ISEE Prep Guide — Independent School Entrance Exam
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is required by many independent day schools, especially in NYC and the Northeast. It has five sections and — unlike the SSAT — no penalty for wrong answers, so every question should be answered.
The ISEE includes a dedicated Mathematics Achievement section in addition to reasoning, so grade-level math fundamentals matter alongside test strategy.
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Real-format sample questions with answers and explanations, plus print-ready packs for screen-free practice.
What's on the ISEE
Verbal Reasoning
Synonyms and single-word-response sentence completion.
Quantitative Reasoning
Logic and reasoning with numbers, including comparisons.
Reading Comprehension
Passage-based questions across genres.
Mathematics Achievement
Grade-level math aligned to standards.
Essay
Unscored, sent to schools.
How to prep for the ISEE
- Answer every question — there's no penalty for guessing on the ISEE.
- Shore up grade-level math for the Mathematics Achievement section.
- Build vocabulary for the Verbal Reasoning section.
- Use section-timed simulations to get comfortable with the stanine pacing.
ISEE FAQ
Is the ISEE or SSAT better?
Neither is 'better' — apply with whichever your target schools accept. Some kids do better on the ISEE's structure; many schools take both.
How is the ISEE scored?
Each section gets a stanine from 1–9 (9 is highest), comparing your child to other applicants in the same grade.
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