As we prepare for High School Admissions season, here’s what you should know…
Does my child need to take standardized tests for admissions? If so, when?
Most NYC day schools do require either the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) for admissions to high school, but some are test optional (like Poly Prep) or test blind (like Trevor Day). Boarding schools are more mixed in their requirements: many schools have remained test optional since COVID and others have returned to requiring the SSAT or the ISEE.
Is Test Optional Really Optional?
The short answer is yes. Most of our 8th graders (applying for 9th) and our 9th graders (applying for 10th) end up preparing for the SSAT or the ISEE because they are considering at least one school requiring tests, but students should only plan to submit scores to test optional schools if those scores will help the application.
What is a good score?
Every high school is different, which means “good” for Andover is different from “good” for Grace Church, though both are competitive schools (and popular choices for our kids!). Your child’s high school placement director (or admissions counselor outside of school) can help shape an appropriate high school list, and we work backwards from that.
Which test should my child take?
Traditionally, our kids looking exclusively at city schools have favored the ISEE and those applying to mostly boarding schools have favored the SSAT, but the truth is that most high schools don’t have a preference! In other words, kids should choose the test best suited to their strengths. The best way to find out which test is right for your child? Have them take full-length diagnostics for both tests and compare the results and the experience.
What should I do if I think my child may want to apply out for high school?
This is the time to try out diagnostics and plan ahead. Mastering the ISEE or SSAT is a lot like learning a foreign language, which means we always recommend consistent preparation once tutoring gets going. You should factor in summer plans, starting scores, and time for homework and practice testing as we put together a plan. We may not get going right away, but now is the time to plan!
