Private ISEE Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one ISEE preparation for all levels with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. Updated for the 2026–27 testing year.
Private ISEE Tutoring That Opens Doors
Admission to a top independent or private school can shape your child’s entire academic trajectory — and the ISEE is often the first hurdle. The Independent School Entrance Exam tests verbal reasoning, quantitative ability, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement, demanding a blend of critical thinking and content mastery that goes well beyond classroom preparation.
Dr. Stuart Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and brings more than 20 years of private tutoring experience to every ISEE session. He works with students at all four ISEE levels — Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper — tailoring each lesson to the specific content, difficulty, and timing demands of the test your child will sit.
Sessions are always private and one-on-one: no group classes, no one-size-fits-all curriculum. Dr. Donnelly begins with a diagnostic assessment, identifies your child’s strengths and gaps, and builds a focused study plan designed to maximise score improvement in the time available.
Book a Free ISEE ConsultationWhat Makes Our ISEE Tutoring Different
Families across NYC, San Diego, and beyond choose Tutors of Oxford for ISEE preparation. Here is why.
Oxford Ph.D. Expertise
Dr. Donnelly’s Oxford doctorate and two decades of test-prep experience mean your child is learning from one of the most qualified ISEE tutors available — not a recent graduate working from a script.
All ISEE Levels Covered
Whether your child is preparing for the Primary, Lower, Middle, or Upper Level ISEE, Dr. Donnelly understands the specific content scope, question formats, and timing demands of each test.
Personalised Study Plans
Every programme begins with a diagnostic assessment. Dr. Donnelly identifies the exact areas where your child can gain the most points and builds a lesson-by-lesson plan to target those areas.
NYC, San Diego & Online
In-person sessions are available in New York City and San Diego. Online tutoring via Zoom provides the same personalised instruction for families anywhere in the world.
About the ISEE
A clear understanding of the ISEE’s structure is essential for effective preparation.
What Is the ISEE?
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a standardised admissions test used by independent and private schools across the United States and internationally. Since March 2026 it has been provided by E3n, the nonprofit formed by the merger of ERB (the ISEE’s former owner) and EMA (the SSAT’s former owner). The level is set by the grade your child is applying to:
- Primary 2 / 3 / 4: Entry to grade 2, 3, or 4 (Reading and Math only, no essay)
- Lower Level: Entry to grades 5 or 6
- Middle Level: Entry to grades 7 or 8
- Upper Level: Entry to grades 9 through 12
Students may test once per testing season: Fall (Aug–Nov), Winter (Dec–Mar) and Spring/Summer (Apr–Jul), so up to three times per school year. Testing is available at schools, ISEE offices, Prometric test centers (grades 5–12) and at home.
ISEE Sections, 2026–27 (Lower, Middle & Upper)
| Section | Lower | Middle | Upper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 q / 20 min | 40 q / 20 min | 40 q / 20 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 q / 35 min | 37 q / 35 min | 37 q / 35 min |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 q / 25 min | 36 q / 35 min | 36 q / 35 min |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 q / 30 min | 47 q / 40 min | 47 q / 40 min |
| Essay (unscored) | 30 min | 30 min | 30 min |
| Total | 127 q, 2 h 20 min | 160 q, 2 h 40 min | 160 q, 2 h 40 min |
Scoring: each section gets a scaled score (760–940), a percentile rank compared with same-grade students in the norm group, and a stanine (1–9). There is no guessing penalty and no calculator. The essay is not scored: a copy goes to the schools you choose, and families do not receive it. Online scores are typically released in 3–5 days. Two 10-minute breaks are scheduled. Source: E3n ISEE Quick Facts 2026–27.
2026–27 ISEE fees: at-school testing $130 (Primary) / $170 (Lower–Upper); ISEE office $185–$255; Prometric test center $250; ISEE-administered at-home testing $185 / $250. Fee waivers come from the schools you apply to.
Our ISEE Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s ISEE programme addresses every section of the exam, building both the content knowledge and strategic thinking that top scores require.
Verbal Reasoning & Reading Comprehension
The Verbal Reasoning section tests vocabulary through synonym and sentence-completion questions. Dr. Donnelly builds your child’s vocabulary systematically, teaching root-word analysis and context-clue strategies that work even when a word is unfamiliar.
For Reading Comprehension, students learn to identify main ideas, draw inferences, and interpret tone and purpose across passages from the humanities, sciences, and social studies. Dr. Donnelly teaches active-reading techniques and passage-mapping skills that improve both accuracy and pacing.
Quantitative Reasoning & Mathematics Achievement
Quantitative Reasoning questions test mathematical reasoning rather than rote computation, and Middle and Upper Level include quantitative comparisons. Dr. Donnelly teaches students how to recognise quantitative relationships, estimate efficiently, and apply problem-solving frameworks to unfamiliar question types.
The Mathematics Achievement section covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data interpretation. Dr. Donnelly ensures foundational skills are solid, then builds toward the multi-step problems and higher-order concepts that distinguish top-scoring students from the rest.
Dr. Donnelly also prepares students for the ISEE essay, coaching structure, thesis development, and time management so your child submits a polished writing sample to every school on their list.
ISEE vs SSAT: Which Test Should Your Child Take?
Many independent schools accept either test. Both are now run by E3n, but they differ in ways that matter for preparation.
| Feature | ISEE | SSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Level is based on | Grade the student is applying to | Grade the student is in now |
| Wrong answers | No penalty | Middle & Upper: −¼ point (Elementary: no penalty) |
| Verbal questions | Synonyms and sentence completions | Synonyms and analogies |
| How often | Once per testing season (up to 3 per school year) | Several Standard paper dates, plus limited Prometric and at-home attempts |
| Essay / writing sample | 30 min, unscored, sent to schools | Unscored, sent to schools |
Dr. Donnelly can help you choose during a free consultation. See also our SSAT tutoring page, or our SHSAT tutoring page for NYC specialized high schools.
What ISEE Families Say
“My son benefited tremendously from his tutorial sessions with Dr. Donnelly. Not only did he grow in confidence, but he was given the tools and know how to expertly tackle his high school entrance exams. Dr. Donnelly is patient, consistent and totally committed to the welfare of his students and as a result of his thorough and knowledgeable sessions my son was accepted to all of the schools to which he applied. We are enormously grateful and cannot recommend Dr. Donnelly enough!”
“Dr. Donnelly taught me clearly in a very short time. It was very effective just before my exam, and the results turned out to be great! He was nice and encouraging, and I enjoyed his lessons.”
ISEE Tutoring FAQs
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is a standardised admissions test used by independent and private schools. It is provided by E3n (formed in 2026 from the merger of ERB and EMA). The level depends on the grade your child is applying to enter: Primary 2, 3 or 4 (entry to grades 2–4), Lower (grades 5–6), Middle (grades 7–8), and Upper (grades 9–12).
Each section receives a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank comparing your child with same-grade students in the norm group, and a stanine from 1 to 9. There is no penalty for wrong answers. The essay is not scored; a copy is sent to the schools on your score-recipient list, and families do not receive it.
Once per testing season. There are three seasons — Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March) and Spring/Summer (April–July) — so a student can test up to three times in a school year. For example, a student who tests in September next becomes eligible in December.
The ISEE level is based on the grade a student is applying to, while the SSAT level is based on the current grade. The ISEE has no guessing penalty; the Middle and Upper Level SSAT deducts a quarter point for each wrong answer. ISEE verbal uses synonyms and sentence completions, while SSAT verbal uses synonyms and analogies. Both tests are now run by E3n.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly prepares students for every ISEE level — Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper. Each level has its own content scope and difficulty, and Dr. Donnelly tailors his approach to the specific sections and question types your child will encounter.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly offers ISEE tutoring in person in New York City and San Diego, as well as online via Zoom. Online sessions include screen sharing, a digital whiteboard, and shared problem sets. Many families choose online tutoring for scheduling flexibility.