The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a test that can be submitted as part of the application to many independent schools. Administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), the ISEE has four different levels: Primary(2nd-4th grade), Lower(5th-6th grade), Middle(7th-8th grade), and Upper(9th-12th grade). Most students take the ISEE when applying for acceptance during their 4th, 5th, 6th, or 8th grade academic year, for admissions to schools starting in the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 9th grade. Most schools in the Los Angeles area now consider the ISEE optional for their application process.
WHAT IS THE ISEE?
ISEE FORMAT
The ISEE test takes anywhere between 53 minutes and 2 hours 40 minutes to complete depending on the student’s grade and test level. All of the levels test reading, writing, and math skills, but differ in length, difficulty, and structure.
Primary Level (entering grades 2-4)
2nd grade: 53 minutes
3rd grade: 54 minutes
4th grade: 60 minutes
| ISEE Test Section | # of Questions and Types | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AUDITORY COMPREHENSION *Only Grade 2 |
1 passage (audio only) 6 multiple-choice (text & audio) |
Auditory Comprehension | Grade 2: 7 minutes |
| READING | Grade 2: 18 questions / 3 passages Grade 3: 24 questions / 4 passages Grade 4: 28 questions / 4 passages |
Main Idea Supporting Ideas Inference Vocabulary Organization/Logic Figurative Language |
Grade 2: 20 minutes Grade 3: 28 minutes Grade 4: 30 minutes |
| MATH | Grades 2-3: 24 multiple choice Grade 4: 28 multiple choice Several picture problems |
Number sense and operations Algebraic concepts Geometric concepts Measurement Data analysis and probability |
Grades 2-3: 26 minutes Grade 4: 30 minutes |
Lower Level (entering grades 5-6)
Total time: 2 hrs 20 min
| ISEE Test Section | # of Questions and Types | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| VERBAL | 34 Synonym/sentence completion (multiple choice) |
Verbal reasoning Vocabulary in context |
20 minutes |
| QUANTITATIVE | 38 Word problems (multiple choice) |
Math calculation and reasoning | 35 minutes |
| READING COMPREHENSION | 25 Passage-based reading comprehension questions (multiple choice) |
Main idea Supporting ideas Inference Vocabulary Organization/logic Tone/style/language |
25 minutes |
| MATH ACHIEVEMENT | 30 questions (multiple choice) |
Whole numbers Decimals, percentages, fractions Algebraic concepts Geometry Measurement Data Analysis and Probability |
30 minutes |
| ESSAY | 1 Essay in response to a prompt | Personal essay | 30 minutes |
Middle Level (entering grades 7-8)
Total time: 2 hrs 40 min
| ISEE Test Section | # of Questions and Types | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| VERBAL | 40 Synonym/sentence completion(w/ one blank) (multiple choice) |
Verbal reasoning Vocabulary in context |
20 minutes |
| QUANTITATIVE | 37 Word problems (multiple choice, quantitative comparison) |
Math calculation and reasoning | 35 minutes |
| READING COMPREHENSION | 36 Passage-based reading comprehension questions (multiple choice) |
Main idea Supporting ideas Inference Vocabulary Organization/logic Tone/style/language |
35 minutes |
| MATH ACHIEVEMENT | 47 questions (includes word problems) (multiple choice) |
Whole numbers Decimals, percentages, fractions Algebraic concepts Geometry Measurement Data Analysis and Probability |
40 minutes |
| ESSAY | 1 Essay in response to a prompt | Personal essay | 30 minutes |
Upper Level (entering grades 9-12)
Total time: 2 hrs 40 min
| ISEE Test Section | # of Questions and Types | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| VERBAL | 40 Synonym/sentence completion (w/ one and two blanks) (multiple choice) |
Verbal reasoning Vocabulary in context |
20 minutes |
| QUANTITATIVE | 37 Word problems (multiple choice, quantitative comparison) |
Math calculation and reasoning | 35 minutes |
| READING COMPREHENSION | 36 Passage-based reading comprehension questions (multiple choice) |
Main idea Supporting ideas Inference Vocabulary Organization/logic Tone/style/language |
35 minutes |
| MATH ACHIEVEMENT | 47 questions (includes word problems) (multiple choice) |
Number sense Algebraic concepts Geometry Measurement Data Analysis and Probability |
40 minutes |
| ESSAY | 1 Essay in response to a prompt | Personal essay | 30 minutes |
ISEE SCORING/GUESSING PENALTY
Students will receive a score report with a scaled score, a percentile rank, and a stanine for the first four sections of the test.
The scaled score, which ranges from 760-940, is based on the number of correct answers but may include adjustments for slight differences in the tests administered on different dates. The ERB does not deduct any points for incorrect answers, so you should not leave any questions blank on the test. With that in mind, pacing and timing will play a big role among common test-taking strategies that your tutor will review with you.
The essay is ungraded, but is sent to each school to which the student is applying.
The percentile rank shows how the student compares with other students in the same grade who have taken the test over the past three years. For example, a student who scores in the 58th percentile on the math achievement section scored better than 58% of students in his norm group.
The stanine score is often used as the primary indicator of a student’s performance by a school’s admissions department. Here is a table which breaks down each stanine score in terms of percentile.
|
Stanine |
Percentile Rank |
|---|---|
|
1 |
1-3 |
|
2 |
4-10 |
|
3 |
11-22 |
|
4 |
23-39 |
|
5 |
40-59 |
|
6 |
60-76 |
|
7 |
77-88 |
|
8 |
89-95 |
|
9 |
96-99 |
ORDER OF DIFFICULTY
Questions on the ISEE are not arranged in order of difficulty. A simple, yet effective strategy is to skip difficult questions and return to them at the end of the test in order to avoid wasting time unnecessarily.
ISEE TEST DATES & TESTING SEASONS
The ERB allows students to take the ISEE a maximum of 3 times per year. Students can take the ISEE once per testing season. However, since most schools have score submission deadlines in January (or at the latest early February), most students will only have the opportunity to take the test twice (once in Fall, and once in Winter).
Depending on your location, you have the option of taking the ISEE in select school locations, testing offices, ERB test sites, Prometric Test Centers, or at-home. Paper-based tests are offered at schools, testing offices, and ERB test sites; online computer-based tests are offered at schools, testing offices, Prometric Test Centers, as well as for at-home testing.
Here’s the link to register for the ISEE on ERB’s website: https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration. Please note registration opens annually on August 1st.
Below is the testing season breakdown by month:
Our recommendation to most families is to register for two test dates. We recommend scheduling the first test date in October or November and a second test in December or January depending on the deadlines of the schools you’re applying to. This way, students avoid the anxiety associated with having only one chance to test, and also have a backup test date in case of unforeseen circumstances (e.g. sickness, proctoring mishaps, distractions during the test). ISEE scores will typically be available in your online portal within a few days of the test date.
For dates and locations, click here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Don’t stop here! Check out our blog for new posts about preparing for the ISEE. Below are a few posts you may find useful.
ISEE AT HOME: TAKING THE ISEE EXAM REMOTELY THROUGH PROPROCTOR
ERB has opened registration to their new ISEE At Home program, meaning students are now enable to opt out of taking the test in-person and can instead take it at home through an online system called ProProctor. If you are signed up to take the ISEE exam using the ProProctor system, you will want to be as prepared as possible before the exam to best use the tools in this system itself. READ MORE
BUT WE NEVER LEARNED THIS! MATH CONCEPTS ON THE ISEE YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T LEARNED YET IN SCHOOL
“Help! I never learned this!” is a common reaction of students taking an ISEE diagnostic test for the first time, and for good reason. Unless they’re working a couple of years above grade-level, most students… READ MORE
APPLYING TO PRIVATE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES
If you are considering the private school option for middle or high school, the most important piece of applying to private school is… READ MORE
