ISEE & SSAT Tutoring in Manhattan
One-on-one test prep for NYC independent school admissions: strategy, pacing, and confidence, with executive function support built into every session.
“We actually found DES for ISEE prep, and they had all of these great services. Found an outstanding executive function coach for our high schooler, and it is in person, too. Planning, time management, and test prep all improved, and the stress at home dropped. Highly recommend Diversified Education Services to any Manhattan family.”
Katie O., Parent · Upper East Side, Manhattan · Horace Mann School · Read this review on Google · More testimonialsAdmission to Manhattan’s independent schools is among the most competitive in the country, and most require the ISEE or SSAT. DES provides private, one-to-one ISEE tutoring and SSAT tutoring for NYC families: test strategy and content mastery, plus the planning and organization skills that keep a months-long prep timeline on track.
ISEE Tutoring for NYC Independent School Admissions
The ISEE is the gateway test for many of Manhattan’s independent day schools. Our tutors build a personalized plan around your student’s baseline: verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, and the essay. Prep emphasizes pacing, question strategy, and calm on test day, not just content drills.
SSAT Tutoring and Preparation
For families considering boarding schools or SSAT-accepting day schools, we prepare students across all SSAT levels (verbal, quantitative, reading, and the writing sample) with full-length practice tests and score-trend reviews so you always know where things stand.
Executive Function Coaching Built Into Test Prep
Test prep is a project: a schedule, a study system, and follow-through over several months. Because DES tutors bring executive function coaching into test prep through their professional backgrounds and education, students learn to manage practice-test cycles, homework, and school workload at the same time, a difference NYC families notice immediately.
We also support students with ADHD, test anxiety, dyslexia, and other learning differences, including guidance on testing accommodations.
What a Typical Manhattan Prep Plan Looks Like
Most families start 3–6 months before test dates. A typical plan includes a diagnostic, weekly one-to-one sessions in person in Manhattan, in your home on a case-by-case basis, or virtually, plus periodic full-length practice tests and parent check-ins before admissions deadlines.
ISEE and SSAT Tutoring Across Manhattan Neighborhoods
Upper East Side ISEE and SSAT Test Prep
Our New York office is at 501 East 87th Street in Yorkville, and the Upper East Side is home to many of the independent schools that require the ISEE or SSAT, including Chapin, Spence, Brearley, Nightingale-Bamford, Hewitt, Dalton, Browning, and Marymount. Upper East Side families can meet their tutor in person in the neighborhood, at home on a case-by-case basis, or online, and prep plans are built around the fall test dates that come before January admissions deadlines. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any school; names are referenced to reflect the admissions landscape on the Upper East Side.
Upper West Side, Downtown, and the Rest of Manhattan
We also work with families on the Upper West Side, in Tribeca and Chelsea, and across the rest of Manhattan. Sessions are held in person in Manhattan, in your home on a case-by-case basis, or virtually anywhere in the city, so the neighborhood you live in does not limit the tutor you can work with.
ISEE & SSAT Tutoring FAQs
Do you offer ISEE test prep on the Upper East Side?
Yes. Our New York office is at 501 East 87th Street in Yorkville, and Upper East Side families can meet their tutor in person in the neighborhood, at home on a case-by-case basis, or online. Prep covers both the ISEE and the SSAT, and most Upper East Side independent schools accept one or both.
Do you offer in-person or in-home ISEE and SSAT tutoring in Manhattan?
Yes. Sessions are held in person in Manhattan, in your home on a case-by-case basis, or virtually. Our New York office is at 501 East 87th Street on the Upper East Side.
Should my child take the ISEE or the SSAT?
It depends on the schools you’re applying to and how your child tests. Many Manhattan schools accept either; our diagnostic process helps you choose the test that plays to your child’s strengths. See our ISEE vs SSAT comparison for the key differences.
When should we start ISEE or SSAT test prep in Manhattan?
Most families start 3 to 6 months before the first official test date. Fall test dates for January admissions deadlines mean summer is the ideal starting point, but a focused shorter plan is possible when needed.
Do you work with students who have test anxiety or ADHD?
Yes. This is a DES strength. Every DES executive function coach is special education certified, our test prep tutors are credentialed teachers, and prep plans build pacing, focus, and confidence strategies alongside content. We can also support families pursuing testing accommodations.
Do you guarantee scores or placement?
No responsible provider can guarantee a score or an admission. We deliver a precise diagnostic, a written plan, one-on-one instruction, and skills that keep paying off after test day. DES is an independent practice, not affiliated with any school or test publisher.
How do we start?
Schedule a complimentary consultation. Aron personally matches your student with a tutor, and matching happens promptly.
Start Your NYC Test Prep Plan
Talk with our team about ISEE or SSAT prep for your student. Call (917) 397-2775 or book a complimentary consultation.
Book a Complimentary ConsultationFor official test dates, formats, and registration, see the ERB’s official ISEE site and SSAT.org.