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ISEE Test (Independent School Entrance Exam)
What is the ISEE?
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE Test) is an achievement and reasoning test developed by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) that is used to evaluate children around the country for private school entry. While ISEE scores are an important component of the student’s application to these schools, other factors, such as school records and interviews, also determine whether the child is offered a seat into the school.
The ISEE is offered at three different levels, with each level consisting of four sections plus on optional section.
The three levels are:
| Level | Grade |
|---|---|
| Primary | Students entering grades 2-4 |
| Lower | Students entering grades 5-6 |
| Middle | Students entering grades 7-8 |
| Upper | Students entering grades 9-12 |
The five sections are as follows:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Math Achievement
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing (Optional)
Except for the Primary level, all ISEE levels include all five sections. The Primary level only has the reading, math, and optional writing sections. Students entering 2nd grade will also be given an auditory comprehension (listening) section.
The ISEE practice tests and practice materials at TestingMom.com help prepare students entering Grade 2 through Grade 12 prepare for the ISEE test. Our Parent Success Team is also available around the clock to help you with any questions you may have regarding the ISEE Test, our ISEE practice test questions, and private school admission.
Below is a description of each of the five sections on the ISEE test.
- Verbal Reasoning: This portion of the ISEE aims to assess a student’s vocabulary as well as their ability to reason and problem solve. The section consists of synonyms and sentence completion. The synonym component tests the student’s ability to choose a word that is similar to the target word. The sentence completion component tests the student’s ability to properly fill in a sentence by picking the correct word from the answer choices provided.
- Quantitative Reasoning: On this section, the lower level test is comprised of word problems while the middle and upper level consists of word problems and quantitative comparisons. Additionally, the quantitative reasoning portion encompasses specific fundamental skills:
- Numbers and operations
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Data Analysis and probability
- Problem solving
- Math Achievement: The questions on this section call for the identification of, and solutions to, problems requiring one or more steps in calculation. These items target skills pertaining to decimals, percents and fractions; and measurement (to name a few).
- Reading Comprehension: Students completing a lower level examination will read five passages, each accompanied by five questions. Students completing the middle and upper levels will read six passages that are accompanied by six questions. These questions cover topics such as main ideas, supporting ideas, vocabulary, organizational structure, tone, and figurative language.
- Essay: On all three levels, the student is required to plan and write a well-organized essay. This writing sample will be submitted to the school to which they are applying and allows the school to develop a sense of the student’s writing ability. While the essay does not receive an overall score, it is photocopied and sent to each school.
How is the ISEE Administered?
When it comes to actually taking the ISEE, there are a few different options. A student has the option of taking part in “large group testing” at a school, or “small group testing”, offered at various testing offices. Currently, the test is being offered in both an online and paper-based format (The Primary Level is only available online). Both formats consist of the same number of questions as well as the same timing.
Do you have materials to help with the essay portion?
Many of the tests used for gifted programs includes a writing portion. While the ISEE essay is not scored, you will want your child to be able to write a well organized essay. Our website has a page dedicated to writing skills and how to structure an essay. Our ISEE practice tests also include practice essay questions to help your child prepare.
How is the ISEE Test Scored?
The test profile provides information about the student’s overall performance on each section of the ISEE, except for the essay which is unscored and shared with the schools to which the student is applying. The test profile reports percentile ranks with a reference to ISEE norms. These norms are based on independent school applicants in the same grade who have taken the test during the past three years. The norm group for the ISEE consists of a competitive group of students who are also applying to independent schools. A student is only compared to another student who is in that same grade, and who has applied to independent schools in the last three years. The ISEE scores are reported in four ways in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the student:
- Scaled score: ISEE scaled scores for each section will range from 760 to 940. The scaled score is based upon the raw score, which is the number of questions that the student answers correctly. ERB will administer different versions of the ISEE each year. The scaled is able to take these changes into account and is able to allow ERB to report a score on a common scale that has the same meaning for all students. This is possible regardless of the test version that is taken.
- Percentile Rank: The percentile rank is intended to compare the student’s standing when compared to other students in the norm group. Percentile rank scores will range from 1 to 99. For example, if a student scores a 55 on mathematics then that means that the student scored as well or as better than 55 percent of all students in the norm group and less well than 44 percent (out of a total of 99 percentile points).
- Stanine: A stanine is a score from 1 to 9, with 5 being the midpoint. Stanines are produced by dividing the full range of students’ scores into 9 segments. An example of this is provided below:
Stanine Analysis
A stanine analysis is intended to compare a student’s performance on the ability tests and the related achievement tests. These comparisons are made between verbal reasoning (V) and reading comprehension (R), as well as between quantitative reasoning (Q) and mathematics achievement (M). Each of these letters found in the stanine analysis box, located in the test profile, is the midpoint of a band that goes to either side of the stanine score. The percentile score is an estimate of a student’s level of knowledge. If the stanine is 5, for example, the percentile rank range is 40-59.
- In the analysis portion, each section score indicates the number of questions answered correctly, the number of questions answered incorrectly and the number of questions omitted or not reached. For each section, the score is broken down by type of question, providing more specific information about a student’s relative strengths and weaknesses.
Video: ISEE Test Overview
Video: What is the ISEE Test?
ISEE Interactive Practice Questions
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Duane R Evans
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Jini
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