Summary of the ISEE
The ISEE is a standardized test administered by Educational Records Bureau (ERB), a non-profit education organization. The test is used for admission to ERB-member public and private schools, from grades 2-12. The four levels of the ISEE are Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper. The latter three levels include sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, and essay writing. The Primary Level ISEE is a three-section test (reading, mathematics, and essay writing).
ISEE Verbal Reasoning (Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
On the ISEE's verbal reasoning section, students will answer either 34 multiple-choice questions at the Lower Level or 40 multiple-choice questions at the Middle and Upper Levels, and the section timing in each case is 20 minutes. The ISEE's verbal reasoning section features exercises on vocabulary and sentence completion. Vocabulary questions require test-takers to choose the closest synonym for the given word from four answer choices. On sentence completion exercises, students are given an incomplete sentence, and they choose the best option to complete the context of that sentence from four answer choices. All verbal reasoning exercises are intended to be "grade-level appropriate," according to ERB.
ISEE Quantitative Reasoning (Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
The ISEE quantitative reasoning section is comprised of word problems only at the Lower Level and a combination of word problems and quantitative comparisons at the Middle and Upper Levels. All ISEE quantitative reasoning questions are multiple choice with four answer options. The Lower Level quantitative reasoning section has 38 questions, while the Middle and Upper Levels have 37 questions (the section timing for all is 35 minutes). Assessment areas at all three levels include numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and problem solving. The Upper Level quantitative problems are more difficult than the Middle Level exercises, and the Middle Level problems are more challenging than the Lower Level problems.
ISEE Reading Comprehension (Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
The ISEE reading comprehension section is 25 questions in 25 minutes at the Lower Level or 36 questions in 35 minutes at the Middle and Upper Levels. Students answer multiple-choice questions on several reading passages that are widely considered suitable for their age and grade level. The Lower Level ISEE features five reading passages, while the Middle and Upper Level ISEEs include six reading passages. Text subjects are chosen from the arts, social sciences, science, and contemporary life. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Level ISEEs all include six types of questions: main idea, supporting ideas, inference, vocabulary, organization/logic, and tone/style/figurative language. Reading passages are usually between 200 and 400 words in length, with an average of 6-8 questions per passage. Each question has four answer choices.
ISEE Mathematics Achievement (Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
The main difference between the mathematics achievement and quantitative reasoning sections is the fact that the former requires the test-taker to perform calculations, while the latter does not. Additionally, some mathematics achievement exercises require knowledge of grade-level mathematical terminology. Calculators are not allowed, but students may write scratch work in their test booklets. All questions are multiple-choice, but answer options often include choices that result from common errors. Lower Level test-takers must complete 30 questions in 30 minutes. Middle and Upper Level examinees are given 40 minutes to answer 47 questions. The mathematics achievement section features the same assessment areas as the quantitative reasoning section (numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and problem solving).
ISEE Essay (Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
The ISEE essay section at the Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels requires test-takers to write a single essay, for which they are allowed 30 minutes. Essay prompts "include topics of interest to students at your level and are created to give you an opportunity to tell more about yourself." Common essay prompts ask the student to describe a family vacation, give suggestions for improving conditions at their school, or offer solutions to larger societal problems. Unlike all other sections of the ISEE, essays are not scored by ERB, but copies are provided to school officials for their consideration.
Primary Level ISEE Reading, Mathematics, and Writing
There are three distinct versions of the ISEE at the Primary Level, each with its own structure and timing. For grades 3 and 4, the Primary Level ISEE includes a reading section, a mathematics section, and a writing section. At the grade 2 level, there is an auditory comprehension passage within the reading section. Total test timing is 53 minutes (grade 2), 54 minutes (grade 3), or 60 minutes (grade 4), divided more or less equally into multiple-choice reading and mathematics questions. The writing sample, which is based on a picture prompt, is both unscored and untimed. Reading section topics include main idea, supporting ideas, inference, organization/logic, vocabulary, and logic (plus the auditory comprehension exercises for grade 2 examinees only). Mathematics questions are based on the following topics: number sense and operations, geometric concepts, measurement, algebraic concepts, and data analysis and probability.