Resources
Entrance exams, explained
Most U.S. boarding schools and many day schools ask applicants for a standardized admission test, usually the SSAT or the ISEE. The score is one input among several — transcript, essays, interviews, recommendations — but it is the one you can rehearse directly.
Which test, and when
Check each target school’s admissions page: many accept either exam, some prefer one. Families typically test in the fall of application year, keeping a second date in reserve. Retake rules differ — the SSAT is offered frequently; the ISEE limits attempts per testing season — so plan the calendar before the first sitting. See SSAT vs ISEE for choosing.
What preparation actually does
Admission tests reward familiarity: the section rhythm, the question styles, the pacing, the recovery after a hard passage. That familiarity is trainable with full-length, honestly timed practice and review that explains why — which is exactly the loop RichiePrep is built around. What preparation cannot honestly promise is a specific score or an admission outcome; be wary of anyone who does.
A sane season
Most families test in the fall of the application year and apply early in the new year — most schools’ deadlines fall in January or February, so the testing window is short and the season is planned backwards from it.
Ten practice tests spaced over 10–14 weeks (plan here), one exam chosen early, one calendar with registration deadlines, and a student who knows the test will feel familiar on the day. That is the whole playbook.