This course prepares students entering grades 7–8 for the Middle Level ISEE used in independent school admissions. It is built to strengthen the exact skills tested on the exam: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and the Essay. Instruction begins with a diagnostic and a personal readiness map so students know which skills need the most attention. From there, the course teaches the underlying curriculum directly instead of relying on shortcuts alone. Students learn the content, practice applying it, and review mistakes in a structured way. Students will work on: Verbal reasoning: synonyms, antonyms, sentence completion, word relationships, roots, prefixes, suffixes, multiple-meaning words, and vocabulary in context Quantitative reasoning: number sense, fractions, decimals, ratios, rates, percents, proportions, algebraic reasoning, inequalities, patterns, and non-routine logic problems Mathematics achievement: arithmetic fluency, pre-algebra, expressions, factors and multiples, negative numbers, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and multi-step word problems Reading comprehension: main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary in context, tone, point of view, passage structure, author purpose, and literary and informational text analysis Essay writing: planning, organization, body paragraph development, transitions, grammar, revision, and timed writing practice The course also teaches the practical side of the exam so students can turn knowledge into score improvement. This includes understanding section timing, reading score reports, managing scratch work, using elimination effectively, and deciding when to move on from a difficult question. Each part of the program includes concrete learning tasks such as: clear concept explanations worked examples with full answer explanations guided practice with teacher support independent practice using original exam-style questions short quizzes and cumulative review timed drills and full section practice mistake-log routines to identify error patterns and correct them By the end of the course, students should be able to: understand the structure, timing, and expectations of the Middle Level ISEE solve verbal, reading, quantitative, and mathematics questions with stronger accuracy and reasoning write a clear, organized essay within the time limit pace themselves more effectively across sections analyze mistakes systematically and create a targeted final review plan This program is designed for students who need organized, skill-based preparation for private-school admissions, with enough practice and review to build confidence as well as measurable academic improvement.
- ISEE Baseline Diagnostic
- Analyzing Diagnostic Results by Skill
- Building a Personal Readiness Map
- Starting a Mistake Log
- Understanding the Middle Level ISEE
- Scaled Scores, Percentiles, and Score Reports
- Section-by-Section Time Management
- Strategic Guessing and Elimination
- Directions, Materials, and Test-Day Routines
- How Verbal Reasoning Questions Work
- Synonyms and Precise Word Meaning
- Antonyms, Contrasts, and Opposite Ideas
- Word Relationships and Analogical Thinking
- Vocabulary in Context
- Common Prefixes and How They Change Meaning
- Greek and Latin Roots for ISEE Vocabulary
- Suffixes, Parts of Speech, and Word Families
- Multiple-Meaning Words and Nuance
- High-Utility Academic Word Study
- Single-Blank Sentence Completion
- Double-Blank Sentence Completion
- Signal Words and Logical Structure
- Using Grammar to Support Verbal Answers
- Common Verbal Reasoning Mistakes
- Timed Verbal Drill and Review
- How Quantitative Reasoning Differs from Math Achievement
- Place Value, Integers, and Number Properties
- Operations with Fractions and Decimals
- Comparing Values and Estimation
- Order of Operations and Simplifying Expressions
- Ratios and Equivalent Ratios
- Rates, Unit Rates, and Speed Problems
- Percents, Discounts, and Markups
- Proportions and Scaling
- Percent and Ratio Word Problem Strategy
- Variables and Algebraic Expressions
- One-Step and Two-Step Equations
- Inequalities and Number Line Thinking
- Patterns, Sequences, and Rules
- Substitution and Logical Quantitative Puzzles
- Core Arithmetic Fluency for Test Accuracy
- Factors, Multiples, GCF, and LCM
- Exponents, Squares, and Order of Operations Review
- Negative Numbers and Signed Operations
- Translating Words into Equations
- Lines, Angles, and Angle Relationships
- Triangles and Quadrilaterals
- Area and Perimeter
- Circles and Basic Coordinate Geometry
- Volume, Surface Area, and Unit Conversions
- Tables, Graphs, and Data Interpretation
- Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
- Basic Probability
- Multi-Step Word Problems
- Common Math Achievement Traps
- Understanding ISEE Reading Passages and Questions
- Active Reading for Main Idea and Purpose
- Paragraph Roles and Text Organization
- Annotating Efficiently Under Time Limits
- Locating and Verifying Evidence
- Literal Detail Questions
- Inference Questions
- Vocabulary in Context for Reading Passages
- Tone, Mood, and Author Attitude
- Point of View, Purpose, and Bias
- Comparing Similar Answer Choices
- Narrative Passages: Character, Setting, and Conflict
- Informational Passages: Claim, Evidence, and Explanation
- Cause and Effect, Compare and Contrast, and Sequence
- Figurative Language and Literary Devices
- Timed Reading Sets and Error Review
- Understanding the ISEE Essay Task
- Generating Ideas from Common Prompts
- Planning a Strong Response Quickly
- Writing Effective Introductions and Conclusions
- Organizing Body Paragraphs with Evidence
- Sentence Variety, Clarity, and Word Choice
- Transitions and Logical Flow
- Grammar, Punctuation, and Common Writing Errors
- Revising Under Time Pressure
- Timed Essay Practice with Feedback
- Learning from Fully Worked Verbal Examples
- Learning from Fully Worked Math Examples
- Guided Practice with Teacher Support
- Independent Practice Sets
- Short Quizzes and Cumulative Review
- Timed Verbal Reasoning Sections
- Timed Quantitative and Mathematics Sections
- Timed Reading Comprehension Sections
- Timed Essay Simulations
- Full-Length Mock ISEE
- Post-Mock Performance Analysis
- Classifying Errors by Cause
- Turning Mistakes into Study Actions
- Spiral Review and Retention Planning
- Final Weak-Area Repair Plan
- Confidence, Focus, and Final Test Readiness