SSAT · ISEE · HSPT
Private & Catholic school admissions testing, without the stress.
Prep for Main Line families — one-on-one or small group, built around a testing plan that fits your student’s schedule and target schools.
The testing plan
Start with the plan, not the prep.
Summer before 8th
Pick target schools; we map which tests they take and build the plan.
Sept–Oct
Prep begins: familiarity, strategy, and the core skills underneath.
Nov–Dec
Test day. Enrolled students take proctored practice tests as part of the plan first (also available standalone for $10).
January
Retake if needed. Behind schedule? Don’t panic — call us.
Services
Two ways to prep.
One-on-One Instruction
$175/hr
Mastery Learning: we teach to your student’s gaps, not a fixed script — and practice tests (free for enrolled students) post to your parent portal.
Our instruction is built around Mastery Learning, a pedagogy that focuses on breaking down concepts into small, easily-learnable pieces, coupled with clear feedback and correctives. As students master each concept, they move on to the next, so that they are always working on achievable challenges.
Small Group — Bring Your Friends
$495/student
- 5 weeks · 1.5 hrs/class
- 2–4 students — you pick the group
- Practice test + parent portal reporting included
About the tests
SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT in plain English.
The SSAT
The SSAT is an ability and aptitude test — not an achievement test measuring specific subject knowledge. It measures the basic skills and creative problem solving important for success in academics.
- The SSAT Upper Level has sections for Math, Reading Comprehension, and Verbal (synonyms and analogies), plus an unscored essay.
- There are three levels of SSAT tests, for elementary, middle, and upper school admissions.
- Unlike most other standardized tests, there is still a guessing penalty on the Middle and Upper Level SSAT (the Elementary Level has none).
- The SSAT is offered in three formats: standard paper tests on national dates, the SSAT at Home, and computer-based testing at Prometric centers. There are limits on how many times a student may take each format per testing year — format choice is part of the testing plan we build with each family.
The ISEE
The ISEE, like the SSAT, is an aptitude test rather than a curriculum-based achievement test. (The SSAT and ISEE are now administered by the same organization, following the merger of their parent companies.)
- The ISEE Upper Level has sections for Verbal (synonyms and sentence completion), Math (quantitative reasoning and math achievement), Reading Comprehension, and an unscored essay. Of the three tests, the ISEE covers the largest range of math skills.
- There are three levels of ISEE tests, for elementary, middle, and upper school admissions.
- There is no penalty for guessing.
- Students can take the test once per testing season, up to three times a year.
The HSPT
The HSPT is produced by Scholastic Testing Services (STS). It is primarily used by Catholic schools and given at the school on a specific date. STS allows schools to alter the order and sections of the test so they can have a unique “entrance exam.”
- The HSPT has sections for Verbal (analogies, synonyms, logic), Math (quantitative and conceptual problem solving), and Language (grammar and usage).
- There are optional sections (based on the school’s choice) for Science, Mechanical Aptitude, and Catholic Religion.
- There is only one level (for students entering high school).
- There is no penalty for guessing.
- Because each school gives its own administration, a student applying to multiple Catholic schools will take the test more than once.
Local schools
Which test does your school require?
| School | Test |
|---|---|
| Academy of Notre Dame de Namur | HSPT* |
| Agnes Irwin | ISEE / SSAT |
| Baldwin | ISEE / SSAT |
| Country Day School of the Sacred Heart | HSPT* |
| Devon Prep | HSPT* |
| Episcopal Academy | ISEE / SSAT |
| Friends Central | ISEE / SSAT |
| Malvern Prep | HSPT* |
| Merion Mercy Academy | HSPT* |
| Shipley | ISEE / SSAT |
| St. Joseph’s Prep | HSPT* |
| The Hill School | ISEE / SSAT |
| Villa Maria | HSPT* |
| William Penn Charter | ISEE / SSAT |
| Salesianum | HSPT* |
While we make every effort to keep this list up to date, always confirm testing requirements with the school’s admissions office. Last verified: August 2026.
Applying to private or Catholic school?
Start with a testing plan. Register online or call 610.688.6441 — we’ll map the tests your target schools require and build the plan around your student’s schedule.