ISEE Lower Level case studies
ISEE Lower Level · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the admission assessment published by ERB, the not-for-profit, member-based organization behind it. ERB describes the ISEE as "the most predictive, trusted, and flexible admission assessment for students entering Grades 2-12," and states that it is accepted by over 1,200 independent schools around the world. The Lower Level is the version taken by younger applicants within that Grade 2-12 range; families should confirm with the schools they are applying to which level those schools require. The exam is used by admission offices as one data point alongside transcripts, teacher recommendations, and interviews, so a score is read in context rather than as a pass/fail result. The ISEE Lower Level case studies are 5 cases and about 1,899 words.
1The Newsletter Word Choice
A fifth-grade class is producing a one-page newsletter about a school supply drive. The editor writes this sentence: "Because the team was with its money, it reused last year's folders and markers instead of buying new ones." The word bank shows four choices: frugal, wealthy, careless, generous.
402 words, about 2 min2The Mystery Number for the Math Fair
The math club is creating a "Guess My Number" booth for the school fair. The mystery number is a two-digit whole number.
437 words, about 2 min3The Classroom Plant Experiment
Rivera's class planted four bean seeds in clear plastic cups. Each cup had the same amount of soil and water.
392 words, about 2 min4Scaling the Trail Mix Recipe
The fifth-grade cooking club is making trail mix for a family night. The recipe for one batch says: 2/3 cup raisins, 1/2 cup almonds, and 1 1/4 cups toasted cereal.
321 words, about 2 min5Choosing Measurements for the Reading Corner
The school is fixing up a rectangular reading corner that is 15 feet long and 12 feet wide. The principal has two jobs: (1) install a new baseboard along the bottom of all four walls, leaving a 3-foot gap for the door; (2) put new carpet on the floor.
347 words, about 2 min