ISEE Prep Guide
New to the ISEE?
Start here.
If your child is applying to an independent school for the first time, the ISEE can feel unfamiliar. This free guide walks families through what the test is, how it’s scored, what to expect on test day, and how to approach each section—so you can start preparing with confidence.
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About this guide
A Starting Point for Families New to the ISEE
The ISEE can feel like a lot at first—especially if this is your family’s first time navigating independent school admissions. This guide is here to make it less overwhelming. Each chapter walks you through a piece of the picture, so you can begin prep with a clearer understanding of what the test is and what each section actually involves.
Chapter 1
Understanding the ISEE
What the test is, who takes it, how it's structured, and what scores mean.
Chapter 2
Building your prep plan
How to structure your study time, general test-taking strategies, and what to expect on test day.
Chapter 3
Section by section
An overview of each test section with introductory strategies to get you started.
Understanding the ISEE
Everything you need to know about the test before you start preparing: what it is, who takes it, how it’s structured, and how scores work.
1
Getting started
How early to start, how often to practice, and what data to track.
2
Overview of the ISEE
What the ISEE is, who administers it, and how the four levels of the ISEE differ.
3
5 critical things to know
Five things every student and parent should understand before prepping.
4
Test format & registration
Paper vs. computer, section structure, and how to register.
5
Competitive ISEE scores
How scores factor into admissions and what ranges are competitive.
6
Score report overview
Stanines explained, normative scoring, and how to read your report.
Building Your Prep Plan
1
4 steps of prep
A tried and true method for studying that has helped hundreds of thousands of students prepare effectively.
2
Overall strategies
Elimination, pacing, educated guessing, and managing hard questions.
3
Advice for test day
What to expect the night before, morning of, and at the test center.
Section by Section
A closer look at each of the five test sections — what to expect, what question types you’ll see, and introductory strategies to guide your prep.
Verbal reasoning overview
Synonyms, sentence completions, question counts, and examples.
Verbal strategies
Root word analysis, context clues, and elimination techniques.
Reading comprehension overview
Passage subjects, question types, and counts by test level.
Reading strategies
Active reading, skimming for structure, and handling each question type.
Quantitative reasoning overview
Problem-solving focus, subjects covered, and question types by level.
Mathematics achievement overview
Curriculum-based math content and how difficulty increases through the section.
Now See How You’d Score on Test Day
Take a free, diagnostic ISEE practice test—no credit card required.
See exactly where you stand and what to focus on next.
