The ISEE
What is the ISEE and why does my student have to take it?
The Independent School Entrance Exam was developed by the Educational Testing Service (the same people who design the SAT), for the Educational Records Bureau, or ERB, a non-profit education organization serving the assessment needs of over 1500 private schools. Many of the test questions were developed by independent school faculty in conjunction with ETS. The test is designed to assess the academic aptitude and learning potential of private school applicants and is required for admission to many independent schools.
There are three different levels of the test:
- The Lower Level is for students currently in grades four and five.
- The Middle Level is for students currently in grades six and seven.
- The Upper Level is for students currently in grades eight, nine, ten, or eleven.
Many students who take the ISEE also take the SSAT. Click here for information on that test and how it compares to the ISEE.
There are some important changes to the ISEE for the 2009/2010 school year. Click here to go to the ISEE's website that explains these changes. Practice tests and an official study guide will be made available on the ISEE website in September 2009 for free. In our opinion, these are all very welcome changes and Vertex has updated our curriculum accordingly.
What does the ISEE test?
The ISEE is a 160 minute test (140 minutes for lower level students) and consists of four sections, plus an essay. The verbal and quantitative reasoning sections measure a student’s capability for learning and the reading comprehension and mathematics achievement sections identify specific strengths and challenges in those areas. The essay is not scored, but a copy is included with the Individual Student Report, which is sent to designated schools. The essay is not sent to parents.
How do I register for the test?
You must register for the test at least three weeks in advance. The test may not be taken for practice and can only be taken once every six months. The test is typically administered at several private schools throughout New York City at various points during the school year. Registration can be completed online at www.iseetest.org
What is the length of your ISEE program?
We offer three different ISEE programs:
Level I
For the advanced student. This course of study includes 6 sessions for a total of 9 hours plus a full-length practice test. Individualized sessions will focus on test-taking strategies for attacking unfamiliar question types and introduce advanced concepts that will appear on the test, but have not been learned in school. Solely recommended for students who place in the 90th percentile on diagnostic test or for lower level students looking for a basic introduction to standardized test taking.
Level II
For the intermediate or advanced student. This course of study includes 10 sessions for a total of 15 hours plus a full-length practice test. The tutor will assume a high proficiency of math skills and vocabulary knowledge, and thus concentrate on more advanced concepts, reading skills and test taking strategies. Recommended for students who place above the 75th percentile on the diagnostic test, or who are interested in a more comprehensive review than in Level I.
Level III
For the typical student. This comprehensive course of study consists of 20 sessions for a total of 30 hours, plus a full-length practice test. Early sessions will concentrate on review of all subject matter up through the student’s current grade level. Later sessions will introduce advanced concepts that appear on the ISEE. This comprehensive package also allows time for essay instruction and application review.
*** Please note, these are only guidelines. All of our programs are entirely flexible to the needs of the student and you will never be locked in to a specific package of tutoring hours.
What kind of curriculum do you use?
Because the ISEE is used by a relatively small number of schools, there are significantly fewer resources available in the marketplace than there are for many other standardized tests and what is available to the average consumer is generally not very good.
Some of the flaws we have noticed in the usual test prep guides, including those published by the test makers, are more basic math content, shorter reading passages, and easier vocabulary than what students will encounter on the actual test.
Fortunately, for 2009 the ISEE has overhauled the materials they publish and we are looking forward to using the new materials as they become available. We also use high-quality materials from the Summit Education Group, not available in stores, in conjunction with our own curriculum that has been developed through extensive research over a long period of time.
What can I do to help my student prepare for the test?
Well, you’re already off to a good start by looking into a tutor. The most important thing that you can do for your student is to register them for the test. Continue to provide the same nurturing academic environment that you always have, but your involvement with the preparation process should end there. For many students, this will be the ’biggest’ standardized test they have ever taken. Don’t worry, they will do fine. One of the primary objectives their tutor will work towards during the scope of instruction is alleviating test anxiety. Unfortunately, some parents have an unintentional way of counteracting that effect when they get too involved in the preparation process. Naturally, if a student wants to discuss what they have been working on to prepare for the test, then by all means discuss, but it is a good idea to avoid bringing up the test unsolicited. Their tutor will inform you if there is anything else that you should be aware of or actively involved in regarding the test or the test preparation process.
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