The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Exam and is the preferred admissions test for many independent schools across the USA and abroad.
The test forms an important aspect of the admissions process, along with a student's educational history and, in some cases, an admissions interview.
The ISEE test is designed to measure the verbal, quantitative reasoning and achievement of students. The test is 2 hours, 50 minutes in length and there are different levels of the ISEE according to the student's age:
- Lower: grades 5-6 (age 9-10)
- Middle: grades 7-8 (age 11-12)
- Upper: grade 9-12 (age 13-16/17)
The ISEE consists of five sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Mathematics Achievement
- Essay
Please see the table below for a breakdown of each of the sections of the test, including the length, style of question and topics tested:
| Section | Section
Length |
# of Questions/
Areas Tested |
Section
Length |
# of Questions/
Areas Tested |
Section
Length |
# of Questions/
Areas Tested |
Lower
|
Middle
|
Upper
|
||||
| Verbal
Reasoning |
20
minutes |
40 Questions
(multiple choice) Synonyms, Sentence Correction |
20 minutes | 40 Questions
(multiple choice) Synonyms, Sentence Correction |
20 minutes | 40 Questions
(multiple choice) Synonyms, Sentence Correction |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 35
minutes |
35 Questions
Application, Higher Order Thinking |
35 minutes |
35 Questions
Application, Higher Order Thinking |
35 minutes | 35 Questions
(multiple choice) Arithmetic / Algebra / Geometry / Concepts / Understanding, Applications, Higher Order Thinking, Quantitative Comparison |
| Reading Comprehension | 40
minutes |
36 Questions
(multiple choice) Reading Passages |
40 minutes | 40 Questions
(multiple choice) Reading Passages |
40 minutes | 40 Questions
(multiple choice) Reading Passages |
|
Mathematics Achievement |
40
minutes |
35 Questions
(multiple choice) Knowledge / Skills and Computation / Comprehension |
40 minutes | 45 Questions
(multiple choice) Knowledge / Skills and Computation / Comprehension |
40 minutes | 45 Questions
(multiple choice) Arithmetic / Algebra / Geometry, Knowledge / Skills and Computation / Comprehension |
| Essay | 30
minutes |
1 Question (Topic)
Written Essay |
30 minutes | 1 Question (Topic)
Written Essay |
30 minutes | 1 Question (Topic)
Written Essay |
For more information about the ISEE please visit www.iseetest.org
Score higher on the ISEE
Taking a high-stakes exam like the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) will never be stress-free. However, it can be less stressful for your child. Our mission at Kaplan is to distill everything about the ISEE down to exactly what your child needs to know to test confidently and score higher. If you're looking to succeed on the ISEE, you're in the right place.
In the UK, Kaplan offers a private tutoring service for the ISEE. We'll help your child build the speed and skill needed to succeed on this demanding test.
Learn About ISEE Tutoring