ISEE Test Overview
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is an entrance exam for private elementary, middle and high schools (day and boarding) administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). The ERB is also the publisher of the CTP grade level achievement tests used by many independent schools.
There are four (4) versions of the test:
- Primary Level (PL) for students applying to grades 2, 3 and 4. Because each of these entry points has its own grade level version, we have the Primary Level 2, Primary Level 3, and Primary Level 4.
- Lower Level (LL) for students applying to grades 5 and 6.
- Middle Level (ML) for students applying to grades 7 and 8.
- Upper Level (UL) for students applying to grades 9 through 12.
Testing is offered 4 ways:
- At-school testing either paper-based or online (group or individual)
- ERB testing office either paper-based or online (small group or individual)
- Prometric Test Center online (small group or individual)
- At-home testing online (individual).
Primary Level ISEE Format and Content
Primary Level 2 (PL2):
| SECTION | # OF QUESTIONS | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| Auditory Comprehension | 6 MC3 | 7 minutes |
| Reading | 18 MC3 | 20 minutes |
| Mathematics1 | 24 MC3 | 26 minutes |
| Writing Sample2 | 1 picture prompt | untimed |
Primary Level 3 (PL3):
| SECTION | # OF QUESTIONS | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| Auditory Comprehension | 6 MC3 | 7 minutes |
| Reading | 18 MC3 | 20 minutes |
| Mathematics1 | 24 MC3 | 26 minutes |
| Writing Sample2 | 1 picture prompt | untimed |
Primary Level 4 (PL4):
| SECTION | # OF QUESTIONS | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 28 MC3 | 20 minutes |
| Mathematics1 | 28 MC3 | 26 minutes |
| Writing Sample2 | 1 picture prompt | untimed |
Math content is based upon the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Included on the test are: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and problem solving. Calculators are NOT permitted.
2 The Writing Sample is not graded, but is sent to schools as part of the admissions materials. However, New York City independent schools are not currently requiring the writing sample.
3 Multiple choice.
Lower Level ISEE Format and Content
| SECTION & LENGTH | SUBJECT | QUESTION TYPE | # OF QUESTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 20 min | Verbal Reasoning (34 items presented) | Synonyms and Sentence Completions (34 items presented) | 30 MC3 questions scored (34 items presented) |
| 2 - 35 min | Quantitative Reasoning | NCTM Standards1 | 35 MC3 questions scored (38 items presented) |
| 3 - 25 min | Reading Comprehension | Comprehension | 20 MC3 questions scored (25 items presented) |
| 4 - 30 min | Mathematics Achievement | NCTM Standards1 | 25 MC3 questions scored (30 items presented) |
| 5 - 30 min | Writing Sample | Essay2 | 1 essay question (based on a given prompt) |
Math content is based upon the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Included on the test are: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and problem solving. Calculators are NOT permitted.
2 The Essay is not graded, but is sent to schools as part of the admissions materials.
3 Multiple choice.
Middle and Upper Level ISEE Format and Content
| SECTION & LENGTH | SUBJECT | QUESTION TYPE | # OF QUESTIONS |
| 1 - 20 min | Verbal Reasoning | Synonyms and Sentence Completions | 35 MC3 questions scored (40 items presented) |
| 2 - 35 min | Quantitative Reasoning | NCTM Standards1 | 32 MC3 questions scored (37 items presented) |
| 3 - 35 min | Reading Comprehension | Comprehension | 30 MC3 questions scored (36 items presented) |
| 4 - 40 min | Mathematics Achievement | NCTM Standards1 | 42 MC3 questions scored (47 items presented) |
| 5 - 30 min | Writing Sample | Essay2 | 1 essay question (based on a given prompt) |
Math content is based upon the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Included on the test are: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and problem solving. Calculators are NOT permitted.
Deleted: 2 The Essay is not graded, but is sent to schools as part of the admissions materials.
Deleted: 3 Multiple choice.
Deleted:
Total length with standard time
PL2: 53 minutes
PL3: 54 minutes
PL4: 60 minutes
LL: 2 hours and 20 minutes plus two 5-minute breaks
ML and UL: 2 hours and 40 minutes plus two 5-minute breaks
Total length with extended time
PL2: 80 minutes
PL3: 81 minutes
PL4: 90 minutes
LL: 3 hours and 30 minutes plus two 5-minute breaks
ML and UL: 4 hours plus two 5-minute breaks
Scoring
Raw scores are calculated by adding one point for every correct answer. There is no wrong answer penalty on the ISEE, so students should never leave a question blank. The writing sample is sent to schools to review but is not scored.
For the Lower Level, Middle Level, and Upper Level tests, raw scores are converted into scaled scores based on a formula that the ERB does not release. Students receive a scaled score between 760 and 940 for each section: Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning, and Math Achievement. The scaled score is derived from the raw score (the number of questions the student answered correctly) but is more useful than the raw score because the scaled score has the same meaning regardless of which version of the test was used. ERB administers many versions of the test each year, so the scaled score takes these slight differences into consideration.
Percentile rankings and stanines are provided along with scaled scores. Percentile rankings compare a test-taker’s performance with other students of the same grade who have taken the ISEE in the last three years. Percentile rankings are not the same as the percentage of questions the student answered correctly. Stanines are an abbreviated version of percentiles. Students are assigned a stanine score between 1 and 9 for each section.
Regardless of the number of students who take the test (at any level), the percentage breakdown remains standard:
- 4% of students will receive a 9
- 7% of students will receive a 8
- 12% of students will receive a 7
- 17% of students will receive a 6
- 20% of students will receive a 5
- 17% of students will receive a 4
- 12% of students will receive a 3
- 7% of students will receive a 2
- 4% of students will receive a 1
- Stanines of 1 to 3 are below average
- Stanines of 4 to 6 are average
- Stanines of 7 to 9 are above average
Stanines are simply percentile ranges:
| PERCENTILE RANK | STANINE |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | 1 |
| 4-10 | 2 |
| 11-22 | 3 |
| 23-39 | 4 |
| 40-59 | 5 |
| 60-76 | 6 |
| 77-88 | 7 |
| 89-95 | 8 |
| 96-99 | 9 |
NYC Test Dates
The test is offered at different locations throughout the five boroughs and beyond. Students may register for any test site or date. Testing is available for students entering grades 2-12 unless otherwise noted.
Test dates for the 2024-2025 school year are available from September to June. Registration typically opens in August. From September to early January, there are many options available. The options then become more limited from March through June. Please note that test dates and testing locations vary by grade level and whether or not a student has testing accommodations.
Click here to search for a test date on the ERB website.
Cost
- Grades 5-12, Standard Registration Fee: $150
- Grades 2-4, Standard Registration Fee: $125
- Phone registration fee: $30
Test dates during the week occur at the ERB office at 470 Park Avenue South (between 32nd and 33rd streets) with a smaller group of 10-12 students.
Registration Site/Additional Information
Visit the official ERB ISEE website to register and learn more.
View a comparison of the ISEE and SSAT tests.
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