The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is a standardized test used by many elite Bay Area private schools for admissions. Think of it as a tool that helps schools get a clear picture of a student’s academic skills. It covers areas such as Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics. There is also an essay section, though typically unscored and sent directly to the schools for them to review your child’s writing abilities. 

Top private schools require or recommend the ISEE, particularly for students applying to middle and upper school. You’ll often see it as an option alongside the SSAT. Some of the well-known schools that use the ISEE include: Harker, Woodside Priory, The College Preparatory School, Stanford Online High School, among others.

The ISEE is broken down into the following sections: 

1. Verbal Reasoning: This section focuses on vocabulary and how well your child understands words in different contexts. 
2. Quantitative Reasoning: This isn’t just about crunching numbers. It’s about problem-solving adn mathematical thinking. It includes word problems and quantitative comparisons, assessing algebraic concepts, geometry, measurement, and data analysis. 
3. Reading Comprehension: Your child will read several passages, usually covering humanities science, and social studies) and then answer questions about the main idea, supporting details, inferences, vocabulary in context, and the passage’s organization or tone.
4. Mathematics Achievement: This section tests more straightforward math skills and concepts that your child has likely learned in school. It covers numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability.

Essay: This is a written response to a specific prompt. It’s unique because it’s unscored by the testing agency. Instead, a copy of the essay is sent directly to the schools your child is applying to. Admissions committees review it to get a sense of your child’s writing abilities, organizational skills, and how they express their thoughts.

The ISEE scoring can seem a little complex, as it provides a few different types of scores for the four multiple-choice sections (the essay isn’t numerically scored):

• Raw Score: This is simply the number of questions your child answered correctly in each section. There’s no penalty for incorrect answers, so it’s always encouraged to make an educated guess!
• Scaled Score: The raw score for each section is converted into a “scaled score,” which typically ranges from 760 to 940. This scaled score helps standardize results across different versions of the test, so a score of, say, 850 means the same thing regardless of which ISEE form your child took.
• Percentile Rank: This is often what families focus on. It tells you how your child performed compared to other students in the same grade level who have taken the ISEE over the past three years (this is called the “norm group”). For example, if your child scores in the 75th percentile, it means they scored as well as or better than 75% of those students in the norm group.
• Stanine Score: This is a simplified version of the percentile rank, presented on a 1-to-9 scale. Stanines divide the entire range of scores into nine segments. A score of 5 is considered average, while 7, 8, or 9 are considered above average or excellent. Schools often use stanines for a quick snapshot of a student’s performance.

Schools look at all these scores, along with the essay, to get a holistic view of your child’s strengths and potential.

Generally speaking, we recommend starting ISEE prep at least 4 to 6 months before your child’s target test date. This might sound like a long time, but it’s not about cramming. Instead, it offers several huge advantages:

• No Rush, Less Stress: Your child won’t feel totally swamped. They will be more relaxed and learn better by taking a gradual approach.
• Deep Content Mastery: The ISEE covers a lot of ground in verbal, math, and reading. This longer timeframe lets your child truly dig in and master those tricky concepts, instead of just skimming over them.
• Skill-Building and Strategy: It’s not just about knowing the answers; it’s about learning the strategies for tackling the ISEE questions, managing time effectively, and building test-taking stamina. These skills take time to develop and become second nature.
• Plenty of Practice Tests: With ample time, your child can take multiple full-length practice tests. These are invaluable for getting comfortable with the test’s format, spotting where they’re still a bit weak, and getting used to that timed test pressure. 
• Room to Adjust: Starting early gives us, or any tutor, the flexibility to tweak the study plan as we go. If your child hits a snag with a specific math problem or needs more work on reading, there’s plenty of time to adapt and zero in on those areas. 

For most families aiming for those fall admissions deadlines (meaning the ISEE is usually taken between October and December), starting prep during the summer before the application year is ideal. It allows for solid progress before the academic year kicks into high gear, reducing the pressure once school starts back up.