Summer is just around the corner! But before you head off to camp, explore Europe on a teen tour or just relax at the beach, be sure to check out this edition of the Private Prep Newsletter. Read about one of our fantastic tutors, high school admission tests and the 2009-2010 SAT schedule.
|
Private Prep Tutor Profile: Melanie Curtin
Since joining Private Prep at the start of this school year,
Melanie has quickly developed a fantastic reputation. She brings a high level
of academic expertise and terrific energy to her sessions working with students
on their organizational and language skills. Additionally,
Melanie has become one of our "go-to" tutors for effective HS admissions verbal
test prep.
 "I like working with students on HS admissions test prep
because a lot of it really does prepare them for their academic future and
beyond. For example, learning to write a good, solid essay is a skill they will
use for the rest of their academic careers, as well as in the workplace. I also
enjoy helping kids become more comfortable with the test format by giving them
clear directions for ways to tackle problems. The more prepared they are, the
better they'll be able to focus on the actual day of the test, and the more it will become second nature. If you have a system and a method ready to go,
and you've practiced that system and method over and over, then it's just
another day and just another test on which you can excel."
Melanie was born in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and
moved to Hawaii when she was 9 years old. After attending the same high school
as Barack Obama she headed back to the mainland to attend Stanford University.
Melanie graduated Stanford with a BA in Japanese and an MA in Communication.
Prior to joining Private Prep, Melanie worked as a tutor and
English teacher around the globe, including in Spain and Japan. She taught
English to young, non-native speakers, using written, visual, and auditory cues
to help them understand word pronunciation and meaning. Melanie is fluent in
Spanish, highly proficient in French, and comfortable with Japanese. In addition to being a passionate teacher, Melanie is
an actress, dancer/singer and writer. |
Students
Prepare for High School Admission Tests
With the school year
coming to an end, many of our middle school students have begun their prep for
high school admission tests to be administered this fall. There are a host of
tests used to evaluate students interested in applying to private and NYC
specialized schools. Be sure to do your research ahead of time to ensure which
test you need to take.
We have several passionate tutors specially trained to
help students prepare for high school admission tests including: ISEE, SHSAT,
SSAT, TACHS and BJE. While we work with students on all of these tests, in this issue we breakdown the ISEE
and SHSAT.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
About: The
ISEE is a three-hour admission test that private schools use to evaluate
prospective students. A number of New York's competitive private schools require ISEE
scores as part of their applications. There are three levels of the ISEE: Lower
Level (grades 5-6), Middle Level (grades 7-8), and Upper Level (grades 9-12). Students take the appropriate level based on the grade they are applying to for admission.
Upper Level Format: The Upper Level ISEE consists of five sections: Verbal Reasoning (40
questions; 20 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (35 questions; 35 minutes),
Reading Comprehension (40 questions; 40 minutes), Mathematics Achievement (45
questions, 40 minutes) and an Essay (30 minutes).
Upper Level Content: The Math sections cover skills from arithmetic, algebra and geometry. The Verbal section includes synonym and
sentence completion questions. The reading comprehension section includes questions
from passages on science, social studies and the humanities.
Next Test Date: Students can schedule to take the ISEE by appointment at the ERB New York City office or they can register for an administration offered on various dates at private schools throughout New York.
Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)
About: The
SHSAT is used to evaluate students applying to 8 of the 9 NYC specialized high schools,
including Bronx Science, Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech. LaGuardia is the only
NYC specialized high school that does not use the SHSAT for admissions. The
test is given to students in 8th and 9th grades.
Format: The
SHSAT consists of a 45-question verbal section and a 50-question math section.
Students have 75 minutes to complete each section and all questions are
multiple choice. There is an 8th grade and 9th grade
version of the SHSAT.
Content: The math section covers arithmetic, algebra, probability, statistics, and geometry.
The 9th grade test also includes questions on material from algebra
II and trigonometry. The verbal section includes reading comprehension, logical
reasoning and scrambled paragraphs.
Next Test Date: The 2009 test dates have not been released. Typically the SHSAT is
offered in late October for 8th graders and late November for 9th
graders.
|
|
It's been a great school year. Our students worked hard and achieved fantastic results. They've earned a break filled with fun and new experiences. Enjoy your summer!
All the best,
Steve Feldman & Scott Levenson
Private Prep, Inc |
|
|
| SAT Test Dates | | On May 29, the College Board announced the test dates for the SAT during the 2009 - 2010 school year. The SATs are offered seven times during the school year. Keep in mind these dates as you plan family vacations and other events.
October 10, 2009
(SAT I & SAT II)
November 7, 2009
(SAT I & SAT II)
December 5, 2009
(SAT I & SAT II)
January 23, 2010
(SAT I & SAT II)
March 13, 2010
(SAT I only)
May 1, 2010
(SAT I & SAT II)
June 5, 2010
(SAT I & SAT II)
|
|
|
