HSPT | ISEE | SSAT
Test Preparation Programs
One-on-one and small-group instruction designed to build confidence, clarity, and test readiness.
Only a Test LLC offers structured preparation for middle- and high-school entrance exams built around strategy, content mastery, and disciplined practice. Programs are tailored to each student’s academic background, baseline performance, and admissions context, with an emphasis on skill-building and comfort with the test itself.
Small-group instruction is available when parents assemble a pair or trio of students with similar strengths and weaknesses, as demonstrated by baseline performance across sections. Group composition is discussed during consultation to ensure instruction remains appropriately targeted for all students involved.
Preparation for the HSPT, ISEE, or SSAT is designed to help students build confidence, think clearly under time pressure, and apply strategies consistently—skills that matter most for younger test-takers.
Program overview
- Foundation (6 hours): Focused preparation for students seeking familiarity with the test format, pacing strategies, and core question types.
- Core (12 hours): Balanced preparation combining strategy with targeted content instruction to address recurring weaknesses.
- Complete (18 hours): Comprehensive preparation emphasizing sustained instruction, confidence-building, and readiness across all tested areas.
Jump to a program:
Foundation ·
Core ·
Complete · Hourly instruction
How programs are structured
- Instruction is provided one-on-one or in small groups (2–3 students).
- Programs are organized in 6-, 12-, and 18-hour formats.
- An initial baseline is based on a recent official test or a practice test completed at home.
- Program scope and pacing are discussed during consultation or enrollment.
Before selecting a program
If you’re unsure which option is appropriate, you’re encouraged to start with a brief conversation. Program selection is based on the student’s academic background, baseline performance, timeline, and the admissions context of the schools being considered.
Foundation — 6 hours
For students who already have solid fundamentals and want targeted, strategy-driven score improvement without a long-term commitment.
Typical starting ranges:
- HSPT | ISEE | SSAT: students generally performing in the ~80th–95th percentile overall.
- Strong fundamentals; improvement comes primarily from strategy, pacing, and reducing avoidable errors.
- Because scoring structures vary by test and level, final placement is confirmed using baseline section scores.
Program focus:
Emphasizes test-taking strategy, time management, question prioritization, and score-maximizing decision-making, with limited targeted content review as needed.
Typical improvement:
- Many students see gains of 5–15 percentile points, especially through better pacing and fewer avoidable errors.
- Results vary based on timeline, baseline strengths, and consistency of practice.
Pricing
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual instruction | $1,050 |
| 2 students | $1,920 ($960 each) |
| 3 students | $2,730 ($910 each) |
Questions? See Next Steps ▽
Core — 12 hours
For students who want meaningful, durable improvement through a balanced mix of test strategy and targeted content instruction, without the intensity or length of a full remediation program.
Typical starting ranges:
- HSPT | ISEE | SSAT: students generally performing in the ~55th–80th percentile overall, or showing uneven section-level results.
- Often strong in some areas but held back by identifiable weaknesses (commonly math fundamentals, reading accuracy, or pacing).
- Because scoring structures vary by test and level, final placement is confirmed using baseline section scores.
Program focus:
Balanced preparation combining test-specific strategy with targeted content instruction. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, timing, and consistency, while addressing recurring weaknesses identified through diagnostics and guided practice.
Typical improvement:
- Many students see gains of 10–20 percentile points in weaker sections.
- Some improve primarily through increased confidence, better pacing, and fewer avoidable errors rather than dramatic raw-score jumps.
- Results vary based on timeline, baseline strengths, and consistency of practice.
Pricing
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual instruction | $2,010 |
| 2 students | $3,660 ($1,830 each) |
| 3 students | $5,220 ($1,740 each) |
Questions? See Next Steps ▽
Complete — 18 hours
For students who need substantial improvement and sustained instruction alongside strategy—especially when baseline results show multiple skill gaps across sections.
Typical starting ranges:
- HSPT | ISEE | SSAT: students generally performing in the ~30th–55th percentile overall, or showing persistent weaknesses across multiple sections.
- Often needs systematic math and/or verbal skill-building plus pacing work.
- Because scoring structures vary by test and level, final placement is confirmed using baseline section scores.
Program focus:
A comprehensive program emphasizing strategy, pacing, and heavy content instruction across tested areas. Designed for students with identifiable academic gaps who need time to build skills before results can be expected.
Typical improvement:
- Many students see gains of 15–30 percentile points in weaker sections when practice is consistent.
- Results vary based on timeline, baseline strengths, and follow-through between sessions.
Pricing
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual instruction | $2,850 (3 × $950) |
| 2 students | $5,220 ($2,610 each) |
| 3 students | $7,440 ($2,480 each) |
Payment options: This program may be paid in one, two, or three installments.
Next Steps
If you’d like to explore options or confirm availability, the best way to start is with a brief conversation.
Calls are welcome for brief questions. Calls only, please.
Call (314) 548-9062
Call with questions
Additional Information
Hourly instruction
- Individual instruction: $190 per hour, payable by the appointment.
- 2 students: $220 per hour total ($110 each).
- 3 students: $252 per hour total ($84 each).
- Hourly sessions are typically used for targeted help, short timelines, or narrowly defined goals.
Payment & Billing
- Payment is accepted by credit or debit card, Venmo, check, or cash.
- For hourly tutoring and for programs paid in installments, a valid credit or debit card is required to be kept on file.
- Clients may pay sessions or installments using any accepted payment method.
- Hourly sessions are payable at the time of each appointment.
- Installment payments are due on the dates specified in the program agreement.
- If payment is not received by the appointment time or installment due date, the card on file will be charged automatically.
- Checks should be made payable to Only a Test LLC.
- Venmo details are provided during enrollment or upon request.
- Card information is stored securely through a third-party payment processor; Only a Test LLC does not store or have access to full card numbers.
Pricing Protection
- Students who enroll in a program before a published rate increase will retain their original pricing for that specific program.
- Pricing protection applies only to the student(s) enrolled and does not extend to siblings, future enrollments, or additional programs.
- If a program is paused and later resumed, pricing protection applies only if the original program scope and structure remain unchanged.
- Any expansion of scope (additional hours, program changes, or new test preparation) will be priced at current rates.
Why There Is No Elite Guarantee for HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT
Admissions tests for middle school and early high school differ in important ways from the ACT and SAT, both in structure and in how scores are used by schools.
For students in roughly the 6–14 age range, performance is often influenced by factors that fall outside the scope of any tutoring program, including test-day anxiety, developmental variability, reading stamina, and familiarity with formal testing environments.
In addition, schools that use the HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT typically evaluate applicants holistically, considering grades, teacher recommendations, interviews, writing samples, and overall fit alongside test results.
For these reasons, Only a Test LLC does not offer a score-based guarantee for HSPT, ISEE, or SSAT preparation. Instead, programs are designed to build confidence, improve accuracy and pacing, and help students demonstrate their abilities as clearly and consistently as possible on test day.