SSAT / ISEE Prep
The SSAT and ISEE are specific tests. Generic prep doesn't cut it.
Private school admissions tests reward preparation. Most students who underperform aren't missing ability. They're missing targeted preparation for what these tests actually measure. Bell Curves prepares students for the SSAT and ISEE through live group courses and private tutoring from experienced instructors. Most private school application deadlines fall in December and January. The preparation window is shorter than most families realize.
Two ways to prepare
A live course, or a private tutor. Pick the fit.
SSAT/ISEE Courses
From $995
Intensive and Edge — a structured curriculum with 10–15 students who move at the same pace.
- Best for a defined test date, weeks to months out
- Full KRE curriculum, live instructors
SSAT/ISEE Private Tutoring
From $85/hr
One tutor, matched to your student's specific gaps — Tutor, Senior Tutor, and Expert Tutor level, in flexible 10- or 15-hour packages.
- Best for a tight timeline or a very specific gap
- Fully flexible schedule, one-on-one attention
Our Method
KRE™: Knowledge, Recognition, Execution.
Most SSAT/ISEE prep programs cover content. Content is one of three things a student needs to perform. Bell Curves addresses all three. All three determine what happens in the test room.
Knowledge
Content mastery across SSAT and ISEE Verbal and Quantitative sections. Synonyms and analogies on the SSAT. Vocabulary in context and separate reasoning and achievement sections on the ISEE. Different tests, different content maps.
Recognition
Identifying which test, and which rules, apply to the page in front of your student. The SSAT penalizes wrong answers. The ISEE doesn't. Guessing can cost points on one test and can't hurt you on the other. We teach students which exam they're actually taking.
Execution
Applying knowledge and recognition under two different scoring systems. Same student, different strategy depending on the test. We calibrate pacing and guessing strategy to whichever exam your student sits for.
SSAT/ISEE Timing
There's no single test date. There's your school's application deadline.
Most private and independent school applications are due in December or January, and the SSAT and ISEE are both offered on a rolling basis leading up to it. The deadline that matters is the one on your target school's application, not a single national test day.
Instructors
Taught by real educators.
Dr. Marlene
Lead Instructor
Originally from Germany, Marlene started tutoring younger students while still in high school and continued through a PhD in U.S. History and Foreign Policy from the Free University of Berlin. She prepares students for the SAT, SHSAT, and ISEE, as well as AP History and ELA courses. Students consistently value her approachable manner, patience, and humor.
Jacquie B.
Instructor
Hey there! I'm originally from the sunny shores of San Juan, Puerto Rico, but about three years ago, I traded the beaches for the bustling streets of New York City to complete my Master's degree. Since my college days, I've been teaching all sorts of subjects, math, Spanish, English, and Acting! Now in NYC, I've been busy teaching SAT prep classes at various schools and working with students one-on-one across Brooklyn and Manhattan, tackling everything from SAT to SHSAT, SSAT, ISEE, ACT, and Spanish lessons.
K. Eskins
Instructor
K is a graduate student and adjunct professor in Philosophy. Instilling a deep love for learning in students is K's mission and this extends beyond content-level work to more general strategies about how students can best harness their capacities to generate new knowledge. With a decade of work in education across grade levels and subjects, K has developed an arsenal of skills in the art of pedagogy that can adapt to any new subject. K specializes in SAT, ACT, SHSAT, SSAT, Regents prep, English composition and essay writing, and math through AB calculus.
Not sure what a good SSAT/ISEE score is?
Try Score Signal — a free score-insight tool.
Common questions
What people ask before they enroll.
Get your child started on SSAT or ISEE prep.
Tell us about your student. We will match them with the right tutor within one business day.