Sample ISEE Syllabus

This syllabus offers a high level overview of twelve 90-minute ISEE tutoring sessions for the Upper Level exam. A typical student should strive to complete two sections (half a test) between sessions, with interspersed diagnostics. While full tests are time intensive and draining, it’s important to note that prepping a student for that stamina/drain is important, so starting earlier on full tests is best.
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Sample Sessions

A customizable plan

Your child's plan will be tailored to their specific needs, but this will give you a sense of how we work. Your tutor will reach out prior to the first session to send over a diagnostic test to be taken before Session 1.

1

Overview & Introduction

Meet your tutor and get your first introduction to the main elements of the ISEE

In session

  • Overview personal goals
  • Overview testing goals
  • Testing techniques: review Mental Math technique and Sentence Completion technique using Princeton Review materials
  • Start a list of missed vocabulary for review

Homework

  • Tutorverse: Vocabulary lesson + assigned drills
  • 1 hour of outside reading
  • Short mental math assignment
2

Reading Comprehension

Review techniques from last session and add in a deep dive to Reading Comprehension

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • 10 minutes of mental math
  • Review HW from last session
  • Complete review of Reading Comprehension techniques using Princeton Review materials
  • Review wrong answer types

Homework

  • Learn all vocabulary from sentence completion homework; use 5 of the words during a conversation
  • Identify wrong answer types from the diagnostic test
  • Ivy Global: Reading Comprehension lesson + drills
3

Math Achievement & Synonyms

Cover critical math techniques while folding in synonyms, a central part of ISEE English.

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • 5 minutes of mental math
  • Introduction to broad math strategies: "trigger words" and common math terms
  • Review techniques for Estimation and Plugging in using Princeton Review materials
  • Review techniques for tackling Synonyms in Ivy Global

Homework

  • TutorVerse: Math drills
  • Ivy Global Download: Verbal section of Practice Test 1
  • 1 hour of outside reading
4

Quantitative Reasoning & the Essay

Cover the last of the material regarding Math on the ISEE while balancing an introduction to essay writing.

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Multiplication tables oral quiz
  • 5 minutes of mental math
  • Review techniques for Backsolving and Quantitative Comparisons using Princeton Review materials
  • Review Quantitative section from the diagnostic test
  • Brief introduction to the essay and brainstorming techniques using Ivy Global

Homework

  • Read two op-ed articles
  • Ivy Global download: Quantitative section of Practice Test 1
  • TutorVerse: Quantitative drills and vocabulary drills
  • Supplement with Quizlet as needed
5

The Essay & Targeted Math

Finish learning essay writing techniques and review tricky trouble spots in math.

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • 5 minutes of mental math
  • Review homework from last session
  • Essay techniques: brainstorming, outlining, and revising
  • Targeted math lesson as needed

Homework

  • Go through diagnostic test and find questions you could Estimate, Plug in, or Backsolve
  • Come up with potential topics of interest for the essay
  • Ivy Global: writing exercises
  • TutorVerse: vocabulary drills + targeted math drills
6

The Essay & Targeted Math II

Expand upon last lesson's techniques and skills - as always, bring in your burning questions to the session!

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • 5 minutes of mental math
  • Review essay homework
  • Write an essay in session together
  • Targeted math topics as needed

Homework

  • TutorVerse: vocabulary drills
  • Ivy Global download: Essay & Math Achievement sections from Practice Test 1
  • 1 hour of reading
7

Putting it Together

Now that the groundwork has been laid in each section, it's time to practice the test as a whole.

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Review homework
  • Review all techniques
  • Kaplan  Practice Test (first quarter of each section)

Homework

  • Finish Kaplan Practice Test, including essay
  • Targeted math practice (in Princeton Review, Kaplan, or TutorVerse depending on needs)
  • TutorVerse: vocabulary drills
  • 1 hour of reading
8

Targeting Areas for Review

At this point, weak areas and trouble spots have been identified: this session targets those pressure points.

In session

  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Review practice test
  • Drill targeted areas

Homework

  • Ivy Global: targeted reading drills
  • Princeton Review: targeted math drills (supplement with TutorVerse or Kaplan as needed)
  • TutorVerse: vocabulary drills (supplement with Quizlet as needed)
  • 1 hour of reading
  • Be prepared to teach your tutor any missed questions!
9

Verbal and Math Review

This session is a chance for you to tackle any lingering questions or tricky spots across the main sections of the test.

In session

  • Review homework
  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Ivy Global: verbal strategies review and exercises
  • Math strategies review
  • Princeton Review Practice Test: verbal and math sections

Homework

  • Finish Princeton Review Practice Test
  • 1 hour of reading
10

Quantitative Reasoning Review

This section of the ISEE can be quite tricky, so this session is an opportunity to internalize helpful strategies previously learned.

In session

  • Review homework
  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Quantitative Reasoning practice

Homework

  • Practice Test 4: take this test timed, with the goal of avoiding your most frequent error
  • 1 hour of reading
11

Review Reading

This is an opportunity to tackle any lingering issues with reading comprehension.

In session

  • Review missed questions from Practice Test 4
  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Additional Reading Comprehension practice
  • Write your own questions and answers
  • Review missed questions from Practice Test 4 again

Homework

  • Practice Test 5
  • 1 hour of reading
12

Last Thoughts & the Essay

During this final touchpoint before the exam, it's important to go over any remaining thoughts, questions, and concerns.

In session

  • Review any areas needing attention
  • Review all techniques via Practice Test 5
  • Write an essay together

Homework

  • Get a good night's rest before the test
  • Make sure to eat a big breakfast the morning of the test. Bring plenty of snacks and water to the testing site.

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