ISEE and SSAT Tutoring in Greenwich, CT

One-on-one private school test prep that builds strategy, pacing, and confidence.

Private School Test Prep with Executive Function Support Built In

Diversified Education Services provides one-to-one ISEE and SSAT tutoring for families in Greenwich, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, Riverside, and across Fairfield County, in person or online. Our students are applying to independent schools in Greenwich, Fairfield County, and Westchester, and most of them are capable students whose practice scores do not yet match what they know.

Test prep at DES is not a class or a workbook. A tutor works with your child alone, starts from a diagnostic of the actual test, and builds the plan around the sections and habits that are costing points. Because planning and follow-through are built into every session, students have a clear plan between sessions without requiring parents to manage every step.

ISEE Tutoring in Greenwich, CT

The ISEE measures far more than memorization. Students are tested on pacing, reading stamina, verbal reasoning, quantitative thinking, writing organization, and test-taking strategy.

Families can also review official testing information directly through the ERB official website, which administers the ISEE.

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• Mathematics Achievement
• Essay writing sent to schools

What Our ISEE Tutoring Includes

• Diagnostic review and targeted baseline testing
• Section-by-section strategy development
• Pacing and timing systems
• Vocabulary and verbal reasoning coaching
• Reading comprehension techniques for dense passages
• Math review aligned to the student's level
• Essay organization and writing coaching

Common ISEE Score Blockers We Fix

• Strong student, weak pacing
• Careless mistakes under time pressure
• Vocabulary gaps and slow processing
• Math translation issues in word problems
• Anxiety causing rushing or blanking

SSAT Tutoring and Preparation

The SSAT requires students to think quickly, manage pacing, and remain accurate under pressure.

Official SSAT testing information and registration details can be found through the SSAT official website.

• Verbal reasoning including analogies and synonyms
• Quantitative/math sections
• Reading comprehension
• Writing sample
• Experimental section

What Our SSAT Prep Focuses On

• Clear verbal strategy systems
• Math accuracy without overthinking
• Reading comprehension retention and pacing
• Decision rules for skipping and returning to questions
• Test stamina and endurance

Which Test, and When

Many independent schools accept the ISEE, SSAT, or either test, but requirements vary by school. When a student has a choice, the first question is which test suits them better. The two look alike but score differently: the SSAT includes synonym and analogy questions and deducts a quarter point for wrong answers on its Middle and Upper Levels, while the ISEE has no penalty for incorrect answers and can be taken once per testing season. We give a short diagnostic of each and recommend the one the student handles better. Our ISEE vs SSAT comparison walks through the differences in detail.

Timing matters as much as the choice. For many students preparing for fall testing and winter application deadlines, 12 to 16 weeks provides a practical preparation window. Students with larger skill gaps, significant anxiety, or accommodation needs may benefit from starting earlier. We confirm the correct test level before the first session, since ISEE and SSAT levels are set by the grade your child is applying to, not the grade they are in now.

Executive Function Coaching Built Into ISEE and SSAT Tutoring

Most students do not underperform because they are incapable. They underperform because they struggle to execute consistently under pressure.

Skills We Build During Test Prep

• Planning: realistic and sustainable study schedules
• Time management: pacing systems and time-per-question targets
• Organization: structured tracking of materials and practice tests
• Self-monitoring: recognizing rushing and careless patterns
• Emotional regulation: staying calm and effective under pressure

Students who need broader support can also explore our executive function coaching services in Greenwich and Westchester.

Support for ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, and Learning Differences

DES works with many students who learn differently. We keep test prep practical, individualized, and structured so students improve performance without becoming overwhelmed.

• Shorter, sharper drills for attention management
• Structured pacing systems and movement breaks
• Anxiety-management routines
• Reading strategies for working memory support
• Writing and organization support
• Parent-facing structure and accountability

Students needing additional support with reading comprehension, writing, or essay organization can also explore our reading and writing tutoring services in Greenwich, CT.

What a Typical Test Prep Plan Looks Like

Week 1: Diagnostic and Strategy Setup

• Baseline testing
• Identification of weak areas and pacing traps
• Development of a realistic study plan

Weeks 2–6 or Longer: Skill Building and Pacing

• Targeted drills and strategy work
• Error-log review and pattern correction
• Gradual introduction of timed practice

Final Phase: Full-Length Practice and Test-Day Readiness

• Stamina and pacing under realistic conditions
• Review of high-value skills
• Confidence-building and test-day routines

How ISEE and SSAT Tutoring Works at DES

Every family starts with a call with our founder, Aron Boxer, who takes the first consultation himself. He asks about the schools on your list, the test dates, and what has been hard so far, then matches your child with a tutor. Sessions are one-to-one and weekly, in person in Greenwich and Fairfield County or online, with the same tutor and time each week.

The first session is a diagnostic on each test. From there the tutor works on the content the student is missing, the pacing, and the question strategy, and adds full-length timed practice in the final weeks so the real test is not the first time the student sits through the whole thing. Between sessions, the student has a short, specific plan, and the tutor checks it at the start of the next session.

Tutoring is billed by the hour rather than sold in prepaid packages. Students typically meet weekly so there is enough consistency to build skills and maintain momentum. Families can review our scheduling and cancellation policies before beginning.

Who We Work With

• Students in Greenwich public and independent schools applying to independent middle and high schools in Greenwich, Fairfield County, and Westchester.
• Students who understand the material but lose points to pacing, careless errors, or nerves.
• Students with ADHD, anxiety, or a learning difference who need the prep kept short, structured, and realistic, and who have testing accommodations we plan around.
• Families relocating to Greenwich who need to get a child ready for a mid-year or fall application on a short timeline.

DES focuses specifically on test preparation. We do not provide admissions consulting, develop school lists, or advise families on admissions decisions.

Why DES for ISEE and SSAT Prep?

Plenty of tutors in Greenwich can teach ISEE and SSAT content. What DES adds is the part traditional test prep can miss: whether the student follows through between sessions and can manage time, pacing, and strategy on test day. Every student works one-to-one with the same tutor each week, so the plan adjusts to what that student is missing rather than following a fixed curriculum. Executive function support is built into the tutoring, not sold separately. And the founder takes the first consultation himself and matches each student to a tutor, which is especially important when a student has ADHD, anxiety, a learning difference, or testing accommodations that need to be built into the preparation plan.

Areas We Serve

DES is based in Cos Cob, Greenwich, CT, and works with families throughout Greenwich, including Old Greenwich and Riverside, as well as Fairfield County and Westchester: Darien, New Canaan, Stamford, Westport, Wilton, Rye, Bedford, Scarsdale, and Armonk. Online sessions are available anywhere. Families in New York City can see our Manhattan ISEE and SSAT tutoring; families in South Florida, our Boca Raton ISEE and SSAT tutoring.

ISEE and SSAT Tutoring FAQs