What’s actually tested on the ISEE, and how hard is it?

Let’s break it down: the ISEE has five sections—Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, and the Essay. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, each section comes with its own quirks and curveballs. Verbal loves vocabulary that hasn’t been spoken aloud since the 1800s. Quantitative is a race against the clock. Reading tests how well your child can stay focused on long, information-heavy passages. Math Achievement digs into everything from basic operations to algebraic thinking. And then there’s the Essay: unscored, but read by admissions teams who definitely notice whether it’s coherent or chaotic.

Is it hard? That depends on prep. Without practice, even strong students can get blindsided by the timing and structure. But with expert coaching, full-length practice tests, and smart strategies (that’s where we come in), students can learn to master it. The ISEE is tough—but beatable. And no, you don’t need to memorize the dictionary. Just prep smart, breathe, and trust the process.