Online ISEE Tutoring: Expert ISEE Prep, Anywhere in the Country
Looking for a top-rated online ISEE tutor? Matt Sheelen is our ISEE specialist and has been tutoring the ISEE for nearly 20 years. His students across the country have gotten into some of the most competitive independent schools in the United States. Matt tutors only on Zoom, so it doesn't matter where you live: you get the same prep San Diego families get, with no commute.
Consultations are free.
Text Matt directly to get started at (323) 761-0170, or send us a message here.
In San Diego? See private ISEE tutoring for San Diego families.
Matt Sheelen — Online ISEE Tutor
What Families Say About Online ISEE Prep with Matt
"Matt is a true professional who sincerely cares about his students. My daughter prepared for the ISEE with Matt for several weeks. Not only was Matt cognizant of what was required on the test, but he also provided support and guidance on how to remain positive and focused in the lead up to the test. My daughter really enjoyed her Zoom tutoring sessions and Matt was able to effectively conduct all of her sessions online. He used her time well, knew where she had weaknesses and had a clear plan of how to help her improve on weaker areas. I have no hesitation in recommending Matt. We also used Matt for our other daughter who also sat the ISEE two years prior and she was accepted into her first choice school."
— Therese Collins
About the ISEE: What Every Family Needs to Know
The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is the admissions test used by hundreds of independent schools across the United States. It is administered at three levels:
- Lower Level (for students applying to grades 5-6)
- Middle Level (for students applying to grades 7-8)
- Upper Level (for students applying to grades 9-12)
Each level tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement, plus an unscored essay. Scores are reported on a stanine scale (1-9). Competitive independent schools typically expect scores in the 6-9 stanine range. Verbal Reasoning (sentence completions and synonyms) and Quantitative Reasoning are usually where specific preparation helps most.
The ISEE is different from a school test. Its reasoning sections ask for abstract thinking and vocabulary that many students haven't seen in class, so strong students who don't prepare for it specifically can score well below what they're capable of.
Why Online ISEE Tutoring Works
Online ISEE tutoring is convenient, but the bigger advantage is choice: you can work with the best tutor for your child instead of the best one within driving distance.
Your Geography Doesn't Limit Your Options
Good ISEE tutors aren't spread evenly across the country. If your city has few options, or the local ISEE specialists are booked up, online tutoring means your child doesn't have to settle. Matt has worked with families all over the United States, on both coasts and in suburban and rural areas where specialized ISEE tutoring wasn't available before.
Scheduling Flexibility Across Time Zones
Matt works with families in all time zones. From the East Coast to the Pacific, sessions can be scheduled around school, sports, and other activities, with no commute on top.
The Same Engagement as In-Person
Sessions with Matt are hands-on: shared screens, digital worksheets, live problem-solving, and the same diagnostics you'd get in person. As the review above shows, students stay engaged on Zoom.
More Time for Actual Prep
A 60-minute tutoring session is a 60-minute tutoring session. A 60-minute in-person session plus 30 minutes of commuting each way is a 2-hour commitment. For students with demanding school and activity schedules, online tutoring means more time for actual preparation and less time in traffic.
What Makes Matt Sheelen Different
Nearly 20 Years of Dedicated ISEE Experience
Matt doesn't tutor everything. He tutors only the ISEE, and he has been doing it for nearly 20 years. He knows which sections are worth the most attention, which question types trip up which kinds of students, and how to build a realistic plan from any starting point.
Stanford M.A. in Education + Credentialed K-12 Teacher
Matt holds a Master's in Education from Stanford University and is an active credentialed K-12 classroom teacher. He brings a classroom teacher's training to test prep, on top of knowing the test format inside out.
Northwestern Undergrad + Extensive Experience Across School Types
Matt graduated from Northwestern University and has worked with students across a wide range of academic starting points, from students who are strong across the board and need efficiency to students with significant skill gaps who need foundational work alongside test strategy. Each student's plan is built around where they're starting.
Proven Results at the Most Competitive Schools
Matt's students have been admitted to some of the most competitive independent schools in the country, including Harvard-Westlake, Marlborough, The Bishop's School, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Cathedral Catholic, Our Lady of Peace, and more. His approach is patient and systematic, with no miracle methods.
How Online ISEE Tutoring with Matt Works
- Text Matt to introduce yourself and share your child's test timeline, target schools, and current performance level if you have it.
- Diagnostic session is where Matt checks your child's performance on every ISEE section to see where prep will help most.
- Tailored weekly sessions via Zoom usually happen 1-2 times per week, 60-90 minutes each, building skills step by step from the current level toward the target stanine.
- Full-length practice tests are taken under realistic conditions, and the error review sets the next week's focus.
- Test-day readiness means pacing strategy, question triage, confidence, and the test-taking habits that let students who know the material also perform under pressure.
Meet Matt Sheelen: Online ISEE Tutor
Matt: I am originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts — the start of the historic Boston Marathon. I went to college at Northwestern University, where I graduated with a degree in Theatre. After college, I worked in Los Angeles for many years as a full-time test-prep tutor and part-time arts educator. I have been tutoring the ISEE for nearly 20 years across Southern California and, via Zoom, nationwide.
I hold a Master's in Education from Stanford University and am currently a credentialed K-12 classroom teacher in San Diego. I conduct all of my tutoring sessions via Zoom, which gives me the ability to work with students anywhere in the country without any loss of effectiveness. My students have been admitted to Harvard-Westlake, Marlborough, Bishops, La Jolla Country Day, Francis Parker, Our Lady of Peace, Cathedral Catholic, and more.
When I'm not working, I enjoy good books, performing improv comedy, and surfing.
ISEE tutoring with Matt is $275 an hour, or $2,475 for 10 hours.
Text Matt to get started at (323) 761-0170, or send us a message here.
Frequently Asked Questions: Online ISEE Tutoring
How does online ISEE tutoring work?
All sessions are via Zoom. After an initial diagnostic to assess your child's current performance across all ISEE sections, Matt builds a targeted preparation plan and meets weekly (typically 1-2 sessions per week) until the test date. Sessions use screen sharing, digital worksheets, and live problem-solving, and they work for students at any starting point.
Is online ISEE tutoring as effective as in-person?
Yes. Sessions cover the same material with the same diagnostics, and the logistics are better: no commute, flexible scheduling across time zones, and access to a specialist wherever you live. See the testimonial above from a family whose daughter specifically noted how well the Zoom sessions worked.
What ISEE levels does Matt tutor?
All three: Lower (grades 5-6), Middle (grades 7-8), and Upper (grades 9-12). Content and strategy differ by level, and Matt adjusts for each one.
How long should we plan for ISEE prep?
Most families work with Matt for 8-12 weeks before the test date. Text Matt your test date and target schools and he'll recommend a realistic timeline based on your child's starting point.
Do you tutor students outside of California?
Yes. Matt tutors only on Zoom, so he can work with students in any state and any time zone.
What is the difference between the ISEE and the SSAT?
The ISEE includes Quantitative Comparisons; the SSAT does not. The ISEE has no wrong-answer penalty; the SSAT does. Both are used by independent schools — check your target school's requirements. Matt tutors the ISEE only.