The ISEE (Independent Schools Entrance Exam) is an admission test administered by the ERB (Educational Records Bureau). Many private schools in North America, and a handful of international schools, use the ISEE as a crucial part of the admissions process for grades 2 through 12.
The ISEE serves as a standardized metric by which admissions departments can compare students from different schools. There are many parts to an application, and the manner in which ISEE scores impact admissions is very school-dependent.
Regardless of the school, an excellent score on the ISEE sets you apart in the admissions process, especially at highly competitive schools. Based on our years of test prep experience, we believe that standardized test taking is a skill that you can master, and — like all skills — you need to learn and practice in order to improve.
Note: Is the ISEE related to the ERBs that I took? If you already attend an independent school, you may have taken the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP), which is commonly referred to as the ERBs. The CTP, like the ISEE, is developed by the ERB. However, the CTP is an achievement test administered by schools to assess their students’ current skills, whereas the ISEE is an admission test.
Scores on the CTPs and other achievement tests are often higher than ISEE scores. Achievement tests are designed to measure a student's grade-level proficiency in a subject, while admission tests like the ISEE are designed to compare many potentially qualified applicants.
Primary Level 2
Application to grade 2
Primary Level 3
Application to grade 3
Primary Level 4
Application to grade 4
Lower Level
Application to grades 5 or 6
Middle Level
Application to grades 7 or 8
Upper Level
Application to grades 9-12
What are the ISEE questions like?
There are two types of questions on the ISEE. Every section of the ISEE, except the essay or writing sample, consists of multiple-choice questions with four answer choices. They look like this:
How many answer choices do ISEE questions have?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
Students indicate the answer (hopefully D in this case) on their answer sheets, bubbling in their choice.
The essay section requires students to write a response to the given prompt. These prompts might look something like this:
Who is one of your favorite characters from a book, and why?
Note: Primary Level ISEE: Students taking the Primary Level 2 and Primary Level 3 will receive a picture prompt rather than a written prompt. A picture prompt presents students with a picture and asks them to write a story about what they see.
The structure and timing of the Primary Level ISEE varies by grade. Because elementary-school children are at such a different stage in their schooling, many aspects of the Primary Level are slightly different from the other levels. Overall test-taking strategies still apply and will help younger students acclimate to standardized test taking, something with which they may not have much experience.
Note: Four main differences between the Primary Level ISEE and other levels: No Verbal section, unlimited time on the Essay section, only one Math section, and the test is only administered in computer format.
Primary Level 2 ISEE:
For application to grade 2
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Auditory Comprehension | 6 | 7 minutes |
| Reading | 18 | 20 minutes |
| Break | - | 5 minutes |
| Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Writing Sample* | 1 picture prompt | untimed |
| TOTAL | 49 | 58 minutes + writing |
Primary Level 3 ISEE:
For application to grade 3
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 24 | 28 minutes |
| Break | - | 5 minutes |
| Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Writing Sample* | 1 picture prompt | untimed |
| TOTAL | 49 | 59 minutes + writing |
Primary Level 4 ISEE:
For application to grade 4
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Break | - | 5 minutes |
| Mathematics | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Writing Sample* | 1 prompt | untimed |
| TOTAL | 57 | 65 minutes + writing |
Note: The Primary Level writing sample is not administered to New York City test takers.
Lower Level ISEE:
For application to grades 5 or 6
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 30 minutes |
| TOTAL | 128 | 2 hours, 30 minutes |
Middle Level ISEE:
For application to grades 7 or 8
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 30 minutes |
| TOTAL | 161 | 2 hours, 50 minutes |
Upper Level ISEE:
For application to grades 9-12
| Section | # of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Break | - | 5-10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 30 minutes |
| TOTAL | 161 | 2 hours, 50 minutes |