Private SSAT Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one SSAT preparation for Elementary, Middle, and Upper levels with Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D.
Private SSAT Tutoring That Opens Doors
Gaining admission to a top independent or private school is a defining moment in a student’s academic life — and for many families the SSAT is the gateway. The Secondary School Admission Test evaluates verbal, quantitative, and reading skills at a level that goes well beyond standard classroom instruction, making focused, expert preparation essential.
Dr. Stuart Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and brings more than 20 years of private tutoring experience to every SSAT session. He works with students at all three SSAT levels — Elementary, Middle, and Upper — tailoring each lesson to the specific content, difficulty, and timing demands of the level your child will take.
Sessions are always private and one-on-one: no group classes, no generic curricula. Dr. Donnelly begins with a diagnostic assessment, identifies strengths and gaps, and builds a focused study plan designed to maximise score improvement in the time available.
Available in person in New York City and San Diego, or online via Zoom from anywhere.
What Makes Our SSAT Tutoring Different
Families across NYC, San Diego, and beyond choose Tutors of Oxford for SSAT preparation. Here is why.
Oxford-Educated Tutor
Dr. Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford. His elite academic background and deep content expertise set him apart from generic test prep companies.
Truly Personalised Plans
Every student receives a custom study plan based on a diagnostic assessment. Sessions focus on the specific content areas and question types where your child needs the most improvement.
Proven Score Gains
Students who complete a full SSAT tutoring program with Dr. Donnelly work toward meaningful percentile improvements and admission to their target schools.
In-Person or Online
Meet Dr. Donnelly at our NYC or San Diego offices, or work together via Zoom from anywhere. Online sessions include screen sharing and a digital whiteboard for real-time problem solving.
About the SSAT
Understanding the structure of the SSAT is the first step toward effective preparation.
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardised admissions exam used by independent and private schools in the United States and worldwide. Since March 2026 it has been provided by E3n, the nonprofit formed by the merger of EMA (the SSAT’s former owner) and ERB. The level is set by the grade your child is in now:
Elementary Level (Current Grades 3–4)
Quantitative (30 questions, 30 min), Verbal (30, 20 min), Reading (28, 30 min), a picture-prompt writing sample (15 min, unscored) and a short unscored experimental section — about 2 hours 5 minutes with a break. No guessing penalty. Scores: 300–600 per section, 900–1800 total.
Middle Level (Grades 5–7) and Upper Level (Grades 8–11)
Both levels share the same structure (below); the Upper Level is harder. The long-standing published score ranges are 1320–2130 (Middle) and 1500–2400 (Upper).
| Middle & Upper section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample (first, unscored) | 1 prompt | 25 min |
| Quantitative (two sections) | 50 (2 × 25) | 60 min |
| Reading Comprehension | 40 | 40 min |
| Verbal (30 synonyms + 30 analogies) | 60 | 30 min |
| Experimental (unscored) | 16 | 15 min |
| Total, with two 10-min breaks | 150 scored | 3 h 10 min |
Scoring note: on the Middle and Upper Level SSAT a correct answer earns 1 point, a wrong answer loses ¼ point, and a blank scores 0, so guessing strategy matters. Dr. Donnelly teaches students exactly when to answer and when to skip. Source: E3n, About the SSAT.
SSAT Test Dates, Formats & Fees 2026–27
Upcoming Standard (paper) Saturday test dates and US/Canada fees for the 2026–27 testing year.
2026–27 Standard Test Dates
| Date | Levels |
|---|---|
| Sat Nov 14, 2026 | Upper, Middle, Elementary |
| Sat Dec 12, 2026 | Upper, Middle, Elementary |
| Sat Jan 9, 2027 | Upper, Middle |
| Sat Jan 30, 2027 | Upper, Middle |
| Sat Mar 13, 2027 | Upper, Middle |
Late and rush fees apply as each date approaches. Check admission.org for deadlines.
Formats & 2026–27 Fees (US & Canada)
| Format | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard paper (Middle/Upper) | $177 |
| Standard paper (Elementary) | $112 |
| Prometric test center (Middle/Upper; currently 1 per year) | $250 |
| SSAT at Home (Middle/Upper, US & Canada; 1 per testing year) | $263 |
Flex testing is also offered through schools and educational consultants. Unsure whether to take the SSAT or the ISEE? See ISEE vs SSAT, or our SHSAT tutoring page for NYC specialized high schools.
Our SSAT Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s SSAT programme covers every section of the exam with structured, step-by-step instruction.
Verbal Mastery
Students build vocabulary through systematic word study, learn analogy-solving techniques, and practise with real SSAT-style synonym and analogy questions. Dr. Donnelly teaches root-word analysis and context strategies that help students handle unfamiliar words on test day.
Quantitative Skills
Both quantitative sections are addressed with focused content review and strategic problem-solving techniques. Dr. Donnelly covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation — building fluency in core concepts while teaching time-saving approaches for the most common SSAT math question types.
Reading & Writing
Students develop active reading strategies to work efficiently through SSAT passages. Dr. Donnelly teaches passage mapping, main-idea identification, and evidence-based answering. For the writing sample, students learn to plan and draft a polished essay within the time limit — giving admissions committees a strong first impression.
What Our SSAT 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's way of teaching is very calm and effective. By teaching concepts in the simplest ways possible he managed to make it interesting and challenging at the same time.”
SSAT Tutoring FAQs
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a standardised admissions exam used by independent and private schools worldwide, now provided by E3n (formerly EMA). It comes in three levels based on the grade your child is in now: Elementary (current grades 3–4), Middle (grades 5–7), and Upper (grades 8–11).
Elementary Level sections are scored 300–600 (900–1800 total). The long-standing published ranges for the Middle and Upper Levels are 1320–2130 and 1500–2400. Percentile ranks compare your child with recent test-takers in the same grade. The writing sample and the experimental section are not scored; the writing sample is sent to schools.
Standard (paper) dates for 2026–27 are November 14 and December 12, 2026 (Upper, Middle and Elementary), and January 9, January 30 and March 13, 2027 (Upper and Middle). Middle and Upper students can also test at a Prometric center or with SSAT at Home on select dates.
Yes, on the Middle and Upper Levels: one point for each correct answer, minus a quarter point for each incorrect answer, and nothing for questions left blank. The Elementary Level has no guessing penalty. Dr. Donnelly teaches students when to answer and when to skip.
Most students work with Dr. Donnelly for 8 to 16 sessions over 6 to 12 weeks. The exact number depends on the student’s starting level, target schools, and how much independent practice they complete between sessions. Dr. Donnelly will provide a recommended study plan during the free consultation.
Yes. Dr. Donnelly offers SSAT 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.