Award-Winning ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement
Tutors
Who needs tutoring?
FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
- YaleUniversity
- PrincetonUniversity
- StanfordUniversity
- CornellUniversity
Award-Winning ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement Tutors
Certified Tutor
Shawn
ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement covers everything from algebraic manipulation to coordinate geometry, and the difficulty jump from the Middle Level catches many students off guard. Shawn teaches the specific algebra and pre-calculus concepts that appear most often — systems of equations, ex...
University of California Los Angeles
Master of Science, Chemistry
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Thomas
Upper-level ISEE math achievement questions test concepts like algebraic reasoning, coordinate geometry, and basic statistics at a level designed to challenge strong middle schoolers. Thomas builds targeted practice around the question formats that trip students up most — especially multi-step word ...
Duke University
Masters, Environmental Economics and Policy
University of Rhode Island
Bachelors, Political Science & German
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Alex
Upper Level ISEE Math Achievement throws serious curveballs — quadratic equations, exponential growth, coordinate geometry — that go well beyond typical middle school curricula. Alex's applied math training at Stanford gives him the depth to explain not just the procedures but the reasoning behind t...
Stanford University
Bachelor in Arts, Applied Mathematics
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Samantha
From fractional operations to coordinate geometry, the ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement section covers a wide swath of content that many students haven't fully encountered yet in school. Samantha breaks each problem type into recognizable patterns, drawing on her deep comfort with algebra an...
Princeton University
Current Undergrad Student, Psychology
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Francesca
Upper Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement covers everything from algebraic expressions to coordinate geometry, and the challenge is often pacing — knowing which problems to solve quickly and which deserve more time. Francesca walks students through the specific algebra and geometry concepts that appe...
Loyola University-Chicago
Bachelor of Economics, Political Science and Government
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Sabrina
Upper Level ISEE math pushes into territory that intimidates many middle schoolers: quadratic equations, functions, and geometric proofs show up alongside data analysis and probability. As a certified middle school math teacher with a math minor, Sabrina tackles these topics daily in her classroom a...
Southeastern University
Masters in Education, Urban Education and Leadership
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Tyler
I am excited to be working with Varsity Tutors. I currently teach middle and high school social studies at Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas. I teach 8th Grade US History, Spanish 3, AP Microeconomics, and Economics. I also have experience tutoring middle school Math while in college.
University of Notre Dame
Masters, Education
Texas Christian University
Bachelors, History
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Ben
Upper Level Mathematics Achievement covers everything from algebraic equations to coordinate geometry, and the challenge is often that students have learned these topics in isolation but haven't practiced switching between them under time pressure. Ben builds timed drills around the highest-frequenc...
Ball State University
Bachelor of Science, History
Northwestern University
Current Grad Student, Creative Writing
Certified Tutor
8+ years
Kaitlyn
ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement covers a wide swath of content, from algebraic expressions and geometry proofs to basic statistics. Kaitlyn's experience teaching across the full math curriculum means she can quickly identify which content gaps are costing a student points and target those s...
Fairfield University
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Golddy
Upper Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement covers a wide sweep from algebraic manipulation through geometry and basic functions, and many students struggle with the jump in difficulty from middle school material. Golddy tackles this by identifying exactly where a student's understanding breaks down — ...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems, General
Johns Hopkins University
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Visual Arts
Top 20 Test Prep Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Matthew
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +104 Subjects
I am a Senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute studying Mechanical and Robotics Engineering. I am here to help with any Math, Science, Engineering or other tutoring needs. My main approach is to focus on mastery over work pace. I encourage my students to strive for perfection on the basic material, before moving to the hard stuff. That way you won't only "kinda know" two things, but truly understand the material. Outside of class I enjoy, hiking, playing the saxophone, cooking and building robots.
Srishaan
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +37 Subjects
I'm a senior at Round Rock High School. Not only do I tutor here, but I also tutor at the local Mathnasium.
Sr
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +33 Subjects
I'm excited to be tutoring again. Hobbies: reading, gardening, music, art, books, writing
James
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +54 Subjects
I am a recent graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology. I finished with Comp. Sci. with a math focus. Hobbies: books, music, art, reading, writing
Allison
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +54 Subjects
I am a Master of Architecture candidate at Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Colgate University. While I tutor several subjects, I am very passionate about mathematics and physics because of the tangible progress which I am able to help students achieve, and I enjoy working with students of all ages and abilities. I have been a mathematics and physics tutor for the last eight years and have worked with students enrolled in middle school, high school, and university courses. As a tutor I work to build my students confidence and independence. In my spare time, I enjoy drawing and playing volleyball and tennis.
Alisa
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +33 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with Latin and University Honors. I am currently a graduate student pursuing my Master's degree in Electrical Engineering at UT Dallas again. I have over 2 years of experience tutoring college level Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Differential Equations for UT Dallas' Peer Tutoring Program, which is a drop-in one-on-one tutoring service offered by UT Dallas to all its students. I also have around a year's worth of experience tutoring privately for a variety of subjects including Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, SAT Math, and other standardized test math sections. I've always had excellent feedback about my tutoring services since I love forming connections with my students and make every tutoring session fun and educational at the same time. If you need an A in your math class or need to ace your SAT math section, look no further :) Hobbies: reading, music, singing, baking, art, books, writing
Damani
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +35 Subjects
I'm currently a student at Columbia University studying Economics. Before I switched majors halfway thru my sophomore year, I was a pre-med student. I love still being a college student because all these classes are still fresh in my mind! I've also been tutoring for 3+ years in everything from high school math and science to standardized tests and because of that, I'm confident that you'll experience fast improvement (not to mention a relaxed atmosphere).
Chase
Applied Mathematics Tutor • +132 Subjects
I am listening to and learning about him or her as an individual. I can also discover what motivates the student during this conversation and plan for how to frame future tutoring sessions in terms of what the student already knows and enjoys.
Joseph
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +117 Subjects
I am not teaching, I enjoy going to the movies, spending time with my five younger brothers and sisters, and volunteering within MENSA. I believe that learning can always be made fun and is extremely rewarding when you put in the work. I look forward to sharing my love of all these subjects with you as a future student, and I look forward to meeting you!
Martin
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +40 Subjects
I am a very passionate teacher who has worked in public and private school settings at both the high school and college level. I have an undergraduate mathematics degree, and taught AP Calculus at a North Carolina high school. I also have a PhD in philosophy, and have taught at major research universities in Missouri and Ohio. I am personally invested in my students' success, and take pride in being clear, conscientious, and accessible.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students preparing for ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics often find word problems, especially those involving ratios, rates, and proportional reasoning, to be the most challenging. Geometry topics like coordinate planes, angles, and spatial reasoning also trip up many test-takers. Additionally, the quantitative comparison section requires a different mindset than traditional multiple-choice—students must quickly determine relationships between two quantities without calculating exact answers, which takes practice to master efficiently.
The ISEE-Upper Level gives you about 35 minutes for 38 quantitative reasoning questions and 30 minutes for 30 reading comprehension questions, which means roughly 55 seconds per math question. A strong strategy is to do a quick first pass, answering the easier questions confidently and flagging harder ones, then return to challenging problems with fresh eyes. Quantitative comparison questions often have faster solution paths if you avoid unnecessary calculations—focus on relationships and relative sizes rather than exact values.
Quantitative comparison questions ask you to compare two quantities and determine if one is greater, they're equal, or the relationship cannot be determined. The key is recognizing that you don't need to calculate exact answers—instead, look for patterns, test edge cases, and use estimation. Many students waste time doing full arithmetic when they could determine the answer by reasoning about magnitudes or by testing specific values. Tutors who specialize in ISEE prep teach strategic shortcuts like "plug in zero," "try negative numbers," and "compare without computing" to save valuable time.
ISEE word problems layer in reading comprehension and require you to extract relevant information from extra context—they test whether you can translate real-world scenarios into mathematical equations, not just solve equations. Students often misidentify what the question is actually asking or set up the wrong equation because they rush through the wording. Working with a tutor on ISEE-specific word problems helps you develop a systematic approach: identify what you're solving for, highlight key numbers and relationships, and check that your setup makes sense before calculating.
Geometry on the ISEE-Upper Level emphasizes visual reasoning and coordinate planes rather than formal proofs. Common challenges include finding missing angles using properties of parallel lines and transversals, calculating distances and slopes on coordinate grids, and visualizing 3D shapes. Practice with actual ISEE geometry questions reveals that many test-takers struggle with the coordinate plane section because they haven't internalized how slope, distance, and midpoint formulas apply in timed settings. Focused tutoring on these specific topics, combined with repeated practice, builds both accuracy and speed.
A strong preparation timeline includes taking a full diagnostic practice test early to identify weak areas, then 2-3 additional full-length tests spaced throughout your study period—ideally every 2-3 weeks as you build skills. Between full tests, focus on targeted practice with specific question types and topics where you're struggling. The final practice test should be taken a few days before the actual exam to build confidence without introducing new material. This spacing allows you to track improvement, adjust your study focus, and avoid burnout while building test-taking stamina.
Anxiety often causes students to rush through easier questions or freeze on harder ones, leading to careless errors and time mismanagement. Building confidence comes from repeated exposure to ISEE-format questions under timed conditions—when you've seen and solved similar problems dozens of times, the test feels less intimidating. Tutors also help by teaching breathing techniques, encouraging strategic skipping (you don't need to answer every question perfectly to score well), and reframing difficult questions as opportunities to practice reasoning rather than threats. Knowing that you can skip a hard problem and return to it reduces panic significantly.
Most students see meaningful improvement—typically 3-5 points on the scaled score—within 4-6 weeks of focused, consistent preparation with 2-3 tutoring sessions per week. However, the timeline depends on your starting point and target score. Students with significant gaps in foundational skills may need 8-12 weeks to build confidence and consistency, while those closer to their goal might improve faster with targeted work on specific question types. The key is consistent practice between sessions and honest assessment of which topics need the most attention.
Connect with ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement Tutors
Get matched with expert tutors in your subject