Wyzant

Wyzant was founded in 2005 as a way to connect students with local tutors, but since then, the company has grown into a respected online tutoring marketplace. The founders of the company knew the effectiveness of one-on-one learning, so they created an easy way to connect learners with tutors.

Wyzant offers more than 200 ISEE tutors to choose from, with rates starting as low as $40 an hour for live online instruction. Each tutor has an online profile, where you can read their bios, see their academic credentials, learn about their individual tutoring policies, and find information about scheduling. Once you find tutors who specialize in the specific ISEE exam your child is taking (Lower, Middle, or Upper), you can select the one that seems like the best fit for your child. Some tutors even offer “Instant Book,” which shows you their next available appointments, some of which are as early as the following day. You can read reviews submitted by real parents and students, and sessions are pay as you go with no commitments or contracts. Students work with tutors through the browser-based Wyzant Learning Studio, which was described as intuitive and easy to use.

In reviews, parents and students praised the knowledgeable and experienced tutors, highlighting their supportiveness and patience. Parents appreciated not having to purchase tutoring packages, and students reported great benefit from learning test-taking techniques, in addition to focusing on test content.

Best for: families who want to choose their child’s tutor, and those who would rather purchase single tutoring sessions instead of tutoring packages.

Not the best for: families who prefer purchasing tutoring packages or those who prefer scheduling multiple sessions at a time with the same tutor.

Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors was founded in 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri, as a specialized, in-person tutoring service designed to improve access to high-quality, personalized learning. Over the years, the company has grown into a reputable, live online tutoring platform.

When you visit the Varsity Tutors website, you’ll be asked who the tutoring is for (you, your child, or someone else). Families can choose if they’re looking to start tutoring right away or in a few weeks, and when you enter your child’s school district, you may discover they already partner with Varsity Tutors and offer special benefits such as 10% off live online tutoring services, accelerated tutor scheduling, dedicated customer service support, and more.

With Varsity Tutors, you can scroll through tutor profiles, read about their academic and teaching credentials, and learn about their pricing and policies. Unlike some other tutoring companies, though, how much each tutor charges is not displayed on their profile. You do have to enter your zip code, full name, and email address to move forward with selecting a tutor, and you cannot contact the individual tutors directly before completing these steps.

In reviews, both parents and students described tutors as experienced, knowledgeable, and professional. Students reported score improvement and decreased test-related anxiety from working a tutor, and parents appreciated the school-related discount.

Best for: families whose child’s school partners with Varsity Tutors, as this results in a discount and other benefits.

Not the best for: families looking to schedule directly with a tutor without going through a company first.

Princeton Review

One of the most recognizable names in the test prep industry, Princeton Review was founded in New York City in 1981 to help students master the SAT. Over the years, the company has expanded into a leading global provider of educational services, including test prep, tutoring, and admissions consulting. Princeton Review offers two ISEE live online tutoring options for Lower, Middle, and Upper level exams:

• Comprehensive Tutoring: described as “best for full exam coverage,” this option starts at $167 an hour and includes 18 hours of instruction ($3,000 total).
• Targeted Tutoring: described as “best for 1-2 areas of focus,” this option starts at $180 an hour and includes 10 hours of instruction ($1,800 total).

Both options include 3 full-length practice tests, access to more than 750+ questions across test levels and sections, and the company’s proprietary publication, Comprehensive Guide to the ISEE.

Families can view tutor profiles, which include information about the tutor’s academic and teaching background, but you do not book directly with an individual tutor. Instead, Princeton Review takes the approach of matching your child with a tutor. They do note that if you are not 100% satisfied with the tutor after the first session, a different tutor will be assigned to your child and you will not be charged for your child’s next session.

In reviews, students and parents praised the knowledge and skill level of the tutors and appreciated their dedication to offering instruction tailored to individual goals and learning styles. Students appreciated the detailed explanations and time-saving techniques. Some students noted that the materials were slightly more challenging than the actual ISEE exam, and while learners found this occasionally daunting, they also shared that it more than prepared them for the day of their exam.

Best for: families seeking experienced tutors who prefer to pay upfront for a tutoring package.

Not the best for: families on a budget, or those who prefer to purchase individual tutoring sessions rather than multi-session packages.

LA Tutors 123

LA Tutors 123 was founded in 2007 by a team of educators to provide in-person and online tutoring services focused on K-12 learning and college preparation. The company offers in-person tutoring services in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as live online instruction around the world, and they have developed a dedicated user base. LA Tutors 123 offers five in-person or live online ISEE tutoring options:

• 10 hours Express Course ($190/hour online; $210/hour in-person): this option provides 2-5 weeks of prep time and is described as best for students seeking an ISEE crash course, students who want to focus on one particular test section, or students seeking to make short-term gains in a limited amount of time.
• 20 hours Standard Course ($185/hour online; $205/hour in-person): this option provides 5-10 weeks of prep time and is described as best for students close to their target score who want basic help on ISEE essentials, or students seeking in-depth tutoring on one-to-two sections.
• 30 hours Advanced Course ($180/hour online; $200/hour in-person): this option provides 2-4 months of prep time and is described as best for students who want a comprehensive review of the entire ISEE exam and who are seeking to significantly raise their score.
• 40 hours Comprehensive Course ($175/hour online; $195/hour in-person): this option provides 3-5 months of prep time and is described as best for students seeking extensive help on all sections of the ISEE who also want to maximize their score increase.
• Hourly Rate A La Carte Sessions ($215 hour/online; $235/hour in-person): this option allows families to purchase individual tutoring sessions rather than a package.

Each student completes an ISEE diagnostic test, which is used to create an adaptable learning plan customized to your child. While tutor names and photos can be viewed on the website, families do not select their child’s tutor. Instead, a tutor is chosen for your child based on teaching style, location, personality, and availability.

In reviews from both parents and students, the knowledge and expertise of the tutors was repeatedly praised. Parents expressed an appreciation for the focus on identifying and improving any areas of weakness demonstrated by their child, in addition to the personalized instruction offered to each child. Students frequently mentioned how patient their tutors were and how much the tutoring services helped them feel relaxed and confident on the day of their exam, which ultimately contributed to earning or exceeding their target score.

Best for: families seeking to purchase a targeted tutoring package, or those seeking in-person tutoring in select cities.

Not the best for: families who prefer to select their child’s tutor, or those on a budget.

Revolution Prep

Revolution Prep was founded in 2002 by graduates from UCLA’s Anderson School of Business to improve traditional test preparation by focusing on high-quality, professional tutoring. The company has grown significantly over the years to be an established provider of test prep services. Revolution Prep offers three ISEE live online tutoring options:

• 12 hours ($1,579): this option is described as best for students on a tight schedule seeking an overview of the ISEE format and test-taking strategies or students who want to focus on a single test section.
• 24 hours ($2,959): this option is described as best for students seeking to improve their test scores through repetitive skill-based practice while also establishing a foundation of effective test-taking strategies.
• 40 hours ($4,799): this option is described as best for students with ambitious score-improvement goals seeking to cover a wide range of test content and test-taking techniques.

While parents do not pick their child’s tutor, children are matched with the ideal tutor for their learning needs, and they work with the same tutor for all sessions. Parents receive a weekly progress report, and each session includes a strong focus on helping your child develop Executive Function skills such as time management and organization, in addition to mastering test content.

In reviews, parents and students praised the knowledge and experience of the tutors. Parents appreciated the strong focus on test-taking techniques and Executive Function skills, and they noted that working with a private tutor helped their child feel less anxious about the exam. The personalized instruction offered by tutors was noted to be effective in improving scores in a short amount of time, and several student reviews mentioned the exceptional support and patience demonstrated by tutors.

Best for: families who prefer their child’s tutor to focus as much on test-taking skills and anxiety-management as on test content.

Not the best for: families who want to choose their child’s tutor, those who prefer to purchase individual tutoring sessions, or those on a budget.

Conclusion

The tutoring services reviewed in this guide offer a variety of learning options for students preparing for the Lower, Middle, or Upper level ISEE exam. Tutoring sessions can be purchased individually or as a package, with options to select a specific tutor or have your child be matched with a tutor by test prep professionals. All prices were accurate at the time of writing, but we encourage interested families to visit the provided websites, as companies frequently offer seasonal sales or discounts. With the information in this guide, you can avoid wasting time searching online and instead quickly find just the right tutor for your child’s unique learning style and study timeline.