The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is an approximately 3-hour admissions test for entrance into grades 5–12. The test has 3 levels: a Lower Level for students currently in grades 4–5, a Middle Level for students in grades 6–7, and an Upper Level for students in grades 8–11. The ISEE consists of sections of verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement questions. All levels include a timed essay written in response to an assigned topic. The essay is not scored, but a copy is forwarded to schools with the Individual Student Report, which shows scaled scores (on a scale of 760–940), percentiles, and stanines.
Schools use the ISEE as one measure among others — class rank, GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations — of a student’s readiness to do middle school or high school work. ISEE scores are compared with the scores of other applicants and the accepted scores at an institution; scores can also be used as a basis for awarding scholarships and merit-based financial aid.
The dates on which the ISEE is given vary by location; you can check the dates for your area on the ERB (Educational Records Bureau) web site: http://www.erbtest.org. The ISEE may only be taken once within a six-month period, and it must be taken for admission to a school, not as a practice test. Tests are graded using a formula that compares a student’s scores to the scores of other students in the same grade.
| Section | Time | Number of Questions | Content Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 20 minutes | 40 multiple-choice questions | Ability to identify synonyms and complete sentences using vocabulary knowledge |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 35 minutes | 37 multiple-choice questions | Knowledge of arithmetic, basic geometry, algebra, and mathematical reasoning |
| Reading Comprehension | 35 minutes | 36 multiple-choice questions based on humanities, science and social studies reading passages | Ability to understand main themes, to extract salient details, and to understand meaning in context |
| Mathematics Achievement | 40 minutes | 47 multiple-choice questions | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mathematical comprehension, and applications |
| Essay (not factored into student’s final score) | 30 minutes | 1 essay question | Ability to organize and express ideas |
Students are not permitted to use calculators, so careful problem-solving methods are essential. Unlike the SSAT, the ISEE does not penalize students for guessing.
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