The four ISEE levels
PrimaryEntering grades 2, 3 and 4. Reading and mathematics, plus a writing sample; Primary 2 also includes an auditory comprehension section.
Lower LevelEntering grades 5 and 6. Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an essay.
Middle LevelEntering grades 7 and 8. Same five sections as Lower Level, with harder content and a longer testing time.
Upper LevelEntering grades 9 through 12. The same five sections; the most widely taken level for high school admission.
How the ISEE is scored
Each scored section produces a scaled score, a percentile rank compared with students applying to the same grade over the past three years, and a stanine from 1 to 9. Schools look mainly at the stanines. The essay is not scored; a copy goes to each school the student applies to.
When to take it
The ISEE is offered year-round, but a student may test only once per season: Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March) and Spring/Summer (April–July). Most applicants to schools with January deadlines test in the fall.
Preparation options
- Classroom and live online ISEE courses for Lower, Middle and Upper Level, taught by TestMasters since 1991.
- Private one-on-one ISEE tutoring, at home, online or at a TestMasters office.
- Full-length practice tests with scoring on this site (coming soon; current TestMasters students continue to use their course materials).
ISEE is a registered trademark of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which is not affiliated with this site or with TestMasters. ISEEexam.org is published by Test Masters Educational Services, Inc., Houston, Texas.