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 consistently achieve significant percentile improvements and gain 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 administered by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). It is used by independent and private schools in the United States and worldwide to evaluate applicants. The SSAT is offered at three levels:
Elementary Level (Grades 3–4)
Tests foundational quantitative, verbal, and reading skills. The score range is 900–1800.
Middle Level (Grades 5–7)
Covers more advanced quantitative reasoning, vocabulary (synonyms and analogies), reading comprehension, and an unscored writing sample. Score range: 1320–2130.
Upper Level (Grades 8–11)
The most demanding level. Tests advanced quantitative skills, high-level vocabulary, reading analysis, and includes an unscored writing sample. Score range: 1500–2400.
SSAT Sections
- Quantitative (Math) — Two sections covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation.
- Verbal — Synonyms and analogies testing vocabulary breadth and verbal reasoning.
- Reading Comprehension — Passages from literature, science, history, and social studies.
- Writing Sample — An unscored essay or creative writing prompt sent directly to schools.
Scoring note: The Middle and Upper Level SSAT deducts a quarter point for each incorrect answer, making guessing strategy a critical component of test preparation. Dr. Donnelly teaches students exactly when to answer and when to skip.
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
Dr. Donnelly was incredible with our son. He identified weaknesses in the verbal section that we had completely missed and built a vocabulary programme around them. Our son’s percentile jumped from the 55th to the 88th on the Upper Level SSAT. He was accepted to his first-choice school.
We did all of our SSAT sessions online and it worked perfectly. Dr. Donnelly was patient, organised, and incredibly knowledgeable. Our daughter went from being anxious about the math sections to genuinely confident. She scored in the 90th percentile on the Middle Level SSAT. Highly recommend.
SSAT Tutoring FAQs
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is a standardised admissions exam used by independent and private schools worldwide. It comes in three levels: Elementary (for students in grades 3–4), Middle (grades 5–7), and Upper (grades 8–11). The level your child takes depends on the grade they are currently in, not the grade they are applying to enter.
The SSAT uses a scaled scoring system. The Elementary Level score range is 900–1800, the Middle Level range is 1320–2130, and the Upper Level range is 1500–2400. Each section receives an individual scaled score. Schools also receive a percentile ranking comparing your child’s performance to other test-takers in the same grade over the past three years. The writing sample is not scored but is sent directly to schools.
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. On the Middle and Upper Level SSAT, students receive one point for each correct answer, lose a quarter point for each incorrect answer, and receive no points for questions left blank. This scoring penalty makes guessing strategy an important part of SSAT preparation. Dr. Donnelly teaches students when to answer and when to skip.
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, and results are comparable to in-person sessions.