ISEE or SSAT?

Both the SSAT and the ISEE test include reading comprehension passages passages as well synonyms (designed to test vocabulary). The SSAT includes analogies, though, while the ISEE includes sentence completion questions similar to those found on the SAT.

What are the advantages and disadvantages? The analogy section can be good for a student with general cognitive skills -- someone good at puzzling things out. The sentence completion section, on the other hand, does give a little more context in the question/ stem. Theoretically I thought this might make it a little easier for my second language learner. It hasn't. As can be expected, he does better on reading comprehension than vocabulary because there is more context -- if one has strong enough reading skills in their native language, it isn't necessary to understand every word to get the main idea or purpose. There isn't quite enough context in the sentence completions to give him a lot of help, though. At this point, he is finding the analogies less tedious. A test prep bonus: analogies can sometimes be turned into a game.

The ISEE allows a student to write for 30 minutes, the SSAT only 25. There are other significant differences between the essays on the two exams. The SSAT reminds me more of the SAT while the ISEE reminds me of the ACT. The SSAT presents the students with a general statement that they may agree or disagree with. There is no right or wrong answer, but it is necessary to develop one's point through well elaborated paragraphs. Support can be drawn from a variety of sources. Some students use events from their own life or people they know; others use historical figures or well known figures from the modern era.

The ISEE essay is less open-ended. Older students are asked to argue particular issues; younger students may write about more personal opinions and favorites. Some students find this less intimidating -- fewer options means more time to write. It may be easier to prep for the SSAT essay, though, without knowing the question.

SSAT prompts can be difficult for a second language learner to understand -- at least the one's that are published by test prep companies. Native speakers understand colloquialisms -- two heads are better than one -- while second language learners will interpret them literally or need to ponder the meaning word for word. Test makers generally invest a lot in making questions reliable and valuable, so I expect that more care goes into providing prompts that won't leave a portion of test takers staring blankly into space.

For a second language learner, those test company prompts can be an interesting lesson, and a chance to develop critical thinking: Suggest that the word head might stand for something more than a head. Ask what it is the student does with their head.

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Preparation doesn't have to be confined to the particular test your student is taking. Entrance exams are, after all, designed to assess readiness for higher level academic work.

One thing that I like about using ISEE reading passages for practice is that they do start at a slightly lower level. I can begin giving the aforementioned ELL student practice with the format of the lower level exam even though he will ultimately be taking the middle level exam.