ISEE Reading Comprehension Overview

In the Reading Comprehension section, students will be asked to read passages dealing with a variety of subjects.

Reading Passage Subjects:

  • Science
  • History
  • Arts
  • Contemporary Life

They will then be asked to answer questions based on the information given in each passage. The Lower Level Reading Comprehension section has 5 passages with 5 questions each, and the Middle and Upper Level Reading Comprehension sections have 6 passages with 6 questions each. Students can expect to see a variety of different question types on this section.

Reading Question Types:

  • Main Idea
  • Supporting Idea
  • Inference
  • Vocabulary in Context
  • Tone/Style/Figurative Language 
  • Organization/Logic

Below is an example of an organization/logic question:

Which best describes the organization of this passage?

  1. Facts are followed by opinions
  2. An argument is stated and then defended
  3. Events are outlined in chronological order
  4. A problem is presented and then possible solutions given