Begin school entrance-test preparation with the schools on your application list. Confirm which assessment each accepts, which level applies to your child and when results must arrive. Then build a manageable practice routine around the actual skills and response formats, leaving time for schoolwork and the rest of the application.
Make a requirements record for every school
Read the admissions page for the intended entry grade and application year. Schools may accept different tests, offer alternatives or have their own assessment. Ask the admissions office to clarify any ambiguity before choosing dates or materials.
- Required or accepted examination and applicable test level.
- Entry grade, application round and score-arrival deadline.
- Accepted delivery formats and how results are sent.
- Any school-specific limits on testing dates or attempts.
- Accommodation procedures, fees and available fee assistance.
Use the school entrance requirements planner to keep these facts together. Mark the official source and date checked. When one test is accepted by several schools, confirm the details for all of them before consolidating your plan.
Choose the test and level using provider instructions
| Assessment path | What to verify | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| SSAT | Level, current grade, location and permitted testing options. | The official SSAT overview and the school's accepted-test policy. |
| ISEE | Level for the intended entry grade and the available administration. | The official ISEE level-specific preparation and registration guidance. |
| Catholic-school or other named exam | Exact examination, provider and local arrangements. | The school or diocesan admissions office. |
| School's own assessment | Published scope, format and any permitted preparation. | Instructions supplied by that school. |
The official SSAT overview describes levels, testing options and preparation. The official ISEE preparation page provides resources by level. Use each provider's definitions: a label such as “upper” does not make two tests interchangeable.
Follow the provider's accommodation process before booking where prior approval is required. Recheck device or location requirements for the chosen delivery option. Availability can depend on the student's location and level.
Use a small diagnostic to choose an attainable target
Begin with official sample material for the correct level. Explain to the student that the purpose is to discover what to practice. Record interruptions and unfamiliar instructions. Review correct guesses alongside mistakes so confidence is grounded in reasoning.
Sort difficulties into learning a concept, understanding the question, explaining an answer or working within time. Choose one or two priorities for the coming week. A student who has not learned a mathematics topic needs instruction; repeatedly timing the same unfamiliar task gives little useful feedback.
Practice reading without adding facts
For a writing sample, follow the relevant provider's task instructions. Practice planning a response, developing specific examples and rereading for clarity. The student's own voice and reasoning should remain visible in practice; use feedback to teach a revision rather than replacing the response for them.
Build a routine the family can sustain
An illustrative week might include three 25-minute skill sessions and one 30-minute review, totaling 105 minutes. Adapt the length to the student's age, needs and responsibilities. Use a longer rehearsal only when the format is familiar and there is time afterward to discuss it.
Keep the practice-review record focused on a next action: “explain the evidence for an inference” is more useful than “raise reading.” Check progress with fresh material and teacher feedback, while preserving ordinary reading, school learning and rest.
Before test day, confirm arrival or setup, identification, permitted materials and breaks from official instructions. Afterward, check score delivery for each school. Keep entrance-test results alongside the other application components; the receiving school decides how to use them.