The Upper Level ISEE
The Upper Level ISEE is administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) to students in grades 8 to 11 who are applying to grades 9 to 12. Many of the independent high schools that are members of the ERB require the ISEE, or another standardized test such as the SSAT, as part of their admissions processes. The test is 2 hours and 40 minutes long and is composed of five sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, and an essay. Calculators are not allowed on the ISEE.
Students can take the ISEE once per season. The Fall season runs from August through November, the Winter season runs from December through March, and the Spring / Summer season runs from April through July. Most students now take the test once in October or November, and again in December, which gives them two chances at the test before the standard January admissions deadline.
VERBAL
REASONING
Verbal Reasoning (VR) consists of two sections: synonyms and sentence completions. The best way to improve on this section is to study vocabulary lists and read as much as possible; students who perform well on VR are invariably voracious readers. In addition to learning VR strategies when meeting with his or her tutor, your student should expect to spend time memorizing vocabulary outside of sessions.
QUANTITATIVE
REASONING
Quantitative Reasoning (QR), as the name would suggest, is designed to test reasoning abilities. The section is split into two parts: word problems and quantitative comparisons. Students are asked to apply their knowledge of math concepts to word problems and real-world situations. Students are not expected to memorize equations or math terminology for this section; instead, they may need to estimate numerical values, compare and contrast quantities, use their reasoning abilities to calculate the probability of certain events, and analyze and interpret data.
The best way to improve on the Reading section is to read as much as possible! Students who are resistant to reading or who feel they don’t have time to read can focus on shorter articles from The New Yorker or The New York Times. They should ensure that they read a wide variety of material, from fiction, nonfiction, science, and technology to arts, business, and history.
Mathematics Achievement (MA) is a more “traditional” math test. Students are expected to perform calculations, demonstrate knowledge of math terminology, and convert common metric units, among many other tasks.
READING
MATHEMATICS
ACHIEVEMENT
Only one version of the Upper Level ISEE is administered to test-takers. Because students in 8th grade will take the same test as students in 11th grade, younger students will encounter material that may be several years beyond what they have learned in school. In the Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections, this may include difficult vocabulary, while in the math sections, 8th and 9th graders can expect to encounter questions involving trigonometry, imaginary numbers, and matrices. However, your student’s scores will be graded on a curve and will only be compared with students in the same grade level. 8th and 9th graders should begin preparing for the Upper Level ISEE as far in advance as possible so they have a chance to improve their scores by learning some of the more advanced material.
The essay is not graded, but a copy of it will be sent to each school that receives an ISEE score report. Evaluation is based on each individual school’s criteria, which may include completeness, grammar, spelling, and handwriting. Parents do not receive a copy of the essay. Though the essay is usually considered less important than the scored sections of the test, it can still be a factor in whether or not a student is accepted by a particular school.