Increase Scores with Personalized ISEE & SSAT Test Prep
- More than 4.6 million successful tutoring sessions
- Expert private-school entrance exam tutors
- Customized one-to-one tutoring plans
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"My husband and I were struggling to help our daughter prepare for the ISEE exam so I decided to reach out to Tutor Doctor—and it was the best decision we could have made."
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Our personalized approach begins with a free practice test that helps identify your student’s baseline performance and specific areas for improvement. From there, your dedicated Education Consultant matches your student with an experienced SSAT or ISEE tutor who understands both the test format and how to connect with young learners. Whether your student is applying to competitive private schools in La Jolla, Del Mar, or throughout San Diego County, our tutors provide targeted instruction that addresses individual strengths and challenges while teaching proven strategies for vocabulary building, mathematical reasoning, and reading analysis. We emphasize stress reduction techniques and confidence-building exercises, ensuring students feel calm and prepared when facing these challenging tests. Throughout the process, we keep parents informed of progress and adjust our approach based on your student’s evolving needs and timeline.
With Tutor Doctor, your student will:
- Master essential test content including verbal reasoning, quantitative skills, and reading comprehension through personalized lessons tailored to their learning style
- Learn time management strategies and test-taking techniques specific to the SSAT or ISEE format to maximize their performance
- Build confidence through practice tests and targeted exercises that reduce anxiety and improve focus on test day
- Receive ongoing support and encouragement from expert tutors who understand the private school admissions process in San Diego
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Meet Tiffany Lien, owner of Tutor Doctor San Diego
Chris and Tiffany Lien, co-owners of Tutor Doctor San Diego, bring over 13 years of dedicated tutoring experience to families throughout San Diego County. Their passion for educational support stems from Tiffany's unique perspective as both an international educator and mother of three, including a recent college graduate who successfully navigated the competitive admissions process. This firsthand understanding of the stress families face during private school admissions drives their commitment to providing personalized SSAT and ISEE prep that goes beyond test strategies focusing on building confidence and reducing anxiety for students across Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, and surrounding communities.
At Tutor Doctor San Diego, Chris and Tiffany take pride in their careful, personalized approach to matching each student with the perfect tutor for their learning style and goals. Drawing from Tiffany's extensive background working with students who have executive functioning challenges, they understand that success on the SSAT and ISEE requires more than content knowledge it demands coaching, accountability, and a supportive environment where students can thrive. Their deep roots in the San Diego community, combined with access to Tutor Doctor's proven test prep methodologies, ensure that every student receives the tailored guidance needed to unlock their potential and gain admission to their dream private school.
14+ Years
Empowering Students In San Diego
58,000+
Hours Spent Successfully Tutoring Students
Our Approach to ISEE & SSAT Test Prep
At Tutor Doctor, every test prep journey starts with a process that’s built around your student — not a one-size-fits-all program. We take the time to understand each student, match them with the right tutor, and provide personalized, one-to-one instruction that builds both skill and confidence.
Assess
We start with a free consultation and practice test to understand your student’s starting point and goals, and create a personalized plan.
Match
Your student is paired with an expert tutor who fits their learning style, personality, and goals.
Tutor
Through one-to-one test prep sessions, students build the skills, strategy, and confidence they need to perform at their best.
Support
We stay connected through regular progress updates and communication, so families are always informed about milestones, focus areas, and next steps.
Test Prep Tailored to Every Student
Tutor Doctor helps students prepare for the exams that shape their college journey. From improving SAT or ACT scores to mastering AP exams, our one-to-one test prep programs strengthen content knowledge, build strategy, and boost confidence — so students can approach college admissions with clarity and calm.
Our Programs:
ISEE Test Prep Tutoring
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) helps private and independent schools assess applicants’ academic readiness across levels for Grades 2–12. Tutor Doctor’s personalized one-to-one ISEE tutoring reinforces content mastery, identifies learning gaps, and builds test-day confidence — helping students perform their best on every section of the exam.
With Tutor Doctor’s ISEE tutoring, your student will:
- Work with expert tutors who understand ISEE structure, levels, and scoring methods
- Strengthen vocabulary, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning skills
- Practice with skill-focused drills and adaptive feedback to target weaker areas
- Learn pacing and strategy techniques specific to the ISEE format Build confidence through positive, supportive instruction tailored to their goals
SSAT Test Prep Tutoring
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is used by many private and boarding schools to evaluate students in Grades 3–11 for admission. Tutor Doctor’s personalized one-to-one SSAT tutoring helps students strengthen verbal, reading, and math reasoning skills while developing the strategies and confidence needed to perform their best on test day.
With Tutor Doctor’s SSAT tutoring, your student will:
- Work with expert tutors who know the SSAT format, scoring, and question types
- Strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, and quantitative reasoning skills
- Learn test-taking strategies for pacing, time management, and educated guessing
- Improve clarity and structure for the SSAT’s unscored writing sample
Frequently Asked Questions About Our ISEE & SSAT Prep Tutoring Services in San Diego
How is Tutor Doctor's SSAT/ISEE prep different from test prep centers in San Diego?
Unlike group classes at test prep centers, Tutor Doctor provides personalized one-to-one SSAT/ISEE tutoring that adapts to your child’s unique learning style and private school goals. We start with a free practice test to identify strengths and areas for growth, then match your student with an experienced tutor who comes to your home in San Diego, La Jolla, or any of our service areas. This personalized approach means your child gets focused attention on the specific verbal, quantitative, and reading skills they need to succeed on these competitive private school admissions tests.
When should my child start preparing for the SSAT or ISEE?
Most students benefit from starting SSAT/ISEE prep 3-4 months before their test date, though this varies based on your child’s baseline scores and target schools. We recommend beginning with our free practice test as soon as you’re considering private school applications this gives us time to build a customized prep plan that fits your family’s schedule. Since many San Diego area private schools have fall and winter testing deadlines, starting prep in the summer or early fall typically works best.
How does the free SSAT/ISEE practice test work?
Your child takes a full-length practice SSAT or ISEE test in a comfortable setting, either at home or online. We provide detailed score reports that break down performance by section verbal, quantitative, reading comprehension, and for ISEE, the essay. Based on these results, we create a personalized tutoring plan and match your student with the right tutor from our San Diego team who specializes in private school test prep.
Do you offer both SSAT and ISEE prep throughout San Diego County?
Yes, we provide one-to-one SSAT and ISEE tutoring across San Diego County, including Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Encinitas, Poway, La Mesa, and all our service areas. Since different private schools in San Diego require different tests, our tutors are experienced with both formats and can help your family determine which test plays to your child’s strengths. We’ll work with your schedule to provide consistent tutoring at your home or online, making test prep convenient and stress-free.
Can SSAT/ISEE tutoring really help my child get into competitive San Diego private schools?
While we never guarantee specific scores or admissions outcomes, our personalized approach has helped countless San Diego families navigate the private school admissions process with confidence. One-to-one tutoring allows us to focus on your child’s specific needs whether that’s vocabulary building, math fundamentals, or test-taking strategies. Parents consistently tell us their children feel more prepared and less anxious on test day, and many see meaningful score improvements that strengthen their private school applications.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
We'll learn about your student's goals and build a customized tutoring plan that helps achieve stronger results and long-term success.
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