Certification-Board ISEE Exam (Independent School Entrance Examination) Detailed Information
ISEE OVERVIEW
ISEE: Independent School Entrance Exam
Grade 2 – 12 (available nationally and internationally)
As the premier provider of admission assessments for independent schools, the
ISEE is accepted by over 1,200 independent schools around the world. Available in both online and paper modalities and in both open and closed (invitation only) administrations, the
ISEE is the most advanced tool available to find your future students.
The
ISEE is a standard assessment of skills for each applicant, ranking his or her reasoning and achievement skills among students in the same grade. It enables students to take a single, fair, and reliable test for entrance into top-performing independent schools. The
ISEE is used by consortia throughout the U.S. and internationally, and for the City of Boston’s Exam Schools. It is the most advanced admission test available for independent schools.
Access The Admission Portal
"We love the
ISEE and really utilize the information. As well, your staff is always helpful and responsive to our needs."
Vice Principal,
Independent School, Dallas, TX
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Parents: Need to register your child for the
ISEE?
About The
ISEE
Four levels:
Primary - entrance to grades 2 - 4; available as an online administration only
Lower - entrance to grades 5 - 6; available in both online and paper/pencil administrations
Middle - entrance to grades 7 - 8; available in both online and paper/pencil administrations
Upper - entrance to grades 9 - 12; available in both online and paper/pencil administrations
Assessment flexibility: May be administered individually or in group settings
Online administration: On-demand, available any day, any time for one student or for many students
Multiple options for administration: Available at ERB member schools, ERB offices, and over 400 Prometric sites in the U.S. and abroad
Affordable for families: Fee waivers offered to
ISEE test site schools for distribution to families in need
Based on standards of leading educational organizations:
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
The International Reading Association (IRA)
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
ISEE ADMISSION
Entrance To Grades 2 - 12
Welcome To
ISEE/Log In An Existing Account
Help your student find the right school. The Independent School Entrance Exam (
ISEE®) is widely accepted, accurate, and provides advanced insights to both schools and students to help guide the admission process. ERB works hard to support families throughout the process by providing materials to fully understand the
ISEE testing process.
**Registration now available for 2016-17.**
Register For
ISEE At A School Test Site Register For
ISEE At A Prometric Test Center
The
ISEE Student Guide includes comprehensive information about the
ISEE and a complete listing of test site dates and locations. Download the
ISEE Student Guide.
ISEE Fee Schedule
Important Updates For Families For Fall 2016!
**Registration now available for 2016-17.**
Our approach to independent school admission assessment has been – and always will be – to put ERB member schools and prospective families first and foremost. Offering more options to applicants extends our commitment to parents and students who are navigating the independent school admission process.
Be sure to click below to find out information about
Testing fees for 2016-2017
Ability for families to review scores before sharing them with a school
Students being able to test more than once, with
ISEE’s new Testing Seasons (see graphic below)
teasting_seasons_graphic.png
Testing At A Prometric Location
Students may take the
ISEE at approved ERB member school test sites, Prometric locations worldwide, or at ERB’s New York City office. Quick registration is available online, as well as by mail. The
ISEE team works directly with families to answer any questions about registration.
Prometric sites offer online administration and are available only for students entering grades 5-12.
View the video to learn about testing at Prometric
Register For
ISEE At A School Test Site Register For
ISEE At A Prometric Test Center
View Your Child's
ISEE Score Report
icon_preparing.png What To Expect On The
ISEE
The What to Expect on the
ISEE preparation books enable students to get an idea of the format of the
ISEE in general, the directions, the types of test items, and the answer sheet. Download the What to Expect on the
ISEE for each level below.
Access Online Interactive What To Expect On The
ISEE Materials - For Entrance To Grades 2, 3, And 4 (Primary Level)
Download What To Expect On The
ISEE - For Entrance To Grades 5 And 6 (Lower Level)
Download What To Expect On The
ISEE PDF - For Entrance To Grades 7 And 8 (Middle Level)
Download What To Expect On The
ISEE PDF - For Entrance To Grades 9-12 (Upper Level)
Students and parents can access an online interactive practice
ISEE to familiarize themselves with the format of the assessment. Hard copies of the What to Expect on the
ISEE guide can be purchased by clicking here.
What is the
ISEE, and what is it for?
What is the
ISEE®?
The
ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Examination, and it's used for admission to private middle schools and high schools. If you're looking to attend an elite private middle or high school, this is a test you'll need to do well on.
What's on it, and why are there different levels?
Because the
ISEE helps test students for admission to private middle and high schools, different levels of the test are offered depending on where you are in your education. The Upper Level is designed for applicants in 9th grade and above. The Middle Level is for applicants in 7th and 8th grade, and the Lower Level is for applicants in 5th and 6th grade. No matter which level of the test you'll be taking, the
ISEE will always test the same sections—Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement—but there are certain differences within the sections depending on the level of the test. The test also contains an unscored essay that is sent to the schools you're applying to.
When can I take it, and how do I sign up?
The
ISEE is given several times throughout the year, but the majority of the testing dates fall during the fall and early winter. The number of available test dates will depend on your location, and you can take the
ISEE only once in a six month period. Register now. What's the difference between the SSAT® and the
ISEE? Both the
ISEE and the SSAT are used for admission to private middle and high schools and test Vocabulary, Math and Reading Comprehension. Many schools will accept either test for admission, which gives you the option of choosing the test that better suits you and your abilities. The major difference between the tests is in how they test your abilities in each section of the exam. The
ISEE uses synonyms and sentence completion to test vocabulary, while the SSAT uses synonyms and analogies. The reading passages on the
ISEE tend to be longer than those on the SSAT, but the SSAT includes a broader range of genres, including poetry. The
ISEE also places a heavier emphasis on mathematical reasoning than the SSAT does. If the schools you're applying to will take either test, choose the one that's better suited to your abilities.
How is the
ISEE scored?
Verbal Reasoning
797-935 (Upper Level)
782-926 (Middle Level)
760-903 (Lower Level)
Quantitative Reasoning
815-940 (Upper Level)
791-927 (Middle Level)
766-911 (Lower Level)
Reading Comprehension
825-940 (Upper Level)
799-940 (Middle Level)
764-913 (Lower Level)
Mathematics Achievement
806-940 (Upper Level)
774-907 (Middle Level)
769-899 (Lower Level)
Essay
It's not scored, but a copy is sent to the schools to which you apply. All scores are converted to a grade-appropriate “stanine,” which represents a percentile range.
ISEE quick facts
Frequency — Location-specific times throughout the year, with the majority taking place in the fall and early winter.
Duration — 2 hours and 50 minutes (Upper and Middle Levels); 2 hours and 30 minutes (Lower Level).
Sections — Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an unscored essay.
