ISEE Guide for 2026–27

The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is an admission test used by independent schools; the test maker says it's accepted by more than 1,200 of them. It measures verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading, and math achievement, and it includes an essay that isn't scored but goes to the schools you choose.

The ISEE was built by ERB. On March 1, 2026, ERB merged with EMA, the maker of the SSAT, to form a nonprofit called E3n. Both tests still exist separately. ISEE information now lives on Admission.org, and registration still runs through the ISEE online account.

Your student takes the level for the grade they're applying to:

The Middle and Upper Levels use the same sections, question counts, and time limits. The Upper Level is harder.

Each multiple-choice question has four answer choices. Every section except the essay includes a few unscored questions being tried out for future tests; you won't know which ones they are. Calculators aren't allowed.

Watch the pacing: Verbal Reasoning gives you 30 seconds a question, while Reading and Quantitative Reasoning give you close to a minute.

Lower Level (applying to grades 5–6)

That's 2 hours 20 minutes of testing plus two breaks.

Primary Levels (applying to grades 2–4)

Primary students take Reading and Mathematics only: 24 questions each at Primary 2 and Primary 3 (about 26–28 minutes per section) and 28 questions each at Primary 4 (30 minutes per section).

Verbal Reasoning

Two question types: synonyms (pick the word closest in meaning to the capitalized word) and sentence completions (pick the word or pair of words that best completes the sentence). Answer choices are listed in alphabetical order, so their position gives nothing away.

Quantitative Reasoning

This section is about reasoning more than arithmetic, and it draws on the same strands as the math section (see below). It mixes word problems that need little calculation with quantitative comparisons, where you compare Column A to Column B and choose one of four fixed answers: A is greater, B is greater, they're equal, or the relationship can't be determined.

Reading Comprehension

Six passages on topics from the arts, history, science, and contemporary life, about six questions each. Question categories are main idea, supporting ideas, inference, vocabulary, organization/logic, and tone/style/figurative language.

Mathematics Achievement

Straight curriculum math with multi-step problems. Both math sections draw on six strands: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and problem solving.

Essay

One prompt, 30 minutes. It isn't scored, but a copy goes to the schools that receive your scores. On the paper test, students write by hand on two lined pages; on the online test, the essay is typed.

Quantitative comparisons

These look simple and punish autopilot. Try two:

Column A is (−3) × (−3) = 9. Column B squares 3 first and then applies the negative: −9. Column A is greater. The trap is treating both as 9 and picking "equal."

Now: x is a positive integer. Column A is 2x; Column B is x + 2. Test values. If x = 1, B is bigger (2 vs. 3). If x = 2, they're equal. If x = 3, A is bigger (6 vs. 5). Different results mean the relationship cannot be determined. When a comparison has a variable, always test at least two or three values, including the smallest one allowed.

Two-word sentence completions

Although the museum's new exhibit was ______ by critics, it was ______ with visitors, who lined up for hours.

Find the signal word first. Although means the blanks contrast, and "lined up for hours" tells you the second blank is positive. So the first blank is negative: something like "panned ... popular." Predict both words before you look, then cross off any choice where either word fails. A choice with one perfect word and one wrong word is still wrong.

Only correct answers count. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so leaving a question blank never helps. The raw score for each section is converted to three numbers on the Individual Student Report:

• Scaled score (760–940 per section): the raw score converted to a common scale, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between test forms.
• Percentile rank (1–99): how your student compares with a norm group of students applying to independent schools in the same grade who tested over the past three years.
• Stanine (1–9): the percentile rank grouped into nine bands. It's the quickest number to scan, which is why it matters.

Notice how uneven the bands are. Moving from the 45th to the 58th percentile doesn't change the stanine (both are a 5), while moving from the 58th to the 61st bumps it to a 6.

Remember who's in the comparison group: other private-school applicants, not every student in the country. There's no universal "good" score; ask each school what it looks for, because schools weigh the ISEE alongside grades, recommendations, interviews, and the essay.

You can test at a school, at an ISEE office, at a Prometric test center, or online at home. Online and paper formats both exist, and what's available depends on your location. At-home testing is offered worldwide.

For at-home testing, a parent or guardian has to be home for the whole exam. For in-person testing, bring your verification letter. Fee waivers are available to eligible families, and students with a waiver also get free access to the official practice package.

Once per testing season, for up to three tests in a school year:

That makes timing matter. If your student tests in early fall and wants a retake before winter application deadlines, the next chance is December at the earliest. Plan the first test date with enough prep time behind it.

Scores from online tests are usually ready in three to five days; paper tests take five to ten days (Primary-level paper tests can take seven to fourteen). The report appears in your parent account and is automatically shared with the schools you listed.

You don't have to send scores to any school, and you can remove schools from your recipient list up until the test date. After that, schools on the list get the report. You can only send a complete report, not individual sections.

Plan on 6–10 weeks of steady work, a few hours a week, and schedule the first test date so a retake still fits before your application deadlines.

1. Week 1: Timed diagnostic. Take the free practice test or the official sample test for your level. Check which section's stanine would drag the profile down.
2. Weeks 2–6: Build skills. For Verbal, learn word roots and 10–15 words a day; for two-blank completions, find the clue words (although, because, so) before looking at the choices. For Quantitative Reasoning, practice comparisons by testing several numbers, including fractions, negatives, and zero. For Math Achievement, review grade-level algebra and geometry without a calculator.
3. Weeks 6–9: Timed sections. Verbal is the tightest section (30 seconds a question), so practice moving on quickly. Answer everything, since there's no penalty.
4. Final week: Full rehearsal in the same format your student will use (online or paper), including the 30-minute essay. Then rest.

For the essay, practice planning for 3–5 minutes and writing for about 25. Schools read it closely because it's written without help.

• Official sample tests: free online sample tests for every level, linked from the ISEE preparation page.
• What to Expect guides: free PDFs for the Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels with an overview of the test and scoring plus a paper practice test.
• Official online practice: interactive practice tests and skill-building videos through Test Innovators (free top tier for students with a fee waiver).
• Our practice test: the ISEE Upper Level Practice Test keeps the real section order, four-choice format, and pacing.

Many schools accept either. The key differences:

If your student freezes over guessing penalties or struggles with analogies, the ISEE may suit them better. If you want more retake chances, the SSAT offers more. The honest tiebreaker: take a practice test of each and see which one your student handles better.