ISEE practice and guide
The Independent School Entrance Exam is taken by children applying to private schools, from 2nd grade up. The level depends on the grade your child is applying to, not the one they’re in now. Here’s what each level asks, how it’s scored, when to test for fall 2027, and a free math section in its style, timed like the real one.
Try a timed math section
Mathematics Achievement for the Lower or Middle Level, or math for Primary 4: as many questions as the real section, at your own pace or against its clock.
ISEE-style math
28 questions in 30 minutes, for children applying to 4th grade.
Work without a calculator. Have paper and a pencil ready for working out.
Levels
| Level | For children applying to | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Primary 2 | grade 2 | Reading and Mathematics |
| Primary 3 | grade 3 | Reading and Mathematics |
| Primary 4 | grade 4 | Reading and Mathematics |
| Lower | grades 5 to 6 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an essay |
| Middle | grades 7 to 8 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an essay |
| Upper | grades 9 to 12 | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an essay |
The ISEE is provided by E3n, formed in March 2026 when ERB, which developed the ISEE, merged with The Enrollment Management Association, which developed the SSAT. Both tests are still offered.
Sections and timing
Lower Level
| Section | Questions | Time | What’s in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes | synonyms, sentence completion |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes | Reasoning problems |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes | passages from the sciences and humanities; questions on main idea, tone, audience and words in context |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes | math skills and concepts learned at school |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes | Not scored; a copy goes to the schools you choose |
2 hours 20 minutes, with two 10-minute breaks.
Middle Level
| Section | Questions | Time | What’s in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes | synonyms, sentence completion |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes | Reasoning problems |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes | passages from the sciences and humanities |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes | math skills and concepts learned at school |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes | Not scored; a copy goes to the schools you choose |
2 hours 40 minutes, with two 10-minute breaks. The Upper Level has the same sections, numbers of questions and times.
Primary 2, 3 and 4
| Level and section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Primary 2 Reading | 24 | 27 minutes |
| Primary 2 Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Primary 3 Reading | 24 | 28 minutes |
| Primary 3 Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Primary 4 Reading | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Primary 4 Mathematics | 28 | 30 minutes |
The Primary levels have no writing sample and one 10-minute break. Primary 2’s reading includes a short part read aloud to the child.
How it’s scored
Only correct answers count, with nothing taken off for a wrong one, so it pays to answer every question. Each section gets a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank from 1 to 99 and a stanine from 1 to 9. Percentiles compare your child with everyone applying to the same grade who took the ISEE in the past three years. Results come in 3 to 5 days online, and in 7 to 14 days on paper for grades 2 to 4 or 5 to 10 days for grades 5 to 12.
Where and when to test
Online or on paper, depending on where: at a member school ($130 for Primary, $170 for Lower to Upper), at an ISEE testing office ($185 to $255), at a Prometric test center (grades 5 to 12, online only, $250, with a parent staying), or at home online, run by a school ($130 to $170) or by ISEE’s proctors ($185 to $250), with a parent at home and a second camera.
A child can test once in each season: fall (August to November), winter (December to March) and spring and summer (April to July), so up to three times a school year. For fall 2027 entry, the seasons before most schools’ deadlines are fall 2026 and winter 2026-27, and a September test means waiting until December to test again. Registration is first come, first served, so check each school’s deadline; January 15 is a common one.
How to get ready
Start with the free sample tests
ISEE’s own online sample tests work like the real exam and end with a sample score report.
Little and often
Short practice over weeks beats cramming: ERB says frantic last-minute cramming isn’t usually successful.
Answer every question
A wrong answer costs nothing, so a blank is a mark given away.
Ask early about support
A child with a documented disability can apply for accommodations, decided before you register. A school’s fee waiver covers the test and a prep package.
Questions about the ISEE
Which ISEE level should my child take?
The one for the grade they’re applying to, not the one they’re in: Primary 2, 3 or 4 for 2nd to 4th grade, Lower Level for 5th or 6th, Middle Level for 7th or 8th, and Upper Level for 9th to 12th.
How many times can my child take the ISEE?
Once in each testing season (fall, winter, and spring and summer), so up to three times in a school year.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the ISEE?
No. Only correct answers count, so it pays to answer every question.
Is the ISEE essay scored?
No. A copy goes to the schools you choose, and families don’t get one. The Primary levels have no writing sample.
Are these real test questions?
No. Every question here is written by AskThena in the style of each test and made fresh each time. CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT, ISEE and SSAT are trademarks of their publishers, and AskThena isn’t connected with or endorsed by them.
Every question here is written by AskThena in the style of the test and made fresh each time. CogAT, NNAT, OLSAT, ISEE and SSAT are trademarks of their publishers, and AskThena isn’t connected with or endorsed by them.
See also SSAT practice and gifted test practice.
With Exam Prep, Thena sets practice tests in your child’s test’s style and goes over every mistake with them on her board: $64 a month with the Solo plan.
Thena goes over every question your child gets wrong
She puts each one back on her board, finds the slip and works it through with them, then gives them one like it to do alone.
Try 3 lessons free