ISSE is an admission test for private schools in the US. It is taken along with SSAT or even independently by students in grades 2-12, for admission purposes. In this blog, let’s discuss the exam in detail and learn everything about it.
What is the ISEE Test?
ISSE stands for Independent School Entrance Exam and is commonly taken for admission in private middle and high schools in the US. The test has a standard format and 4 different levels, divided according to grades.
You can register for ISEE after enquiring with your preferred schools. Most private schools accept both ISEE and SSAT scores for admissions and you are free to take any one of them. Admissions experts believe that students must take both to increase their options and also to improve their portfolios.
ISEE 2022 Dates
ISSE can be taken only once per testing season and the whole academic year is divided into 3 seasons. This means, a student can take ISEE, three times in an academic year.
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Fall | August, September, October and November |
| Winter | December, January, February and March |
| Spring/Summer | April, May, June and July |
ISEE 2022 Registration Details
To register for the test, you need to choose a test date, and a center and pay an exam fee. You also need to ensure that they choose the right exam level according to their current grades.
ISEE Levels
ISEE has 4 levels: two for the elementary school and one each for middle and high school.
| Level | Grades |
| Primary Level | 2-4 |
| Lower Level | 5-6 |
| Middle Level | 7-8 |
| Upper Level |
9-12 |
It is crucial for you to choose the right level for the test and that is why it is advised that the registration process is done by an adult.
5 Sections of the ISEE Test
ISEE test has 5 sections that provide a clear picture of a child’s abilities to the admission panels at the private schools. The five sections are:
- Verbal Reasoning
This section tests students’ language skills. It has questions related to synonyms, sentence completion, and more. All the questions are multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Quantitative Reasoning
ISEE has two math sections. The first is the quantitative section which covers various topics in the MCQ format. And the second is the Math Achievement section which involves in-depth calculations. This section has questions from Geometry, Problem Solving, Number and Operations, Data Analysis, and Probability. The topics in the test vary according to the level of the test.
- Math Achievement
This section does not have MCQs and students are required to perform and show calculations. Some of the topics under Math Achievement are Measurement, Fractions, Decimals, and more.
- Reading Comprehension
The reading section involves answering questions based on paragraphs on various topics. It tests students’ ability to comprehend given information. The lower level of the test has 5 passages and the middle and upper levels have 6 passages.
- Essay
Primary level students do not have to write an essay. They have an optional writing test that is based on a visual prompt. But rest all the students are expected to write neat, well-planned essays on a given topic. These essays are then sent to the chosen private schools for assessment.
All the sections are compulsory for all levels except the primary level which has only Verbal, Math, and an optional writing section.
How is the ISEE Administered?
The ISEE is administered in 4 different ways. You can choose any one of them based on your preference and convenience.
- Individual Testing at Home
- Individual or Group Testing at an ISEE Testing Office
- Small-Group Testing at a Prometric Testing Center
- Group testing at a School
Each location has a different testing date, so, you will have to decide according to the location plus the convenient date.
How is the ISEE Test Scored?
ISEE test score is presented in the form of Scaled Score, Stanine Score, and Percentile. The report card also provides a Stanine Score analysis for better understanding. The scaled score range is 760-940 for every section and the stanine score range is 1-9.
What is a Good ISEE Test Score?
Here’s a Stanine score table that explains the good, average, and low ISEE test scores.
| Stanine Score | Rating |
| 7-9 | Good |
| 4-6 | Average |
| 1-3 | Below Average |
ISEE Tutoring at eTutorWorld
eTutorWorld offers ISEE tutoring for all levels and all subjects. Our team of tutors is made up of experts who have several years of experience in ISEE test prep. Register with eTutorWorld today, to learn through personalized lesson plans and worksheets, one-to-one sessions, and the Learning by Design teaching approach.
