Key ISEE Strategies

Strategies for the ISEE

#1: Answer every question.

There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE, so be sure to answer every question, and guess when necessary. On each section, keep track of the time and use the last few minutes to mark an answer for every single question.

#2: Predict the answer before reading answer choices.

Whenever possible, don’t read the answer choices until you’ve come up with your own answer to each question. This helps you avoid any misleading choices, which might look tempting if you read them first.

#3: Practice.

Start as early as you can, ideally six to eight months before the test. The best first step is to take a full-length practice test; our tests provide immediate scoring and actionable insights so you’ll know exactly what to work on. Use our question banks for extra practice problems, and talk to one of our ISEE expert tutors if you need additional support.

#4: Stay focused.

The ISEE is an extremely difficult test, and each level—Lower, Middle, and Upper—is designed to challenge multiple grade levels. Because of this, there is material on the test that you are not expected to know. Remember you will only be compared to other students at your grade level.