SSAT is the main test for boarding school applications. Classes split by Middle / Upper Level and cover all four sections with full-length practice.

How to start

Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should Irvine families take the SSAT or the ISEE?

The practical difference is which schools accept which test. Boarding school applications generally run on the SSAT, while most Southern California day schools accept the ISEE. Confirm the target schools' requirements first; where both are accepted, choose by how the student handles each question format. ISEE prep is described at ISEE.

Middle Level or Upper Level?

The level follows the student's current grade. Middle Level serves grades 5 to 7 and Upper Level serves grade 8 and above. Both cover the same four sections at different difficulty. We place students by level, and the placement assessment together with the applying grade determines which one.

How are SSAT percentiles calculated?

A percentile is not the share of questions answered correctly. It compares the student against recent test takers of the same grade and gender, so the same raw score can yield different percentiles at different grades. Schools read the percentile, which is why preparation targets that number.

Does the writing sample count toward the score?

It is unscored but sent to schools with the report. Admissions readers use it to judge how a student organizes and expresses an argument, so it needs preparation like the multiple-choice sections. Our classes cover verbal and analogies, quantitative, reading, and the essay as a fixed part of the program.

How long do Irvine students need to prepare?

It depends on the starting point, but rarely less than a full semester. Verbal and analogies rest on long-term vocabulary work, where late cramming does little; reading and quantitative scores respond to a few months of focused practice. Students preparing during the school year should start vocabulary over a break. Classes include full-length practice tests to settle pacing, and placement follows the assessment.

What should Irvine families do after the test?

The test is one piece of the application. Private high school admissions also involve the school list, application materials, essays, and interviews, and we suggest starting 12 to 24 months before submission. See private school planning for the full process, the school directory for profiles, and the IUSD guides if public high schools are still in the comparison.