Secondary School Prep: ISEE
The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is a 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, the organization that administers the test) website: http://www.erb.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.
Test Format for Upper Level ISEE
| Section | Time | Number of Questions | Content Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal | 20 minutes | 40 multiple-choice questions | Ability to identify synonyms and complete sentences using vocabulary knowledge |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 35 minutes | 35 multiple-choice questions | Knowledge of arithmetic, basic geometry, algebra, and mathematical reasoningy |
| Reading Comprehension | 40 minutes | 40 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 | 45 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.
Our Results
Over the years, our students have gained on average:
SAT |
 386 points of 2400 total |
ACT |
5.4 points of 36 total |
