Preparing for the ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, or TACHS? Schedule a free diagnostic consultation →
Ace the ISEE, SSAT,
SHSAT & TACHS.
Get Into Your Dream School.
ConnectPrep specializes in private and prep school admissions exams. Our expert instructors use targeted, personalized prep to help students score in the highest percentiles — and earn spots at the most selective schools in the country.
Every Private & Prep School Exam, Covered
Whether your student is targeting a local Catholic high school, a New York City specialized school, or a top boarding school — ConnectPrep has an expert, personalized program ready.
The primary entrance exam for prestigious private middle and high schools nationwide. Assesses verbal, quantitative, and reading skills across three levels.
SSAT Prep Details →
Widely used by independent private schools for grades 4–12 admissions. Tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading, math achievement, and essay writing.
ISEE Prep Details →
The sole criterion for admission to New York City’s specialized high schools, including Stuyvesant and Bronx Science. Covers English Language Arts and math.
Required for students applying to Catholic high schools in New York City and surrounding areas. Tests reading, written expression, math, and ability reasoning.
Used by many Catholic high schools nationally. Covers verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics, and language skills for 8th-grade applicants.
Administered to students applying to Catholic high schools in Northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley region. Assesses reasoning, verbal, and math skills.
Master the SSAT at Every Level
The SSAT is the gateway to some of the most prestigious private and boarding schools in the country — including Choate, Exeter, Andover, Hotchkiss, and many others. ConnectPrep’s expert instructors know this test inside and out, and build personalized programs that go far beyond standard test prep.
- Customized study plans built around your student’s learning style, pace, and target schools
- Full-length practice tests under real conditions, with detailed score analysis after each one
- Vocabulary and verbal reasoning development — the section most students underestimate
- Analogy mastery — a unique SSAT section that requires targeted, strategic preparation
- Guessing strategy — the SSAT deducts ¼ point for wrong answers; we teach exactly when to guess and when to skip
- Retake strategy — since the SSAT can be taken multiple times, we plan the optimal testing schedule
- Confidence and test-day readiness so students walk in composed and fully prepared
- Individualized learning plans targeting each student’s specific gaps and strengths
- Essay writing coaching — unlike the SSAT, the ISEE includes a required essay scored by admissions
- Fact-based reading strategies tailored to the ISEE’s concrete, literal comprehension style
- No-penalty guessing — the ISEE does not deduct for wrong answers, so we teach full-answer strategies
- Single-attempt optimization — the ISEE allows only one attempt per cycle, so thorough prep is essential
- Stanine score targeting — we benchmark and track progress toward each student’s stanine goal
- Advanced math and critical reading — full subject mastery, not just test tricks
ISEE Prep Built for One-Shot Success
The ISEE is administered only once per admissions cycle — which means there is no safety net. ConnectPrep treats every ISEE prep program with the urgency that demands. Furthermore, our instructors build comprehensive programs that develop true academic skills, not just test-taking tricks.
SSAT vs. ISEE: Which Test Does Your School Require?
Most private schools accept either exam — but some prefer one over the other. Moreover, certain students are better suited to one test’s style. Understanding the differences is the first step to choosing the right prep path.
Not sure which test your target school prefers? Contact us — we advise families on the right choice every day.
We Also Prep For
In addition to the SSAT and ISEE, ConnectPrep prepares students for every major private and Catholic school entrance exam in the region.
The sole criterion for NYC’s specialized high schools — Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, and others. Covers ELA and math. Our students average 600+.
Official SHSAT info →Required for students applying to Catholic high schools in New York City and the surrounding areas. Covers reading, language, math, and ability reasoning.
Official TACHS info →Used by Catholic high schools nationwide. Five sections: verbal, quantitative, reading, mathematics, and language skills for 8th-grade applicants.
Official HSPT info →Administered to students applying to Catholic high schools in Northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley. Tests sequences, analogies, verbal reasoning, and math.
Official COOP info →Real Students. Real Acceptances.
“Working with the education team at ConnectPrep helped my daughter excel with her SSAT prep. She scored in the 99th percentile and was accepted into all of her top private school choices. The personalized approach made all the difference.”
“Our ConnectPrep instructor had the challenging task of helping my daughter prepare for the ISEE with very limited time. They exceeded all of our expectations — she was accepted into her top private school choice. We couldn’t be more grateful.”
“Jeremy walked us through the TACHS process from start to finish. He worked patiently with our son, directed us to the right resources, and gave him the confidence he needed to walk out of the test feeling like he aced it. His enthusiasm for helping kids is truly exceptional.”
“Mary worked with Emily on SSAT prep and her patient, clear approach gave Emily the strategies and confidence she needed. Her scores rose significantly. Jeremy then guided us through every step of the private school applications. Emily was accepted to Choate Rosemary Hall, Loomis Chaffee, Greens Farms Academy, Westminster, Sacred Heart Greenwich, and Kent School.”
Private School Exam Questions, Answered
Choosing the Right Exam
Should my child take the SSAT or the ISEE?
How early should we start preparing?
ConnectPrep’s Programs
How is ConnectPrep’s prep different from a test prep course or book?
Do you offer in-person and online sessions?
What score improvements can we realistically expect?
Private School Admissions
Do you also help with the private school application beyond the exam?
Do you work with students who have learning differences or need accommodations?
The Right School Starts With the Right Score.
ConnectPrep has helped hundreds of students earn spots at the most selective private and prep schools in the country. Start with a free diagnostic consultation — we’ll identify exactly where your student stands and build a plan to get them where they need to be.
SHSAT (Specialized High School Admissions Test)
What is the SHSAT and who takes it?
The Specialized High School Admissions Test is the single gateway to eight of NYC’s nine Specialized High Schools. (LaGuardia HS, the ninth, uses an audition or portfolio instead.) Roughly 25,000 8th and 9th graders sit for the SHSAT each fall. Admission is offer-based: the city ranks students by composite score and matches them to their highest-listed school they qualify for.
What SHSAT score do students need for each school?
Composite-score cutoffs from the 2025–2026 admissions cycle:
| Specialized High School | 2025–26 Cutoff (composite) |
|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | 556 |
| Staten Island Technical HS | 527 |
| Queens HS for the Sciences at York College | 527 |
| HS for Math, Science & Engineering at CCNY (HSMSE) | 526 |
| Bronx High School of Science | 518 |
| HS of American Studies at Lehman | 516 |
| Brooklyn Technical HS | 505 |
| The Brooklyn Latin School | 493 |
Cutoffs shift each year based on applicant pool and seat counts. A target 30–60 points above last year’s cutoff for your top-choice school is a sensible safety margin.
When should an 8th grader start preparing?
Most ConnectPrep SHSAT students start in late spring or early summer of 7th grade, giving them 4–6 months of structured prep before the October test administration. Students entering 9th-grade SHSAT (a smaller pool with fewer seats) typically start the summer before 9th grade.
How does ConnectPrep’s 1:1 SHSAT prep work?
Every program begins with an AI-driven diagnostic to identify section-level weaknesses (Math vs. ELA vs. timing). A 97th–99th-percentile tutor then builds a tailored plan around the diagnostic, with weekly proctored sections and full-length practice tests as the test date approaches. Many SHSAT-bound families pair test prep with private school admissions counseling to coordinate applications across the eight Specialized High Schools and any private school backups. Schedule a free SHSAT consultation.