Love it or hate it, standardized testing is a fundamental part of the American education landscape. While their merits may be contested, there is no avoiding the fact that all students, especially those seeking admission to elite schools, must learn to master the art of taking standardized tests. As a tutoring company, we believe that the most effective way to prepare for these tests is with individualized, one-on-one tutoring, but before that can begin, it helps to know the tests by name.

Tests For High Schools

ISEE

The Independent School Entrance Examination is used for admission into most private and independent high schools. It lasts three hours and is broken into four sections plus an essay: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning (basically Math), Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement + Essay (1 prompt). The ISEE is generally better for students with strong Math skills.

SSAT

The Secondary School Admission Test is similarly used for admission into most private and independent high schools. It also lasts three hours and is broken into four sections plus an essay: Quantitative 1 and 2 (Two Math Sections), Reading Comprehension, and Verbal + Essay (choice of 2 writing prompts, one personal essay or one short story). The SSAT is generally better for students with strong ELA skils.

SHSAT

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test is used only for application into New York City’s eight Specialized High Schools. The SHSAT format is two sections, Math and English Language Acquisition (ELA), spread out over three hours, with no extra written essay, and no wrong answer penalty.

>> Read our full breakdown of these three tests!

Tests For US Colleges & Universities

AP Tests

Each of these 38 tests is administered in conjunction with Advanced Placement classes. Testing above a certain threshold may allow a student to gain college credit and place out of introductory college classes. Good scores also bode well on college applications. More info.

IB Tests

While not widespread, a number of private and public schools grant International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas. The culmination of these programs is two weeks of standardized testing. Like AP tests, these can lead to advanced placement at some universities, but should not replace SAT Subject Tests. More info.

SAT Subject Tests

Formerly known as SAT II, these are subject-specific tests that will showcase particular aptitudes your student has gained during high school. While scores are often considered by colleges, there’s no need to wait until junior year to take them. Take these tests while the information is still fresh and only take tests on subjects in which you’d expect to do well. More info.

PSAT/NMSQT

This mini-alphabet of letters stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. While the PSAT isn’t required by any colleges, taking this “pre”-SAT exam does help prepare students for the real thing. Beyond serving as great practice for the SAT, it is also used as eligibility and qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which can help high-achieving students earn money towards college. The test is offered once each October and most students take it during their Junior year. More info.

SAT

Although the SAT has been known by several names, including the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Scholastic Assessment Test, it’s now known simply as the SAT and the letters don’t stand for anything. The SAT is the poster child of standardized tests for college admissions and consists of four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math (no calculator), and Math (with calculator). There is also an optional essay section that certain colleges require. The exam lasts half a day and can be taken an unlimited number of times, usually during junior or senior year of high school. More info.

ACT

Originally named for the company making the test, American College Testing’s College Readiness Assessment is now, like the SAT, known simply as the ACT. While it once played second fiddle to the SAT, most colleges now accept scores from either test. Featuring four sections (Reading, English, Math, Science), the content and style of the ACT are very similar to the SAT and taking practice tests is often the best way to decide between the two. See how the tests compare.

>> Here’s a concise summary of all these tests from Kaplan!

Tests For Graduate Studies

GMAT

Students applying to MBA programs must take the Graduate Management Admissions Test. The GMAT is a computerized test with four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Assessment, and Verbal. More info.

LSAT

Students applying to Law School must take the Law School Admissions Test. The exam is comprised of five multiple-choice sections and one essay. The multiple-choice sections are Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning (yes, 2x), Analytical Assessment, and a fifth experiment section that repeats one of the previous categories and does not count toward the final score. The essay section is not scored but is sent to law schools for further assessment. More info.

MCAT

Students applying to Medical School must take the Medical College Admissions Test. The exam is entirely multiple-choice and computer-based, testing in four key areas: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. More info.

GRE

Students applying to *any* Masters or Ph.D. program must take the Graduate Record Examinations. The GRE is actually two tests, the General Test and the (optional) Subjects Test. The General Test consists of four sections: Verbal, Math, Critical Thinking, and Analytical Writing. The Subject Tests are taken in order to highlight your aptitude in a specific subject, such as the one in which you majored. Note that some programs which require GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT scores may also wish to see GRE scores. More info.

>> Read USA Today’s breakdown of the graduate school exams.

English Proficiency Tests

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language is the more widely-used of these two tests and it specifically tests American English as used in academic settings. It tests aptitude in four areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. More info.

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System is an exam aimed at testing English proficiency as it pertains to academic, migration, and work settings. It specifically tests British English in four areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. More info.

>> Still curious? Check out this overview.

— Evan Barden

The wild and wooly world of NYC specialized and independent high school admissions is difficult enough to navigate without adding test prep to the mix...which is why we, at Intelligentsia, wanted to give you a data-driven leg up this year!

Ideally, we want your student to ace every test and be admitted to every school in the city, but we also want to increase your efficiency in your student’s testing and applications. Once you have narrowed a list of schools based on your student and family preferences, you may begin to notice that SSAT, ISEE, or SHSAT scores are required. Here’s a quick primer on how to figure out which test might be right for your student.

Basically, we can divide testing into New York City high schools into two groups: those that require SHSAT and those that require SSAT/ISEE.

The SHSAT

The first group, which asks for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (or SHSAT) is comprised of eight aptly named Specialized High Schools only:

Bronx High School of Science
Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn Technical High School
High School for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at City College of NY
High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
Staten Island Technical High School
Stuyvesant High School

If these schools do not interest your student, then feel free to skip to the section on ISEE/SSAT! But if your student is bonkers for Brooklyn Latin or a sucker for City College, read on...

SHSAT Test Composition and Scoring

The SHSAT format is two sections, Math and English Language Acquisition (ELA), spread out over three hours, with no extra written essay, and no wrong answer penalty. The highest possible score in each section is 350, leading to a total score out of 700. The key to the SHSAT and therefore, the Specialized High Schools, is that you simply test into them, and are admitted based on your scores (assignment to the schools themselves in the case of testing into multiple ones adheres to a slightly more complicated algorithm, but that’s a story for a later blog post). The cut-off score changes slightly every year, but you can get an idea of the present year’s score by checking the previous year’s score online.

Here’s the good news: your student does not have to get a perfect 700 in order to have a chance at the Specialized HS group. In 2019, the minimum cut off scores were in the 500s and high 400s!

The ISEE/SSAT

If you and your student are interested in the wide array of New York independent schools and even some boarding schools outside of NYC, you can narrow your test choice down to the ISEE or SSAT. But how, you ask, will you decide which test to choose?

While it’s true that some schools will outright list which test they accept, most will take either score. So, choose initially based on your student’s strengths. The ISEE has a slightly more difficult Math section, so if your student is a numbers whiz, they might head in that direction. The SSAT has more age-appropriate math and a slightly more challenging ELA section, so point your little Shakespeare towards that test.

ISEE/SSAT Test Composition and Scoring

Both tests are broken down into four sections plus an essay over 3 hours:

ISEE: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning (basically Math), Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement + Essay (1 prompt)
SSAT: Quantitative 1 and 2 (Two Math Sections), Reading Comprehension, and Verbal + Essay (choice of 2 writing prompts, one personal essay or one short story)

The scoring of each test differs, but the major gist of it is, your student should try to do the best they can.

For the ISEE, your student receives a raw score for each section, which is then converted into a scaled score between about 800 and 940. This number is then read as a percentile out of 100 and finally assigned a stanine (basically just groups or clusters of percentages) labeled 1-9. Aim for stanines 7-9! The essay is not scored but is sent to every school to which your student applies so the admissions specialists can see an example of the student’s undistilled writing. There is no penalty for a wrong answer on this test. Your student can only take the ISEE once every six months/once a school year, so plan accordingly.

For the SSAT, your student will receive a point for every correct answer and lose ¼ point for every incorrect one. Each section will be assigned a raw score, which will be converted into scaled scores between 500 and 800 points and a composite scaled score between 1500 and 2400 points. Your student can take the SSAT multiple times with fewer limits than the ISEE.

When preparing for the essay, consider that besides an exercise in structure, this is also an opportunity for your student to show their personality, voice/ability to write, and sense of humor.

General Testing Tips:

If you do not wish to hire a tutor, buy a book so your child can begin studying at home - Barron’s and Princeton Review make excellent test books with great tips and practice tests.
Whether you work with a tutor or solo, it is important for your student to take a few mock tests to practice upping their score and rehearse the testing experience. This can help cut down on test anxiety, too.
However, keep in mind that there is a limited number of each mock test available in the public domain and plan accordingly.
Schedule your actual test with enough time/awareness that your student might want to do some more studying and retake the test to attempt a better score.
Make sure your student gets a good night of sleep, hydrates, and eats a good breakfast before the test
And my personal favorite trick: send your student to the test with a pocket-sized snack. If they need to do so, they can run to the bathroom on the test break, to relieve themselves and raise their blood sugar levels.

We hope we’ve been able to demystify the test selection process a bit as you begin your journey. Here’s to an easy and exciting high school application process this year and beyond!

— Claire S.

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