent School Entrance Exam, or the ISEE, is an admissions test that many magnet schools and independent schools in the United States use to measure a prospective student's academic skills. Your student may need to take the ISEE if they want to be considered for local independent or magnet schools, and an excellent way to prepare for it is by having them enroll in our prep course.
A San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE course may be what your student needs to get ready for their upcoming exam. Every course is online, plus each one is directed by a professional teacher. The goal of a prep course is to familiarize your student with the components of the ISEE.
What could a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE course help my student study?
The ISEE offers four levels: Primary Level (second through fourth grade), Lower Level (fifth and sixth grade), Middle Level (seventh and eighth grade), and Upper Level (ninth through 12th grade). They're available in online and paper formats. (Paper tests are available for Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels only). You may have heard a little about the test from your student's teacher or someone else. Nevertheless, let's explain the levels and sections in detail.
The Primary Level covers Auditory Comprehension, Reading, Math, and Writing. The Auditory Comprehension section is for second graders only, and students need to listen to passages and answer questions. The Reading section measures their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. The Math section tests them on basic math operations. The Writing sample presents a picture, and students have to write a story based on the picture. Though it doesn't get a score, this section demonstrates a student's creativity and writing ability.
The Lower Level includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and Essay. The Verbal Reasoning section tests students on using context clues to complete sentences and on elementary/middle school-level vocabulary. The Quantitative Reasoning section measures arithmetic and logic skills. The Reading Comprehension section assesses a student's ability to find the main idea and to locate vital information in a passage. The Math Achievement section covers percents, decimals, and other related concepts. The Essay features an elementary-level prompt that allows a student to express themselves.
The Middle Level consists of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and Essay. The Verbal Reasoning section covers parts of speech and middle/high school-level vocabulary. The Quantitative Reasoning section tests a student's problem-solving and math skills. The Reading Comprehension section measures one's ability to locate and use information from reading passages and to understand figurative and literal language. The Math Achievement section features math concepts like prime and composite numbers and Venn diagrams. The Essay requires students to write a grammatically-correct piece based on a middle school-level prompt.
The Upper Level includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and Essay. The Verbal Reasoning section assesses a student's skills in high school-level vocabulary and correct use of English. The Quantitative Reasoning section tests one's data analysis and problem-solving skills. The Reading Comprehension section covers the author's intent, main and supporting ideas, and logic. The Math Achievement section focuses on math operations. The Essay allows students to express their writing talents by responding to a high school-level prompt.
Students are permitted to skip questions, though they're encouraged to answer every one. Their score is only based on the number of questions they answered correctly; they won't be penalized for wrong answers.
How does a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE class assist my student with preparing for the test?
Each class takes place in a virtual atmosphere, which makes it simple for your student to engage in lessons from home. We provide new sessions every week, and your student can join a two-week class or a four-week class. Once you find a San Francisco Bay Area ISEE class that complements your student's schedule, they can begin right away.
Upon enrolling in a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE course, your student will interact with other pupils and a teacher. All of them will work together in groups to prepare for the ISEE. If you have an Upper Level student, they can review algebra and geometry problems to get ready for the Math Achievement section. They can also study for the Reading Comprehension section by looking for passages in books and having conversations on what they think the authors are trying to say. Maybe, you have a much younger student, like at the Primary Level. They can practice for the Auditory Comprehension section by listening to sample audio files and prepare for the Writing sample by telling a story about a picture provided to them. The teacher can assist your student in answering questions quickly and accurately by sharing clever test-taking strategies. Some students become nervous before test day arrives. The instructor can try to quell any nervous feelings by offering relaxation tips.
What's great about a prep course is that your student can request one-on-one assistance with the teacher if they're struggling with certain sections of the exam. These teachers have gone through an in-depth vetting process to make sure they're knowledgeable in their niche and can communicate well with K-12 students.
This program seems like it would really benefit my student. How do I sign them up for a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE course?
When you sign your student up for an ISEE prep course, you're helping them build many useful skills. A prep course doesn't only prepare them for the test. It assists them with getting ready for classes they would face upon enrolling in a certain school.
The enrollment process is a cinch. Just pick up the phone or send a message via our contact form, and a representative will get back to you as soon as possible. If you're eager to sign your student up for a San Francisco-Bay Area ISEE course, don't waste another minute! Please contact us at Varsity Tutors today.

Jean: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...behind how we learn new concepts and thereby discover how to apply them appropriately. With both a tech and an artistic background, Im particularly interested in using technology to teach concepts in visual, interactive, and fun ways. Lately, when Im not working remotely as a CRM consultant or shooting photography, Ive been working on Prezi...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Los Angeles - Bachelors, B.S. Mathematics/Economics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- ACT
- Graduate Test Prep
- +30 subjects

Jennifer: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...arts to mathematics for elementary to college students. I believe that the most productive progress can be made with the one-on-one interaction tutors can have with students. With this interaction, I can tailor my teaching methods and figure out a better way to explain a difficult concept. Being able to be a part of a...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Riverside - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- CLEP
- ACT
- +107 subjects

Amanda: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...into easy to manage pieces and make sure they are understanding each step as they go along. If students still seem to be struggling, I return to more basic concepts and help them build upon what they already know. I use a variety of methods in my tutoring including visual aids, hands-on materials, books, and...
Education & Certification
- SFSU - Bachelors, Education
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- ISEE- Lower Level
- +10 subjects

Helene: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...to 2012 I taught French part-time at Bay Languages Academy, an after school program in Alameda. I started working with Varsity Tutors in 2013. I have always loved getting to know all of my students. Every single one has taught me so many things about learning and teaching, and I believe in return many have...
Education & Certification
- Mills College - Bachelor in Arts, Sociology/Anthropology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +57 subjects

Talia: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...experience working with individuals with special needs, from moderate to severe, and the gifted population. I am highly adept in tailoring education to fit each learner's needs, while maximizing output, motivation, and self-confidence. I sincerely enjoy working with children, listening to their stories, and sharing a laugh as I impart knowledge in a structured but...
Education & Certification
- Williams Collegee - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology & Sociology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- HSPT
- SSAT
- SAT
- +43 subjects
Education & Certification
- Murray State College - Associate in Science, Medical Office Assistance
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACCUPLACER
- UK A Level
- COMPASS
- +203 subjects

Derek: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...math because of bad experiences, bad teachers or because they're afraid of math. I hope to change that! I will happily teach anywhere from high school through graduate-level coursework. I can even teach you about research if you're really keen! I love to tutor because (1) I can get to know and help individuals on...
Education & Certification
- Brigham Young University - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
- University of Oxford - Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- GED
- SAT
- Spanish 1
- +43 subjects

Ariela: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it to someone else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so that they become...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- Advanced Placement
- PSAT
- SAT
- +50 subjects

Brianna: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...ranging from elementary school to college students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry my passion for working with children and have developed my skills in making successful and individualized learning fun....
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Current Undergrad, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ASPIRE
- ACT and SAT All-In-One Classes
- SAT Subject Tests
- +217 subjects

Max: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. Apart from singing, I'm is passionate about education, particularly in helping high school students achieve their academic goals as they work their way towards college. I volunteer in New Haven as a math teacher and coach at a public middle school (my team of 7th graders just won the...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- Advanced Placement
- SSAT
- +104 subjects

Erica: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...years, I have tutored students of all ages and in a variety of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 mathematics. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. I am extremely passionate about teaching and work daily to improve my craft. Students, parents,...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English; Latin Language and Literature
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- HSPT
- GED
- +77 subjects

Kaley: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...especially love teaching reading and writing and I have taught or tutored these subjects to students ranging from kindergarten through adults. I also have experience tutoring test prep subjects and focus both on the content material and test taking skills. My passion is psychology and I have been able to use my graduate training in...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, Education and Public Policy
- Harvard Graduate School of Education - Masters, Human Development and Psychology
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- PSAT
- SSAT
- SAT
- +35 subjects

Rebecca: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...Social Service Administration. I am passionate about tutoring because I want everyone to be able to perform academically at their highest possible level. I also think it is important that learning is not just for one assignment or one test, but rather that it sticks with you to build a solid foundation of knowledge and...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Psychology
- University of Chicago SSA - Masters, Social Work
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- ACT
- SSAT
- +53 subjects

Kaan: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...and team-working skills. I was a peer tutor back in high school helping kids with any problem related to Math and science. After focusing on my own academic career in college, I came back into tutoring with almost 4 more years of studying under my belt ready to get kids to want to learn. I...
Education & Certification
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Current Undergrad, Electrical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SSAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +41 subjects

Connor: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...even the most complex of topics, and I have built my tutoring career on this premise. As an experienced tutor, I have continually enjoyed seeing my students achieve lofty goals under my instruction. I specialize in tutoring biology, chemistry, physics, and economics for high school students. In addition to this, I also tutor students in...
Education & Certification
- Saint Louis University-Main Campus - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- STAAR
- SSAT
- STAAR Grades 3-8
- +43 subjects

Margarita: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...office as a Medical Assistant and part-time on a public health project related to smoking cessation. I have also been tutoring students in a variety of subjects. I have been tutoring students since I was in 7th grade, and my favorite subject to tutor is math. My family is originally from Russia, and I grew...
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- ACT
- SSAT
- SAT
- +55 subjects

Cynthia: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...tutoring high school students outside of class in college and involved in STEM academics and research mentorship as well as a translation program from and to English outside of class. I speak Japanese and French, and I have taken the PSATs, SATs, 10 APs, and the GREs successfully. I would be willing to help with...
Education & Certification
- Princeton University - Bachelors, Neuroscience
- Johns Hopkins University - PHD, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- SSAT
- +72 subjects
Education & Certification
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- REGENTS
- +47 subjects

Edward: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
...Honor Society for three years. My tutoring strengths include my abilities to stay calm, be patient, and offer different perspectives on the learning process. I do not just help my students learn the material, but I also teach them how to learn it. I tutor math and test prep courses. Outside of school and tutoring,...
Education & Certification
- University of Michigan - Unknown, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- SAT
- ACT
- ACT Science
- +29 subjects

Andrew: San Francisco ISEE course instructor
Hi, I'm the philosopher they call Andrew! You are most very definitely welcome to come to me with any school questions, but be warned: there's a good chance we'll soon be figuring out the meaning of life...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Subject Expertise
- ISEE
- TOEFL
- SAT
- GED
- +100 subjects