Published: May 20, 2025
What is the ISEE?
The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Examination for private lower, middle and high school admissions. There are 4 ISEE levels: Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper. A student’s test level is determined by the grade to which the student is applying for admission. Students applying for entrance into grades 2 to 4 take the Primary ISEE; students applying for grades 5 and 6 take the Lower level ISEE; students applying for 7th and 8th grade take the Middle level ISEE; and students seeking admission into grades 9 to 12 take the Upper level ISEE.
ISEE Preparation
The ISEE is a standardized test and, like other standardized tests (e.g., SAT or ACT), it is a skill that students can master with preparation and practice. The ISEE is often the first high-pressure standardized test a student will take, so a comprehensive preparation plan is critical.
Families should understand that the ISEE is a competitive test administered to students applying to elite private schools. It’s also a challenging test, especially for younger students taking an upper level exam. For example, the Upper Level ISEE is designed to challenge 11th grade students, yet 8th graders applying for 9th grade are required to take the same Upper Level test. That’s a steep curve, so preparation matters.
Test Prep Tips:
- Start early: Ideally, students should begin preparing 10–12 weeks before their first test date.
- Build stamina: The ISEE is 2 hours and 20–40 minutes long, depending on the level. Practice full-length tests under timed conditions to build endurance.
- Master pacing: Students don’t need to get every question right, but they do need to work efficiently. Practicing with a timer is essential.
- Focus on vocabulary: The Verbal Reasoning section often trips up students. Make flashcards, read widely, and review root words.
- Use practice tests wisely: Take a full-length diagnostic test at the beginning and again every few weeks to track progress.
Insider Thought: Success on the ISEE often depends as much on test strategy as content mastery. Many students struggle not because they don’t know the material, but because they panic when the content feels unfamiliar. Knowing how to stay calm, skip and return to tricky questions, and eliminate wrong answers is crucial. Confidence is a learned skill in ISEE prep.
Also, the ISEE is only one part of the application. Strong ISEE scores help, but schools also consider essays, teacher recommendations, interviews, and transcripts. A slightly lower score doesn’t mean a closed door, especially if the rest of the application is strong.
ISEE Testing Seasons
Students may take the ISEE once per testing season, up to 3 times a school year. There is a fall, winter, and spring/summer ISEE season. Strategically, students can time their testing dates and prepare for a first test during the spring/summer (April–July) or fall (August –November) ISEE season, and retake (if necessary) in the winter (December–March) season.
ISEE Exam Preparation for Admission to Private School
Insider Tip: If your student is nervous, consider scheduling their first ISEE in the spring/summer. This allows for a lower-stakes attempt with time to prepare again for a fall or winter test, when application deadlines are approaching.
When registering for test dates, families should verify application deadlines with the school(s) their student is applying to and ensure that score reports are received on time.
FAQs & ISEE Scores
- Test length: The Lower level ISEE is 2 hours and 20 minutes; the Middle and Upper ISEE are 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- Test options: The ISEE is offered online and on paper, and can be taken in schools, ERB offices/centers, or at home.
- Sections: There are four scored sections – Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and an unscored Essay.
- Scoring: All questions are worth the same, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so students should always guess rather than leave an answer blank.
- Scaled Score: The raw score for each section is converted into a scaled score between 760 and 940.
- Percentile Rank: Scores are normed against students in the same grade who have taken the test in the last three years.
- Stanine Rank: Stanine ranks are another way performance is compared to other students. There are nine stanine sub-groups ranking 1 to 9 (lowest to highest).
Insider Reminder: The essay is not scored, but it is sent to schools. A well-written, clear, and thoughtful essay makes a great impression—so don’t skip practicing for it!
Contact us to learn more about comprehensive ISEE test preparation!
Written by Prep Academy’s ISEE test preparation specialist and teacher, Kristina Boyer.