isee practice essay prompts

• Jan 17, 2023

The ISEE Essay: Tips and Practice Prompts

Essay overview.

The ISEE essay is the last section of the ISEE. Students are given 30 minutes to respond to a prompt. The essay is not scored, but a copy of the writing sample is sent to the schools to which the ISEE score report is sent.

The essay has two purposes: it shows schools how well you can write, and it also gives the admissions officers another opportunity to learn about you. Keep this in mind when writing your essay, and make sure to focus your essay on yourself. For example, if the essay asks you to write about your role model, write about the person you choose, but make sure to also write about yourself. How does this person inspire you? How has this person changed your life? Has this person taught you anything that you use in your everyday life?

Read the Directions: On the official ISEE, you’re asked to write in a blue or black pen. You’re also asked to rewrite the essay prompt at the top of the first page of your essay. Make sure to carefully read the directions before starting your essay.

Manage your Time: Make sure you manage your time effectively. Give yourself time to organize and plan your essay, time to write your essay, and time to revise and edit your essay.

Structure your Essay: While there are no rules for how to structure your essay, it is recommended to have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. We recommend the body of your essay be two to four paragraphs long.

Write Neatly: You are not graded on how neatly you write your essay, but make sure to write neatly enough so someone can read your writing.

Choose a Subject That Appeals to You: While you will be asked to respond to a specific prompt, the prompts often involve broad subjects. For example, a prompt may ask you to write about your role model. When choosing a specific topic to write about, choose something that interests you and shows you in a positive light. Use specific details and examples; after you choose your topic, be sure to think of two to three specific supporting details or examples. If you are asked to write about your role model, and you choose your dad, a supporting example could be the following: “My dad is my role model because he taught me the importance of hard work. He started working at the age of 16 and now runs his own business.”

Essay Practice Prompts

Below you’ll find five practice prompts for each level of the ISEE. For each prompt, set a timer for 30 minutes, and make sure to go somewhere quiet to write your essay. Write your essay on a sheet of lined paper (you can use the front and back of the sheet, but no more). Once you’ve finished, have an adult read over your essay and give you feedback.

Lower Level Practice Prompts

What is your favorite subject in school and why?

If you could go on your dream vacation, where would you go and why?

What is one of your favorite books?

What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?

What qualities do you think are important in a friend?

Middle Level Practice Prompts

What is a problem facing your community and how would you help fix this problem?

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you travel to and why?

Describe a time where you overcame a challenge. What did you learn from this experience?

Who is someone who has had a significant impact on your life? Describe the impact this person had and why it was so important to you.

What is a career you are interested in? What skills do you have that would make you succeed in this career?

Upper Level Practice Prompts

What does “being successful” mean to you? What are some ways that people can achieve success?

Who is one person, living or dead, that inspires you?

Write about a value that is important to you (examples: honestly, loyalty, dedication, open-mindedness). Why is this value so important to you?

What is your greatest skill? How do you use this skill in your everyday life?

What is something you are passionate about? How do you incorporate this passion into your life?

• ISEE Upper Level
• ISEE Middle Level
• ISEE Lower Level

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Overview of the ISEE Lower Level

Overview of the ISEE Upper Level

ISEE Writing Prompts: Prepare for Your ISEE Exam

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Are you ready to tackle the writing portion of the ISEE exam with confidence? Whether you’re a middle or high school student , mastering the art of writing is essential for academic success. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the ISEE writing prompts, preparing you to express your ideas eloquently and impress the admissions committees. In this article, we’ll delve into the various types of ISEE writing prompts and provide you with valuable strategies and tips to ace this section of the exam. So, let’s dive in and unlock your writing potential!

Understanding the ISEE Writing Prompts

Unraveling the isee writing prompts, mastering the structure and format of the isee essay, developing a strong thesis statement for your isee essay, crafting well-supported arguments in your isee essay, enhancing your isee essay with strong vocabulary and sentence structure, practicing time management for a high-scoring isee essay, frequently asked questions, final thoughts.

Writing prompts in the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) can be daunting, but with a solid understanding of what they entail, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle them head-on. Here are a few key points to help you navigate these prompts effectively:

• Grasp the prompt type: ISEE writing prompts usually fall into three categories – creative, analytical, and open-ended. Creative prompts encourage imaginative storytelling, analytical prompts require critical thinking and analysis, while open-ended prompts allow you to freely express your thoughts. Identifying the prompt type helps you frame your response accordingly.
• Read thoroughly and analyze: Before diving into crafting your response, take the time to read and comprehend the prompt thoroughly. Highlight any keywords or instructions that will guide your writing. Once you have a clear understanding of the prompt’s expectations, analyze the subject matter and brainstorm various angles or perspectives you can adopt in your essay.
• Construct a well-organized response: Successful ISEE essays are not only well-written but also well-structured. Begin with a captivating introduction that sets the tone for your essay, followed by well-developed paragraphs that support your main points. Ensure logical transitions between ideas, and wrap up with a strong conclusion that summarizes your key arguments.

By familiarizing yourself with the diverse ISEE writing prompts and employing these strategies, you can confidently approach these essay questions and showcase your writing capabilities. Remember to practice regularly and seek feedback to refine your skills. With dedication and preparation, you’ll be ready to conquer the ISEE writing section!

The ISEE essay is an important component of the Independent School Entrance Examination. To excel in this section, it is crucial to understand the structure and format of the essay. Here are some key tips to help you master the art of essay writing for the ISEE:

• Introduction: Start your essay with a concise opening paragraph that clearly states your main argument or thesis. This should grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay.
• Body paragraphs: The body of your essay should consist of several paragraphs, each focusing on a different supporting point. Make sure to provide evidence and examples to validate your points. Use logical transitions to smoothly connect your ideas and maintain coherence throughout.
• Conclusion: End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis. Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion; instead, leave the reader with a lasting impression of your argument.

Additionally, here are some additional tips to enhance your essay writing skills for the ISEE:

• Practice time management: Allocate sufficient time for planning, writing, and revising your essay. Ensure that you allow enough time to proofread for grammatical and spelling errors.
• Vary sentence structure and vocabulary: Employ a mix of sentence types, including simple, compound, and complex sentences. Utilize a wide range of vocabulary to showcase your language proficiency.
• Stay focused and concise: Stick to the topic and avoid going off on tangents. Be concise and precise in your writing to ensure you effectively communicate your ideas.

By and implementing these writing tips, you can significantly improve your performance in this crucial section. Practice regularly, develop your own unique writing style, and approach each essay with confidence.

When writing your ISEE essay, one of the most crucial elements is developing a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement sets the tone and direction for your entire essay, so it’s essential to craft it carefully. Here are some tips to help you create a compelling thesis statement that will impress the graders:

• Be clear and concise: A strong thesis statement should clearly state what your essay is about and the main argument you will be making. Avoid vague or broad statements; instead, focus on a specific and debatable point that you can support with evidence.
• Choose a unique perspective: To stand out from other essays, try to approach the topic from a fresh and unique angle. Think outside the box and offer a perspective that is thought-provoking and different from the obvious.
• Evidence-based reasoning: Your thesis statement should be supported by evidence and logical reasoning. It’s important to demonstrate that you have carefully considered different viewpoints and can support your argument with facts or examples.

Remember, your thesis statement is the backbone of your essay. It lays the foundation for the arguments you will make in the body paragraphs. Take your time to refine and polish your thesis statement, ensuring that it captures the essence of your essay and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

When writing your ISEE essay, it is crucial to craft well-supported arguments that effectively convey your ideas to the reader. Here are some tips to help you create compelling and persuasive arguments:

• Evidence is Key: Support your claims with relevant evidence such as facts, statistics, or examples. This not only adds credibility to your argument but also strengthens your overall essay. Remember to use reputable sources and ensure that the evidence directly relates to your main points.
• Logical Reasoning: Use logical reasoning to connect your evidence to your claims. Present a clear chain of reasoning that demonstrates how your evidence supports your argument. This will make your essay more cohesive and convincing to the reader.
• Counterarguments: Address counterarguments to showcase your ability to consider different perspectives. Anticipate opposing viewpoints and provide thoughtful rebuttals. By doing so, you demonstrate your understanding of the topic and strengthen your own argument.

Organization: Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner. Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly states your position. Then, organize your body paragraphs by presenting one main idea or argument per paragraph. Make sure each paragraph supports your thesis and flows smoothly into the next. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

By following these strategies, you can develop well-supported arguments that grab the attention of your readers and persuade them to accept your viewpoint.

To make your ISEE essay stand out and impress the graders, it is crucial to incorporate strong vocabulary and sentence structure. By doing so, you will not only demonstrate your command of the English language but also convey your ideas with clarity and eloquence. Here are some effective tips to enhance your essay:

• Expand your vocabulary: Incorporate diverse and sophisticated vocabulary words into your essay. This will add depth and precision to your writing. Make use of synonyms, antonyms, and idiomatic expressions to paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.
• Utilize precise language: Choose words that accurately convey your intended meaning. Avoid ambiguity by using precise language. This will help prevent misunderstandings and ensure your message is communicated effectively.
• Employ varied sentence structures: Avoid using repetitive sentence structures that make your essay sound monotonous. Instead, experiment with different sentence types, such as compound, complex, and simple sentences. This will add variety and flow to your writing.

Furthermore, it is important to maintain coherence and cohesion throughout your essay:

• Organize your ideas logically: Structure your essay in a way that presents your arguments in a clear and logical manner. Begin with an engaging introduction, develop your ideas coherently in the body paragraphs, and conclude with a strong closing statement.
• Use transitional words and phrases: Smoothly connect your ideas using transitional words and phrases, such as “however,” “in addition,” or “moreover.” These transitional elements help guide the reader through your essay and create a seamless flow of thoughts.
• Proofread and revise: Finally, ensure your essay is error-free by proofreading and revising it carefully. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. Eliminate unnecessary repetition and refine your sentences to improve their clarity and conciseness.

Mastering time management is essential when it comes to excelling in the ISEE essay section. To maximize your scoring potential, it’s crucial to allocate your time effectively and efficiently. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your limited writing time:

• Plan your essay before you begin writing: Spending a few minutes brainstorming and organizing your ideas can save valuable time later. Create a clear outline that includes your main arguments and supporting evidence. This will provide structure to your essay and prevent you from getting sidetracked.
• Manage your time wisely during the writing process: Divide your available time into manageable chunks for each section of your essay – introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Stick to these time limits to keep yourself focused and ensure a balanced essay. Remember, editing and proofreading are equally important, so set aside time for these tasks as well.

Additionally, prioritize your thoughts and don’t get bogged down by perfectionism. It’s crucial to maintain a steady pace and avoid getting stuck on a single sentence or idea.

Furthermore, practice timed essays to build your speed and improve your time management skills . Set a timer and simulate exam conditions as closely as possible. This will help you become familiar with writing under time pressure, allowing you to refine your technique and confidence. By honing your time management skills, you’ll not only produce a high-scoring ISEE essay but also cultivate a valuable skill for future academic and professional endeavors.

Q: What is the purpose of the ISEE Writing Prompts?

A: The ISEE Writing Prompts are designed to assess a student’s writing skills and ability to generate well-structured, cohesive, and persuasive responses within a limited time frame. They are an essential part of the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) and play a crucial role in the admissions process for many prestigious private schools.

Q: How many writing prompts can a student expect to encounter on the ISEE exam?

A: The ISEE exam consists of one writing prompt for each test level. Therefore, depending on the level of the exam you are taking (Lower, Middle, or Upper), you can expect to encounter one unique writing prompt.

Q: What types of writing prompts can be expected on the ISEE exam?

A: The ISEE exam typically presents students with either a narrative or an essay prompt. The narrative prompt usually asks students to write a creative story, while the essay prompt requires students to offer a well-structured opinion or argument on a given topic.

Q: How much time is provided to complete the writing prompts during the ISEE exam?

A: Students are provided with 30 minutes to complete the writing prompt section of the ISEE exam. It is crucial to manage your time wisely, as this time constraint allows admissions officers to evaluate your ability to think quickly and respond effectively under pressure.

Q: What scoring criteria do the examiners use to assess the writing prompts?

A: The ISEE writing prompts are evaluated based on various criteria, including the quality of ideas and content, organization and structure, language and vocabulary usage, and grammar and mechanics. Admissions officers assess how well students address the prompt, develop their ideas, use examples and evidence, and exhibit a strong command of the English language.

Q: How can students best prepare for the ISEE writing section?

A: To excel in the ISEE writing section, it is important to practice writing in a timed environment. Familiarize yourself with the different types of writing prompts that might appear on the exam and develop a clear and concise writing style. Practice outlining and proofreading your work to ensure a well-structured and error-free response.

Q: Are there any specific resources available for ISEE writing prompt practice?

A: Yes, various study guides and online resources offer practice materials and sample prompts to help students prepare for the ISEE writing section. These resources can provide valuable insights into the expectations and requirements of the exam, allowing students to enhance their writing skills and gain confidence before their test date.

Q: Is it advisable to seek additional writing assistance or tutoring for the ISEE exam?

A: In some cases, students may find it beneficial to seek additional writing assistance or tutoring to sharpen their skills further. Professional tutors can provide personalized guidance and feedback, helping students understand their strengths and weaknesses and develop effective strategies for tackling the ISEE writing prompts.

Q: How important is the ISEE writing section in the overall admissions process?

A: While the weight given to the ISEE writing section may vary from school to school, it is an essential component of the admissions process. Admissions officers utilize the writing prompts as an indicator of a student’s ability to express themselves clearly and effectively. Therefore, giving your best effort and practicing beforehand can greatly enhance your chances of gaining acceptance to your desired school.

In conclusion, practicing ISEE writing prompts is crucial for success on the exam. Taking the time to prepare will boost your confidence and improve your chances of achieving a high score. So start practicing today to excel on the ISEE!

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Many students applying to private schools need to submit ISEE scores. The ISEE is known for being a tough exam, and preparing for it can help you reach the score you're aiming for. But where can you find the best ISEE practice tests? And how can you make the most of them? We've collected the absolutely best ISEE test prep resources, both free and paid, in this guide to help you with your ISEE studying.

Feature image credit: Nick Youngson /   The Blue Diamond Gallery

What Subjects Does the ISEE Test You On?

Before you begin studying, it's important to know what the ISEE will test you on. Below are the main subjects tested for each section of the test. The difficulty level of the content tested will increase as you move from lower to middle to upper levels.

Where to Find Official ISEE Practice Tests

ERB, the company that creates and administers the ISEE, has made some official ISEE online practice materials available for free. Official ISEE resources are the best to use because you can be sure they're an accurate representation of what the actual ISEE will be like. On this site , you can enter information about what grade the test-taker will be entering and receive practice questions for the appropriate level of the ISEE.

However, the resource that we really recommend is the PDF "What to Expect on the ISEE." There's one for each of the three levels of the ISEE:

ISEE Lower Level Practice Test ISEE Middle Level Practice Test ISEE Upper Level Practice Test

Midway through the PDF are some sample questions, and after them is a complete practice test. There are unfortunately no answer explanations, just an answer key and information on how to score the test, but this is the only full-length official ISEE practice test available, and it will be the closest experience you can have to taking the real ISEE on test day. You should definitely make use of it, and we explain how in the next section.

How to Use Official ISEE Practice Tests

Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of official ISEE practice materials, so you want to make the most of what you have. Make sure you understand how to solve each of the sample questions included in the PDF and what skills they're testing.

The official practice test is the best ISEE sample test you can get, so you want to use it wisely. Take it about a quarter to midway through your ISEE prep so you have a general idea already of what the exam tests but still have time to make adjustments to your studying. Print out the test as you'll be taking the actual ISEE with pencil and paper. It's also very important to take the test timed (the same timing you'll have on the ISEE) and in one sitting. Doing this gives you the most accurate idea of how well you'll do on the actual ISEE.

If you give yourself an unlimited amount of time to take the practice test and lots of breaks, you may not be prepared for the time crunch and impact of testing for hours on the real ISEE. Both of these issues can cause students to see significant drops in their scores. The practice test includes timing rules, so follow those strictly when you take it.

Once you're done with the practice test, look over every question you got wrong or were unsure of. If there are areas you particularly struggled in, you know to focus on those for your future ISEE test prep.

The scoring information on this test is also very useful because it's the only test where you can be confident that the score you received is accurate. Many unofficial ISEE practice tests either don't give steps to convert your score to the 1-9 stanine scale used, or they may give score estimates that aren't accurate. The ERB is pretty opaque about how ISEE scores are converted to the stanine scale, so it can be difficult for unofficial ISEE test creators to accurately score their tests.

How to Use Unofficial ISEE Practice Tests

Unofficial ISEE practice materials range from pretty good to pretty bad, and it can be difficult to separate the two, especially if it's early in your ISEE prep. Below are the best unofficial ISEE study resources, separated into free and paid resources. They aren't as good as the official study materials, but they're still pretty close to the actual ISEE in terms of difficulty and content tested. For each we describe what is included and how best to use the resource.

Free Unofficial ISEE Test Prep Resources

This site has a free full-length ISEE online practice test for each of the lower, middle, and upper levels of the ISEE. The tests are good quality and similar to the actual ISEE, but the main drawback is that there are no answer explanations, only an answer key. If you don't understand why you got a question wrong, you might find it difficult to understand why without an explanation. We recommend using this resource later on in your prep, when you're more familiar with ISEE questions and likely won't need to rely on answer explanations as much.

Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors has dozens of ISEE quizzes for all levels and sections of the test. The quizzes range from a few questions to full-length sections. The site has a lot of ads and pop-ups, but the quizzes are generally high-quality, and the answer explanations are in-depth and helpful. It's a good resource to use early on, when you aren't taking as many full-length ISEE sample tests yet.

Kaplan has a few dozen practice questions for each section of the test. The questions are high-quality, but there aren't that many of them, and there they aren't organized into lower, middle, or upper levels of the exam. Additionally, you find out immediately after answering a question if you got it right or wrong, which makes it difficult to time yourself. This resource is best for when you want to do a bit of quick studying earlier on in your ISEE prep.

Paid Unofficial ISEE Practice Tests

Test Innovators

Cost: $80-$330, depending on the plan

If you want to do some in-depth prep for the ISEE, you may want to look at Test Innovators' plans. They have plans offering between one and six full-length practice tests, along with interactive lessons and tutor consultation. You can also take a mini quiz for free to see if you like their practice questions before you decide to purchase a plan. This is quite an expensive resource, but if you want an all-in-one ISEE test prep resource, it may be what you're looking for.

Tutorverse Prep Books

Cost: About $34 per book

Tutorverse has a prep book for each level of the ISEE, each highly rated on Amazon. Each book contains over 1,000 practice questions, and people who have bought the book generally feel it prepares them well for the ISEE. Most of these practice questions are scattered throughout the book in the form of exercises and quizzes, and each book only contains two full-length practice tests. Taking a full-length test is important because it gives you a sense of how well you can handle a long test in one sitting, so if you're looking for a lot of full-length tests, you should use additional resources.

Tips for Your ISEE Prep

Now that you know where to get the best ISEE practice tests, it's time to get the most out of them. Follow these three tips when studying for the ISEE.

#1: Know What Score to Aim For

A student's ISEE scores may be lower than they and their parents expect. There are two reasons for this. First, the ISEE is often one of the hardest tests the student has taken, and some of the information will simply be beyond their current knowledge. Second, the group that takes the ISEE tends to be academically stronger than the average student body, and that skews the averages. It's not uncommon for a student who is used to scoring in, say, the 80th percentile on statewide exams to get closer to a 50th percentile score on the ISEE.

Schools know this too, and they don't expect perfect scores. The stanine scores, ranging from 1-9 are the most important scores they look at. Many schools accept scores of 4 or 5, and only the most competitive schools in the country expect scores of 7 or higher. So don't think you need to aim for the top to get into the school of your choice.

#2: Review Every Question You Got Wrong

Your work isn't done after you take an ISEE practice test. You'll want to go over every single question you got wrong or had to guess on. Look to see what the correct answer is, then see if you can solve it without reading the answer explanation (if the practice test includes answer explanations). If you are, then you'll remember what you learned much better because you actively worked it out for yourself.

Doing this for every question is time consuming, no doubt about it, but it's the absolute best way to actually see major improvements in your score because you're learning from your mistakes.

#3: Target Your Weak Areas

Some students are tempted to simply read straight through prep books or guides they get, but this often isn't the most effective use of your time. If you typically do well on, say, reading questions but struggle with math questions, then you should spend more time reviewing topics and practice questions. Look through all the topics the ISEE tests, located in the first section of this guide, and note any sections you struggle to do well on. Now you know to target them during your ISEE prep.

What's Next?

What's a good ISEE score? Learn what score you should be aiming for on the ISEE exam by reading our guide .

Want to learn more about the ISEE? We have a complete guide on everything you need to know about the ISEE in order to be prepared for this important test .

When can you take the ISEE? Check out our guide containing every upcoming ISEE test date and where you can take the test .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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The Independent School Entrance Exam (“The ISEE”) is an admission assessment utilized by admission specialists at over 1,200 independent schools around the world. It is available both online and in paper form, and measures basic math, reading, and verbal reasoning skills.

The ISEE provides administrators with a fair and reliable test in order to assess applicants in an unbiased way.

An applicant’s performance on the ISEE can often be an important factor in that applicant’s admission to an independent school.

ISEE practice tests as well as other resources are available for students who may be required to take it. Utilization of these resources can be vital for those who want to perform well on the ISEE.

ISEE Verbal Reasoning (Upper Level)

• ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test 1
• ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test 2

ISEE Quantitative Reasoning (Upper Level)

• ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test 1
• ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test 2

ISEE Reading Comprehension (Upper Level)

• ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Test 1
• ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Test 2

ISEE Mathematics Achievement (Upper Level)

• ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test 1
• ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test 2

Recommended ISEE Prep

If you are serious about doing well on your ISEE, check out our recommended ISEE prep course.

Other ISEE Study Resources

Isee content description.

The Independent School Entrance Exam consists of three levels of testing: the Lower Level, the Middle Level, and the Upper Level. These levels are based on whatever level of schooling the student has achieved upon applying to a particular independent school.

• Students entering grades 5 or 6 will take the Lower Level ISEE
• Students entering grades 7-8 will take the Middle Level ISEE
• Students grades 9-12 will take the Upper Level ISEE

Be sure you are using the appropriate ISEE practice tests for your particular level.

Each test is split up into five sections:

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section includes a section for synonyms and a section for sentence completion These sections are intended to measure an applicant’s vocabulary level and reading ability.

• Each vocabulary question includes an appropriately abstract grade-level word which is followed by four answer choices.
• Each sentence completion question includes a sentence with a missing word or phrase, followed by four ways the applicant may choose to complete the missing part. The student must determine which selection best completes the sentence based on context.

Lower Level:

• This section consists of 34 questions to be answered in 20 minutes

Middle and Upper Levels:

• This section consists of 40 questions to be answered in 20 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section measures the applicant’s reasoning abilities as they relate to various mathematical disciplines.

This section is intended to measure an applicant’s ability to think mathematically in order to solve a problem. Despite the mathematical content in this section, it requires very little or no actual calculations, as the emphasis of this section is on mathematical thinking and reasoning ability.

Questions are derived from the applicant’s grade-level appropriate National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards in the following skillsets:

• Numbers and Operations
• Measurement
• Data Analysis and Probability
• Problem Solving
• This section consists of 37 word problems to be completed within 35 minutes
• This section consists of 37 questions to be completed within 35 minutes
• Questions are a mixture of word problems as well as quantitative comparisons

Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension section utilizes several reading passages related to science, history, literature, and the modern world in order to assess an applicant’s reading comprehension in six specific categories:

• Main Idea – measures the applicant’s ability to identify the general message, theme, or central idea in the passage
• Supporting Ideas – measures the applicant’s ability to identify which concepts in the passage support the main idea of the text.
• Analysis and interpretation of text
• Comparing and contrasting ideas
• Making predictions of events and outcomes
• Vocabulary – measures the applicant’s ability to use context clues in order to define words
• Organization and Logic – measures the applicant’s ability to identify the structure, pattern, or sequence present in a particular genre
• Point of view
• This section consists of 25 questions to be answered in 25 minutes
• This section contains five reading passages with five questions each
• This section consists of 36 questions to be answered in 35 minutes
• This section contains six reading passages with six questions each

Mathematics Achievement

The Mathematics Achievement section measures an applicant’s skills at basic mathematical operations and computations, according to the applicant’s grade-level appropriate National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards.

• This section consists of 30 questions to be answered in 30 minutes
• This section consists of 47 questions to be answered in 40 minutes

Applicants taking any of the three Independent Schools Entrance Exam will be required to prepare and write an essay on a random topic distributed on the day of the test.

• Upon receiving the topic, students are given 30 minutes to prepare and write their essay
• Students may use a blue or black pen
• Essay will not be graded, however the school to which the applicant has applied will receive a photocopy of the essay to assess in any way they wish
• Prompt will usually be relevant to the student and offer them an opportunity to tell about themselves

ISEE Administration

Independent Schools Entrance Exam test locations and dates can fluctuate, and are determined by the particular school administering the ISEE. Some states include:

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Pennsylvania

As well as international locations including:

• Seoul, Korea

Applicants may also take their test through the use of a test consortium consisting of several area schools within a central location collaborating to test those applying to many different local independent schools. These consortiums can be found in most major US cities.

Registration for the ISEE Test

Students registering for the Independent Schools Entrance Exam can do so through the mail or at www.ISEEtest.org . Registering over the phone or via fax may include additional fees. It is important to register for your ISEE at least three weeks before your test date.

ISEE Test Fees

Registration for the Independent Schools Entrance Exam begins at $89, but can range up to $180 depending on location and accommodations needed. Registering over the phone or via fax will incur an additional $20 fee.

ISEE Requirements

The Independent School Entrance Exam can be taken by any student in grades 5-12 who is applying to enter an independent school. Requirement of completion of the ISEE is determined by the independent school being applied to.

ISEE Scores

Throughout all sections in all three versions of the ISEE, all questions are equal in value. The ISEE does not penalize for incorrect answers, so the raw score is solely determined by the number of correct answers given by the applicant. Test takers are encouraged to guess if they are not sure.

The ISEE score report includes both scaled scores and percentile scores:

Scaled Score

A conversion of the raw score, scaled between 760 and 940.

Percentile Score

The percentile score takes the scaled score achieved by the applicant, and ranks it from 1-99, based on the student’s performance compared to other test takers of the examination.

For example, if a student scored better than 90% of the students who took the same test, then that student’s Percentile Score would be 90.

• Shows how an applicant scored in comparison to other applicants of similar demographics.
• This is based on the norm pool of applicants which share the same grade as the applicant
• Schools receiving the ISEE score report and see how the applicant compares to the rest of the applicant pool

What is on the ISEE test?

The  ISEE  is split up into five different sections – verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, and an essay.

How much does it cost to take the ISEE?

The cost to take the  ISEE  varies, depending on location and different accommodations needed. The cost can range from $89 to $180. If you choose to register over the phone, it will cost you an extra $20.

Who takes the ISEE test?

Students who are in grades 5 and 6 will take the lower level  ISEE . Students who are in grades 7 and 8 will take the middle level ISEE. Students who are in grades 9-12 will take the upper level ISEE.

Performance on the Independent Schools Entrance Exam is vital for admission to an independent school. To register for your ISEE, please visit  erblearn.org  to learn more.

• Authored By: Dave Evangelisti
• Last Updated June 25, 2023

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Prompts and tips for the isee essay.

Posted on January 11th, 2023 by Allison . Posted in ISEE ESSAY , ISEE TEST PREP , ISEE TUTORING - 0 Comments

The ISEE essay requires students to write a descriptive essay in thirty minutes. The essay is not scored, but a copy of the writing sample is sent to the admissions officers of the schools to which the ISEE score report is sent. Essay prompts are a great way to practice for the exam. Read on for our best essay prompts and tips.

Here’s a list of essay prompts with which to practice:

Lower Level (grades 5 and 6): Topic: Describe your favorite subject in school and explain why this subject is your favorite. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: Think about some of the books you have read. What is one character you admire and why? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Middle Level (grades 7 and 8): Topic: Describe one important lesson you learned in the last year. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: What is your favorite thing to do when you have free time? Why is this important to you? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Upper Level (grades 9 and up): Topic: Schools offer many extracurricular opportunities. Describe one extracurricular opportunity you would like to pursue. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: What three words would you use to describe yourself and why? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

For all students: Topic: What is the most important problem facing the world today and what is one thing you can do to help solve it? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

ISEE Essay Tips:

• Follow directions! Make sure you rewrite prompts at the top of the first page of your answer sheet.
• Budget your time! Make sure to save time at the end to edit for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• ISEE Essays tend to be descriptive essays. A descriptive essay requires you to write about a person, place, thing, idea, or event in a way that makes it possible for your reader to properly visualize or understand it. You might be asked to offer your own definitions or explanations.
• Make sure your essay has a clear introductory paragraph, two or three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
• While you will be asked to write about a specific topic, the topics themselves tend to involve broad subjects: books, school, community service, role models.
• Choose a subject that appeals to you.
• Choose subjects about which you know a great deal.
• Identify two or three important qualities about the subject you choose. Example: Two qualities of a good teacher are expertise and organization.
• Write about two or three reasons why you chose the subject you chose. My favorite author is William Shakespeare because he vividly recreates history and he writes humorously.

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ISEE Essay Practice & Information

The ISEE Essay is the last of the five sections on the ISEE Test. On each of the ISEE levels, the material of the ISEE Essay prompts are grade specific. Keep reading to learn more about the ISEE Essay.  Free ISEE Sample Questions

View All ISEE Levels Here!

About the ISEE Essay

Isee essay prompts, isee essay practice tips.

On this section of the ISEE Test, you will be required to write a short essay in response to an ISEE Essay prompt. The prompt is selected at random for each test date. ISEE Essay prompts consist of topics that are of interest to students (at each specific grade level) and provide students with a chance to tell about themselves. The ISEE Essay section allows you to demonstrate to the schools to which you are applying how you organize and express your thoughts in writing.

On the ISEE Test, you will be provided with a sheet of paper to write notes. The ISEE Essay is to be written in ink (erasable ink is permitted) on two pre-lined pages. Additionally, you must rewrite the prompt at the top of the first page. You will have 30 minutes to complete the ISEE Essay. During this time, you should organize your thoughts, make a short outline, and write the final copy.

ISEE Essays are to be written either in print or cursive, with a blue or black ink ballpoint pen, directly on the pre-lined pages.

Admissions officers are interested not only in the applicant's ability to describe ideas, make personal reflections, and organize thoughts, but also in learning personal aspects about the applicant. ISEE Essay prompts generally ask applicants to describe a place, experience, event, ambition, idea, object, person, or animal. For example, you might be asked:

• Who is your favorite relative and why? 
• Which historic figure would you like to get to know and why?
• What place would you like to visit most in the whole world and why?
• Read the essay prompt carefully. While taking the test, you may be tempted to complete a question as quickly as possible. While keeping an eye on the clock is a good tactic, rushing through questions is not. Make sure to fully understand the essay prompt before proceeding to answer it. A wrong answer is an immediate zero, no matter how well-written or insightful it is.
• Read previous ISEE essays. This will give you an idea of what essay graders are expecting of you. It can also give you a chance to see what not to do.
• Practice with sample prompts. Though you may not get the same exact prompt as the one you practiced with, you may very likely get a similar one. Understanding the format of a typical prompt will help you defamiliarize yourself with the appropriate writing style, and give you a more hands-on idea od the writing process that will be involved. Click here for free ISEE Sample Questions.
• Set a timer. To replicate the testing conditions as much as possible it is highly recommended to set a timer. This will get you used to the time constraints and help you feel less pressured during the actual test.

The ISEE and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with TestPrep-Online or this website.

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ISEE Essay Overview

How schools use the isee essay.

• Topic choice
• Organization and structure
• Use of examples and details
• Writing mechanics (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Tip: Some schools will compare student application essays with the ISEE essay. If the application essays are written differently from the ISEE essay, school may disregard the application essays entirely based on an assumption that these may have been written by someone else (a parent, a tutor, etc.).

Make sure that you write your own application essays! Parents, guardians, and others can help with the editing process, but the writing should be your own!

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The ISEE Essay Section: What To Expect

About the isee essay section.

Did you make it through the ISEE’s four multiple-choice sections? You’re not quite done yet!

The fifth and final section on the ISEE is an essay section. Students are given 30 minutes to write an essay in response to a single prompt. Although the essay is not graded, as we’ll discuss below, it is still a critical part of the test.

How is my essay scored?

The ISEE’s essay section is not scored in the traditional sense, but your essay will be sent to the schools to which you send your score report. This means that your essay is a very important part of the test, and you should prepare for it just as you prepare for the multiple-choice sections. Practice putting your best foot forward!

Schools tend to use your essay in a few different ways. Admissions teams will consider how clearly you can express your ideas, how well you’ve mastered the grammatical and spelling conventions of standard English, and how you portray your thoughts and values.

Many admissions departments also compare your ISEE essay to other written works that you submitted as part of your application – this is a good way for schools to make sure that you (not a parent or a friend) were the person who wrote those other pieces.

What kind of prompts should I expect?

All three levels of the ISEE will present students with an open-ended prompt which encourages some combination of self-reflection, creativity, story-telling, and persuasion.

Here are a few examples of the types of prompts you should expect to see on the ISEE:

If you were able to move anywhere in the world, where would you decide to live and why?

Describe a time when you helped someone in need.

Your friend calls to share great news with you. What news would you want to hear and why?

What topic should I choose for the prompt I receive?

Your audience is the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a topic for the ISEE essay. Who’s your audience? The admissions board at your school of choice.

So, consider how you’d like to portray yourself to the people who will be reviewing your application. You probably don’t want to choose a topic that makes you sound mean, insensitive, or out of touch with your prospective peers.

Try brainstorming a few topics for the prompt  “If you were able to move anywhere in the world, where would you decide to live and why?”  A good topic for this prompt would allow you to tell a story about yourself (maybe a story about when you went to a beautiful place and why that was inspiring to you) or describe some things that you are passionate about (maybe you’d want to live on a lake because you love vibrant ecosystems). A bad topic might be one about cutting yourself off from others or prioritizing material goods above all else (living in a penthouse suite and having everything delivered to you, for example).

Want to learn more about the ISEE’s essay and it’s importance in admissions decisions? Watch our  webinar at this link.

Want to learn more about the ISEE? Read our  breakdown of the ISEE here .

Find all of our ISEE preparation materials at  ISEEpracticetest.com !

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The ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Exam, is a standardized test that is given to students in the fourth through the twelfth grades in order to provide a quantitative measurement of various academic skills that they can submit when applying to independent schools. The ISEE comes in three forms: the Lower Level ISEE, which is given to students in fifth and sixth grades; the Middle Level ISEE, which is given to students in seventh and eighth grades; and the Upper Level ISEE, which is given to students in ninth through twelfth grades. While the number of problems in each section of the ISEE differs slightly by level, each test contains a Verbal section, a Quantitative Reasoning section, a Mathematical Achievement section, and a Reading section, as well as an Essay. All of the problems on the ISEE, excepting the Essay prompt, are multiple-choice. The Verbal section consists entirely of Synonym and Fill-in-the-Blank questions; the Quantitative Reasoning section tests computation-light mathematical reasoning; the Mathematical Achievement tests computation-heavy math skills taught in math classes students have previously taken, and the Reading section asks students reading-comprehension questions about short provided passages. Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools also include Full-Length ISEE Practice Tests for each section. Try beginning your test preparation by taking a free online Practice Test to help you create a unique study plan. The comprehensive makeup of these exams gives you the chance to work on your endurance, pace, and focus. Just like on the shorter Practice Tests, the results page includes thorough explanations and relevant information on each question’s concepts. However, the complete Practice Tests provide the additional benefit of helping you target your review by showing you which concepts you have already mastered, and the concepts on which you may want to spend more time. Once you have reviewed using the other Learning Tools, you can take another Full-Length ISEE Practice Test to gauge your progress. Many students may find themselves concerned about one section in particular on the ISEE, or both of the mathematics-related sections. If the Verbal Reasoning section is causing you trouble, you can use Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Verbal Practice Tests to familiarize yourself with the format of Synonym questions and word-based and phrase-based Fill-in-the-Blank questions. Practicing ahead of time with the unique format of these questions can ease your mind, and you can learn new vocabulary words from any questions that you happen to miss by reading the complete answers, which often include definitions of not only the word in question, but the words you had to choose from as incorrect answer choices. If one or both of the ISEE”s math sections leaves you feeling lost, we recommend practicing problems of the types featured on each section. Having to face two mathematics sections can feel very daunting, but when you mentally separate them into two different tasks, they can appear much more approachable. Reading about what separates the ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section from its Quantitative Reasoning section is a good first step, but actually practicing problems from each part of the test by using Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests and free ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Tests can help this division sink in so you don’t find yourself expecting one section’s problems but faced with the others on test day. If it’s the Reading Comprehension section is your personal nightmare, you’re not alone—many students find this section to be more challenging than they initially expected, because of how well students are expected to manage their time in order to be able to answer all the questions, much less answer them correctly. Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Tests not only provide full explanations to help you reduce the number of mistakes you make over time, but they also can help you track how long it takes you to read a passage and answer a number of questions about it, a vital statistic to be aware of as you study for the ISEE. If you need to speed up your reading or slow it down so that you don’t miss important information, or worse, misunderstand it, you can figure this out by completing ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Tests, which present you with detailed statistics after you complete them, including how long it took you to answer each question. Many students find themselves feeling a bit apprehensive about one or another of the ISEE’s sections, or perhaps they worry about all of them. By reviewing in an efficient but comprehensive manner and taking advantage of Varsity Tutors’ variety of free ISEE resources, you can identify the gaps or weak spots in your ISEE knowledge and work to fill them; for every section of the ISEE, you can choose to take free Practice Tests organized by concept. So, Varsity Tutors’ resources make identifying and remedying knowledge gaps a breeze, leaving you nothing to worry about when getting ready to take an ISEE of any level!

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The chart above is for users who sign up directly with Piqosity beginning September 27, 2023.

• No credit card is required to register for the free Community Plan.
• All plans include unlimited access for 365 days.
• Lower-tier plans can be upgraded after initial purchase; however, the upgrade will not extend the initial validity period of the plan.

Additional Details

• The Premium Video Course launches in fall 2023. Before the course launches, all students have access to multiple concept lesson videos.
• Intelligent Remediation launches in fall 2023. Students can manually access remedial content before the launch.

Included Services for Individual Users

Beginning September 6, 2021, all directly paid, individual user plans for ISEE test prep include a one-time consulting and/or tutorial services provided by a qualified educator. These services will help to ensure that parents and students get off to a great start and know how to correctly use Piqosity’s platform.

These consultation and tutorial services are provided by third-party educators not employed by Piqosity. Parents will have the opportunity to select from up to three available providers.

Have you already made your purchase?

• Request your consultation and/or tutorial.
• Preview the available educators on our Leaderboard.

Parent-Tutor Consultation

The purpose of the Parent-Tutor Consultation is for parents to get a better understanding of the steps required for their child to succeed at ISEE test prep and testing. These consultations are between a qualified tutor or manager and the student’s parent or guardian.

• Students are not generally part of this meeting
• Consultations last approximately 20 minutes
• Consultations are typically virtual but can take place in-person when possible

Topics to be covered in the consultation include:

• Answering a parent’s general questions about the selected course
• Showing quick tips on how to best use Piqosity
• Providing recommendations for next-steps

Private Tutorial

The purpose of the Private Tutorial is for students to review their completed Mini Diagnostic test with an experienced tutor and receive quick tips and strategies.

• Tutoring sessions are help one-to-one with the student
• Session last a maximum of 1 hour
• Sessions are typically virtual but can take place in-person when possible

Topics to be covered in the 1-hour tutoring session include

• Reviewing a student’s Piqosity mini-diagnostic test
• Providing recommendations for next steps

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Discounted, per-student pricing is available to any educator including schools, tutoring companies, teachers, or tutors. Each student license is charged individually depending on the number of active licenses in the educator’s account.

Only one type of plan is available for group discounts–the Group Plan. The Group Plan includes access to all 10 full-length practice tests but no additional services or bundled courses.

No application is required; to qualify for group pricing, simply register as an educator or organization, and the discounts will be automatically applied.

• Learn more about our group pricing .
• Learn more about our free Learning Management System (LMS) for educators .

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How to Improve Your ISEE Score with Piqosity

Our proven test prep methodology for the last 20+ years.

Take a Practice Test

Taking practice tests is the best way to evaluate strengths and weaknesses, familiarize yourself with the test format, and build endurance. Piqosity offers up to 10 full-length practice tests, more than any of our competitors.

Use the analysis generated by mock tests to develop or refine your ISEE test prep roadmap. Read Piqosity’s content lessons or watch how-to videos to review areas where you need a little refreshing.

Internalize what you’ve reviewed in the concept lessons by discussing your findings with a peer, parent, or tutor. Use Piqosity’s question-and-answers feature and the discussion forum.

Practice does not always make perfect, but it can get you close! Work practice questions using Piqosity’s adaptive practice feature; liven things up by switching to gamified mode. If you run out practice, consider taking a complementary Piqosity course in math and English.

Repeat this cycle until you achieve your desired score!

Free ISEE Upper Level Study Guide

For students applying to grades 9-12

Verbal Reasoning is the first and fastest section. It is composed of two parts – synonyms and sentence completions.

• 1st multiple-choice section
• 40 questions
• 30 seconds per question

Learn more about the ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning Section.

Quantitative Reasoning  is often considered the most difficult part of the ISEE; it includes word problems and quantitative comparison questions.

• 2nd multiple-choice section
• 37 questions
• 57 seconds per question

Learn more about the ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning Section.

Reading Comprehension is comprised of 6 ~600 word passages followed by 6 questions each; students generally think it’s the easiest section.

• 3rd multiple-choice section
• 36 questions
• 58 seconds per question

Learn more about the ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension Section.

Mathematics Achievement is the longest part of the ISEE and comprised of word problems; a calculator is not allowed on the ISEE.

• 4th multiple-choice section
• 47 questions
• 51 seconds per question

Learn more about the ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement Section.

The personal-style Essay is the last section of the ISEE; it is not scored but is sent directly to schools.

• 5th and last section
• 2 pages max

Learn more about the ISEE Upper Level Essay .

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Yes! Piqosity’s courses are designed to meet your student where they are, and they can be used for both enrichment and remediation. Your child can use Piqosity’s lessons and practice materials to review and reinforce the concepts they are struggling with in class. If they aren’t sure where to start, they can take a diagnostic test to help them understand where their weaknesses lie, or they can use the Piqosity Virtual Tutor to progress through the Course Outline from start to finish.

Why is Piqosity’s Digital SAT Course Free?

Piqosity’s new Digital SAT course is currently free through May 31, 2024. We are confident in the quality of our content but not all of it is available. Therefore, access is free because this course is still in development:

• Not all 12 full-length tests are available. While we intend to offer 12 digital SAT practice tests plus 2 PSAT tests, we are rolling them out sequentially between February and March, 2024.
• Instructional lessons are not yet uploaded. Our content team is in the process of adapting paper SAT lessons plus writing entirely new lessons and videos. These how-to guides will be uploaded beginning in March.
• The questions are not normed. Piqosity is unique among e-learning platforms in that every question on our platform is continuously peer-normed for difficulty . However, given the newness of the DSAT content, we don’t yet have that data. For this reason, you’ll also notice that our full-length tests are not currently numbered 1-12. Instead they have unique names like “Baker” or “Sid Rich” so that we can shuffle the order around in order to encourage more usage of certain tests during the free, development period.

Who creates Piqosity’s courses?

Our content is partly written in-house and partly by third party publishers including tutors and teachers. Our in-house team has more than 15 years of experience helping thousands of students achieve their potential at our home base in Houston and around the world.

Our content is aligned to both Common Core and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). We and our partners also write content in accordance with our experience and the specifications set forth by the test makers (i.e. ACT, College Board, and ERB).

Which ISEE level should my child take?

• The ISEE Upper Level is for students applying to grades 9-12.
• The ISEE Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7&8.
• The ISEE Lower Level is for students applying to grades 5&6.
• The ISEE Primary Level is offered for students applying to grades 2, 3, and 4; however, ISEE scores are not that important at this early age .

Where do I go for technical assistance or customer support?

Piqosity works hard to make our platform as straightforward and easy-to-navigate as possible. If you are experiencing issues, please visit our support center for immediate answers to most questions, including how-to guides for students and educators , as well as a list of known technical issues . You can also contact us via support ticket any time or call us at +1 713-234-6098 within business hours.

When should my child start preparing for the ISEE?

Assuming a winter application deadline in December or January, the majority of students will start preparing in fall. About a quarter of students plan ahead and start in summer. And another quarter play catch-up in the winter.

Read our article to learn more about when to prepare for the ISEE test .

What is the ISEE test?

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a standardized test required by many American private schools for admission. It is comprised of 4 scored sections testing math and reading plus 1 non-scored, 2-page personal essay. The ISEE admission test lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours depending on which grade to which the student is applying. The worst stanine score is a 1 and the best score is a 9; average scores are 4, 5, and 6. Students may take the ISEE test up to 3 times a year, but most students only have two chances to make their best score before applications are due.

• Read more about the ISEE Upper Level test .
• Read more about the ISEE Middle Level test .
• Read more about the ISEE Lower Level test .

What is Piqosity?

Piqosity means to pique curiosity. We are a Houston-based education technology startup on a mission to rethink education. One product launch at a time, we are on a journey to democratize education publishing, personalize student learning, and empower future generations to tackle the greatest challenges. Our team has more than 18 years of tutoring and test prep experience since we first helped our first student out of a Rice University dorm room in 2003.  Click here to learn more about our company .

What is a good score on the ISEE test?

When you hear other people discussing ISEE scores, they are usually referring to Stanine Scores. The Stanine Scores are also what schools usually care about most, as they provide the most succinct way of measuring a student’s performance on the ISEE test.

In general, a good ISEE score for an academically competitive school is a Stanine Score of 7, 8, or 9. Stanine Scores of 4, 5, and 6 are considered average, and scores of 1, 2, and 3 are below average. However, the comprehensive answer to this question depends on several factors, including the schools to which you are applying.

For more information, read our comprehensive article, “ What is a Good Score on the ISEE ?”

What if I need paper tests?

Every practice set on Piqosity, including adaptive questions and full-length mock tests, can be downloaded as a PDF file for easy printing.

Should I take an online class?

Piqosity’s online classes are suitable for many different types of self-directed learners. Whether you’re a student looking for additional \ enrichment and test prep outside of the classes or are simply looking for a little remediation, Piqosity’s courses provide you with the tools and resources you need to meet your goals.

However, online learning is not for everyone. Students who struggle to focus on the computer may find that classroom learning is better suited to their needs.

Is there a time limit to complete my Piqosity online course?

All courses are available for a full 365 days after the date of purchase. 

Is the ISEE test difficult?

The ISEE test can be difficult but it does not have to be. The ISEE tests both what students have learned in school (achievement) as well as how they apply that knowledge to new and novel situations (reasoning). The ISEE test is comprised of four scored sections in this order:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• Mathematics Achievement

High achieving students who are already performing well in school tend to naturally do well on the achievement parts of the test (Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement). Conversely students who are already struggling with fractions or building their vocabularies will see those deficiencies amplified on the ISEE.

Almost all students find the two reasoning sections difficult (Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning). These two sections are specifically designed to challenge students to take their in-class learning one step further.

Is a calculator allowed on the ISEE?

No, the ISEE test does not allow a calculator on either of the two math sections of the ISEE test—Mathematics Achievement and Quantitative Reasoning. All math questions are designed to be answered without the aid of a calculator. In fact, when a question looks like it might involve many steps and complex calculations, it can often be solved very quickly with a little mental math and logic.

I’m an educator or publisher; can I publish with Piqosity?

Yes! We are actively looking for educators and publishers to contribute to our platform. Please contact us for more information.

How much should you study for the ISEE?

The average student preparing with Piqosity reports that they spent between 30 and 40 hours in total studying for the ISEE. However, how long your student will need to study for the ISEE depends on three primary factors:

• The academic competitiveness of the schools to which your child is applying.
• Your child’s baseline score after taking a diagnostic test.
• Your child’s desired score.

For example, an average student applying to a large private school that caters to students of different abilities will not need to study nearly as much as an average student applying to a small private school that prides itself for academic rigor.

How long is the ISEE test?

In general the ISEE test lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours with breaks, but the exact duration depends on the level of the test the student is taking.

• The ISEE Upper Level is for students applying to grades 9-12 and lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes not including two breaks. Students must answer 160 multiple-choice questions and write 1 essay in this time period.
• The ISEE Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7&8 and lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes not including two breaks. Students must answer 160 multiple-choice questions and write 1 essay in this time period.
• The ISEE Lower Level is for students applying to grades 5&6 and lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes not including two breaks. Students must answer 147 multiple-choice questions and write 1 essay in this time period.

How long do ISEE results take?

ISEE test score results can take anywhere from 24-hours to 10 days before they are viewable in the ERB’s online parent portal .

Tests taken on a computer either at home or at a testing center are scored within 24-hours.

Tests taken on paper are not promised to be scored until 10-14 days after the test date. However, the reality is that most large testing sites (popular private schools) quickly turn around the results as soon as the Monday or Wednesday after a Saturday testing.

As of 2021, there was no paid option for guaranteed faster scoring since the online testing results are already so fast.

How do Piqosity’s online classes work?

As always, it’s free to sign up with Piqosity’s Community Plan, which provides you with limited access to premium content. The paid plan unlocks all of Piqosity’s key innovative platform features, including:

• Instructional lessons with multiple variations including videos
• Adaptive practice including the option for gamification
• Student analytics and strengths and weakness diagnostics
• Answer explanations from both the original author and third-party educators
• Printable PDF practice tests and question sets
• Timers with settings for time and a half and double time
• Online test taking tools like whiteboard, question scratch throughs, and flagging

Register now to get started!

How do Piqosity’s ISEE practice tests compare to the actual exam in difficulty?

As a rule, our editors try to ensure that Piqosity’s first-party preparation material for the ISEE test is at or slightly above the expected difficulty of the actual ISEE. The last thing we want to do is provide unrealistically easy material that lulls families into a false sense of confidence (and the next to last thing we want to do is make the content so difficult that we scare students into feeling defeated).

Beginning in winter 2021, we started to peer norm every question on Piqosity and compare it to the actual ISEE test results. When we examined our 3,597 questions for the ISEE Upper Level on December 21, 2021, we found that students were answering our questions with a mean accuracy of 51.25% and a median accuracy of 51.75%, which is nearly exactly the same as the official ISEE results reported from students testing in November of 2021.

However, Piqosity’s norm group is smaller and likely more studious than the ISEE-taking population as a whole, which means that Piqosity’s content may skew more difficult than what students can expect to find on the actual ISEE.

How do I register to take the ISEE test?

Parents must create an online account at ERB to register for the ISEE test:

• Create an online account at ERB
• Pick a test date and location (online, school, or testing center)
• Pay a fee of between $140 and $200 depending on the location

To avoid paying a $30 late registration fee, parents should register at least 3-weeks before their desired testing date.

Some testing locations require an access code to register because they only test students enrolled or applying to their school. Parents obtain this code by speaking with the school’s admissions team.

How do I prepare my child for the ISEE test?

As a parent or tutor you might be anxious about preparing your student for the ISEE especially since you probably never took this relatively new and niche test yourself. But Piqosity makes it easy; if you can explain  To Kill a Mocking Bird or remember Algebra I, then you can also tutor the ISEE:

• Start by having your student take a diagnostic test to understand their starting point; Piqosity’s free mini-diagnostic will work.
• Walk them through the math and English concepts they’re weak in; Piqosity’s lessons will help you.
• Have them work full-length practice tests to find knowledge gaps and get them comfortable with the test format and question styles; Piqosity offers 10 full-length practice tests.

Read more in our guide, “How to Tutor the ISEE as a Parent or Tutor.”

How can we trust Piqosity’s ISEE, ACT, and SAT test prep content?

Our preparation material for standardized tests like the ISEE, ACT, and SAT go through a rigorous research, writing, and editing process:

• We analyze the test specifications released from the publishers like College Board and ACT .
• We analyze the previously released official practice tests.
• We write our practice tests based off this analysis while citing official practice test questions.
• We edit each question and test for facsimile to the official tests, difficulty, and completeness.
• We peer norm each question with actual students.
• And because 10,000 sets of eyes are still better than our 10 sets, we continuously make improvements from your feedback.

Our brilliant writers scored in the top 1% on these tests, and our Houston-based team of editor/educators has more than 20 years of experience in K12 education. We won’t let you down!

Does Piqosity offer tutoring?

No, as an education-technology company, Piqosity does not directly provide tutorial services. However, we do partner with independent, third-party educators across the world. Some of our course packages include a consultation or tutorial session with these tutors and teachers.

Do Piqosity’s math and ELA courses last a full school year?

Currently, all of our Math and ELA courses are estimated to take around 40 hours to complete. School is in session for roughly 35 weeks out of the year; assuming a student works roughly 1 hour per week, your Piqosity math course will take the average student a full academic year to complete. Students using Piqosity to remediate or prepare for a standardized test such as the ISEE Lower Level , will likely have to compress this timeline.

Do Piqosity’s classes come with tutoring hours?

Piqosity does not provide tutorial services. However, we do partner with independent, third-party educators across the world. Some of our course packages include a consultation or tutorial session with these tutors and teachers.

Do I receive a certificate of completion or course credit for a Piqosity course?

Piqosity is not an accredited institution and does not offer course credit. We do not currently offer certificates of completion at this time, but are working towards doing so in the near future.

Can I use Piqosity’s courses to teach a class or tutor?

Yes! We built Piqosity not only to be user friendly for parents and students at home but also for the advanced needs of tutors and teachers. Key features for educators include:

• Student management including the ability to see everything the student sees
• Automatic scoring and analysis of all student work
• Assignments with due dates
• Custom Branding (tutoring companies and schools)

The biggest features for educators are still yet to come. Beginning this fall we will open up our platform to enable any qualified educator to upload their own instructional content to Piqosity. This means that educators will be able to create their own lessons and questions. They will be able to share this content with all users or just with their own students. We are actively looking for educators and publishers to contribute to our platform. Please contact us for more information.

Can I try before I buy?

Yes! All of our courses include a free “Community” plan with limited access to premium content like mini diagnostic tests. No credit card is required to register. If you decide that you want access to more premium content, simply upgrade your plan. Upgraded course plans are single-pay, non-recurring, and provide access for 365-days from the date of purchase.

Can I print Piqosity’s course materials?

Yes! Every practice set on Piqosity, including adaptive questions and full-length tests, can be downloaded as a PDF file for easy printing.

Can I cancel at anytime?

If you upgrade from the free Community plan, your credit card will only be charged the one time with no recurring fees. All paid plans are currently valid for 365 days from the date of activation. No credit card is required to initially register for Piqosity’s free Community plan.

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