ISEE Lower Level study guide
ISEE Lower Level · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
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. Topics on this exam: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement. The ISEE Lower Level study guide has 4 sections and about 1,305 words.
01Verbal Reasoning
The ISEE Lower Level Verbal Reasoning section has 34 questions in 20 minutes and uses two formats: synonyms and sentence completions. It tests vocabulary range and the ability to use context rather than recognize isolated words.
323 words, about 2 min02Quantitative Reasoning
The Lower Level Quantitative Reasoning section contains 38 questions in 35 minutes. It mixes quantitative comparisons with word problems and emphasizes estimation, number sense, and translation from words to math.
329 words, about 2 min03Reading Comprehension
The Lower Level Reading Comprehension section has 25 questions in 25 minutes. Passages come from fiction, nonfiction, science, and social studies; questions ask about main idea, details, inferences, vocabulary in context, and author's purpose.
344 words, about 2 min04Mathematics Achievement
The Lower Level Mathematics Achievement section has 30 questions in 30 minutes and tests computation and concepts: arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percents, geometry, measurement, and data. No calculator is allowed, so accuracy and efficient written work matter.
309 words, about 2 min