Private and Prep School Exams

Open New Doors!

In addition to your academic record, many private and prep schools require an entrance exam to be taken as an admissions requirement. Therefore, it is important to distinguish yourself with a high test score. At ConnectPrep, we have instructors with intimate knowledge of these tests that will create a lesson plan specifically for you.

SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)

http://www.ssat.org/
The Secondary School Admission Test, or SSAT is for admission to highly selective private middle and high schools. This is a multiple-choice test administered to students grades 3 through 11. There are three levels of the SSAT. The Elementary level is designed for students in grades 3 and 4, the Middle level is designed for students in grades 5 through 7 and the Upper level is designed for students in grades 8 through 11.

ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination)

https://www.erblearn.org/services/
The Independent School Entrance Examination is for admission to highly selective private middle and high schools. There are also three levels of the ISEE. The Lower Level is given to students in 4th or 5th grade who are seeking admission to 5th or 6th grade. The Middle Level is administered to students in 6th or 7th grade who are seeking admission to 7th or 8th grade. The Upper Level is administered to students in 8th through 11th grade who are seeking admission to 9th through 12th grade.

Overview of SSAT vs. ISEE

  • 1 – Check the requirements of the schools you are applying to
  • 2 – ISEE aligns more with the ACT and the SSAT with the SAT
  • 3 – ISEE content is more straightforward with only non-fiction reading passages. SSAT uses a more abstract/creative approach with word problems, analogies, reading passages.
  • 4 – The math, vocab, and reading comprehension skills tested are very similar to the big tests.
  • 5 – ISEE = No guessing penalty, SSAT = ¼ point subtracted for each incorrect answer.
  • 6 – The SSAT may be retaken a number of times
  • 7 – The ISEE may only be taken once in each admissions cycle

Other Exams

  • TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) – TACHS INFO
    This standardized test is administered to students in New York who are applying to Catholic High schools in New York City and the surrounding areas.
  • COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination Program ) – https://catholicschoolsnj.org/
    This standardized test is administered to students who are applying to Catholic High schools in the Northern New Jersey and Hudson Valley New York regions
Our ConnectPrep Instructor had the challenging task of helping my daughter prepare for the ISEE with a limited amount of time. They exceeded all of our expectations as she was accepted into her top private school choice!
– Margaret I., ConnectPrep Parent
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ConnectPrep is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and subscribes to its high standards of integrity and professional practices to better serve our students.
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General

ACT Essay

  • The ACT decided to make a small change to the Writing section (essay). Although not drastically different, there are a few changes to point out.
  • Analysis of three perspectives on an issue. Instead of just focusing on the question, your new task is to look at the prompt and evaluate three perspectives of an issue.
  • Your opinion Does Matter. The new ACT writing section will ask you to make an argument to support your position.
  • Be specific. The prompt will only provide perspectives on the issue. In order to deliver a stronger essay, you’ll want to provide as much detailed and specific info as possible to support your argument.

Jon Aho

Development Team
Jon is a Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the University of Rochester. He’s been coding for nearly 7 years, and has a number of comprehensive software and hardware projects under his belt. Currently employed as a Research Fellow at his university, he also works at implementing the ConnectPrep Analytics website.
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Jeremy Fine

CEO

Jeremy is our education guru. He has years of experience working as an educator with students of all ages, using cutting-edge academic and test-prep curricula to take learning to a new level. He has helped students score in the top percentiles on SAT’s, ACT’s, and receive top marks in many academic subjects. He brings a wealth of knowledge to our company, with a dynamic vision for innovation and market growth. Jeremy earned a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Kevin Bretthauer

COO
Kevin is the co-founder of Connect Prep, specializing in technology and online services. Kevin is an Oregon native and Stanford University graduate. He has years of experience working in sales and marketing in the petroleum industry and has managed projects involving the promotion of bio-fuels and emissions reducing products. When he’s not working, Kevin enjoys playing golf, traveling, and watching college football. He has a passion for education as well as creating interactive educational software that will be able help more students reach their educational goals.
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Michelle Fine

Director of Operations
Michelle spent several years of her career in the fashion industry, learning about emerging trends in marketing and various aspects of planning a wholesale business. Michelle has had several opportunities to work directly with students, and her most recent transition into the field of education was inspired by her devotion to investing in the future of our youth and the fulfillment she experiences in this pursuit. She is eager to bring her experience and skill set to ConnectPrep to help all students reach new heights. Michelle graduated from the University of Florida with honors.
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Scott Luntz

IT Team
Scott is a senior at Purdue University studying Cybersecurity.He works with the IT team and has a passion for Internet security and threat detection. His goal is to use his knowledge in information technology to improve vulnerability analysis and fix any potential cyber issue before it becomes a problem.
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Jason Altabet

Analytics and Social Media Team

Jason has always had a thirst for education, whether it be for himself or for others. He is currently training to be a public speaking tutor for his university colleagues and, in addition, plays a central role on the Committee for Political Engagement, where he works to educate the student body on all matters political. At ConnectPrep he serves as the point man for social media, but when he gets the chance likes to try his hand at everything from analytics programming to web development. In his spare time you can expect to find him practicing fake law as a member of his school’s mock trial team, promoting class council initiatives, or working on his soccer “skills.” Jason currently attends the University of Rochester, majoring in Economics and Political Science.

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Deanna Thompson

Data Analyst Team

Deanna recently graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS in chemical engineering and legal studies minor. During her time as an undergraduate, she served as a writing tutor, speaking tutor, trained prospective tutors, and eventually served as the tutoring group’s president. Deanna is excited to work for ConnectPrep, continue to assist the tutoring process, and use her engineering background to help develop ConnectPrep’s analytic programs.

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Jon Aho

Development Team
Jon is a Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the University of Rochester. He’s been coding for nearly 7 years, and has a number of comprehensive software and hardware projects under his belt. Currently employed as a Research Fellow at his university, he also works at implementing the ConnectPrep Analytics website.
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Matt Dombroski

Development Team
Matthew currently attends the University of Rochester studying for a degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering. He loves to design and build anything that catches his interest, from using only digital logic chips to construct a calculator or verilog code to design and test a CPU. He has also lead one week long science camps for the past two years, teaching young kids the basics of chemistry, physics, and electricity. Matthew is excited to put his talents and interests to use in helping implement the data analytics and graphics engines for ConnectPrep.
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REDESIGNED SAT ESSAY

  • The new SAT essay is transitioning from asking the test taker to make an argument to an analysis of the content.
  • Analyze and Analyze. This is now the focus as you will be asked to break down an argumentative essay. Your score will be based on these three areas: reading, analysis, and writing.
  • Opinions DO NOT MATTER. There is no need to offer your thoughts about the topic. The only area of focus should be an explanation of the other side makes his/her point.
  • Aligned more English class and on AP tests. The new essay is a more direct reflection of the essays taught in school.

David Giannella

Development Team
David is attending the University of Rochester, pursuing a BS in Physics and Astronomy as well as a minor in Computer Science. He has gained knowledge of a number of programming topics including application development, data structures, and rendering. David is eager to use his programming skills to help ConnectPrep vault onto the web.
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Philip Fenimore

Development Team
Philip is an undergraduate at the University of Rochester studying Computer and Electrical Engineering. He enjoys realizing ideas through coding, like creating a 3d interactive environment with C# and modeling complex mathematical systems with Matlab. Philip is excited to work for ConnectPrep, using his set of skills to maximum effect on the data analytics team.
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Borja Rojo

Development Team
Borja Rojo is an Electrical and Computer Engineer at the University of Rochester, ’17, and also studies Computer Science and Audio Engineering. He has a passion for starting projects from the ground up and becomes inspired from reverse-engineering many kinds of systems. Now, he is helping design a portable ultrasound system to help with medical imaging on-the-go. Apart from his academics, you might see him designing a video game or recording his latest song. Here at ConnectPrep, he will be working on creating a web-based platform that automatically generates questions for students to study with and practice their skills.
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Sam Callis

Social Media Team
Sam is a junior at the University of Rochester studying History with a minor in English literature. He has a deep passion for education and hopes to work in the field for the rest of his life.
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Yiyuan Wu

Data Analyst Team
I graduated from University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics. I have tutored Algebra and Calculus I for undergraduate students throughout my undergraduate years. I am currently studying statistics at Rutgers University. I have a deep passion for education and believe that my mathematical and statistical skills can help improve the quality of education greatly.
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Connor Barth

IT Team
Connor is a senior Electrical Computer Engineering student at the University of Rochester. He is currently employed as a IT Consultant at the Simon Business School. His main interests include computer technology and wireless communications. As the son of a college professor Connor not only enjoys the benefits of an engaged educational experience, but also understands the importance of learning and finding the correct educational environment. Connor looks forward to using his skills, passion and experience to help the ConnectPrep team succeed.

New SAT Reading

  • All of the questions are now aligned with the passages.
  • Inclusion of classic texts. Reading text are now more aligned to a schools curriculum such as two texts from Science, US and World Literature, History(2), and Social Studies. Language can be more challenging with old text excerpts.
  • Charts and figures in science passages. Two of the five passages on the redesigned SAT will cover scientific topics, and these will include charts and figures.
  • Different Types of questions. New evidence, vocabulary in context, constructing logical arguments, and scientific reasoning questions are included in the test. , which ask you to indicate which part of the passage supports your answer to a previous question. These questions can be challenging.
  • Less emphasis on challenging vocabulary words
  • Questions go in chronological order. Questions are in chronological order which carries over from the Pre 3/16 SAT.

ACT Reading

  • The ACT focuses more on reading comprehension rather than an analytical approach with the SAT.
  • Many more questions which are random. Not only are there many more ACT English questions than on the SAT Writing, finding this information can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. The SAT navigates you towards specific sections of the passage where the information can be obtained.
  • Less time per question. You need to move through the questions at a fairly brisk pace as test takers have approximately eight and half minutes per ten question passage for the ACT reading vs. 13 minutes per 10-11 minute passage on the SAT.

Overview of New SAT changes:

  • The old scoring format returns (1600 point scale, Math/Verbal 800 point maximum)
  • 3 hrs instead of 3hrs 45 mins
  • Vocab less intense
  • Majority of questions will be 4 answer choices rather than 5
  • More straightforward Math and Vocab
  • Optional Essay
  • The NEW SAT will resemble the current ACT