ISEE Upper Level study guide
ISEE Upper Level · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is the admission test published by E3n (formerly ERB) for students applying to independent schools. The Upper Level is the version taken by students applying to grades 9–12. It is offered in both online and paper formats, and the same test is used by schools across the admissions cycle to compare applicants from different schools and grading systems. The exam is divided into four equally weighted sections - Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement - so a weakness in any one area pulls down the overall profile. Topics on this exam: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement. The ISEE Upper Level study guide has 4 sections and about 1,266 words.
01Verbal Reasoning: Synonyms and Sentence Completions
The ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning section has 40 questions in 20 minutes. It contains synonym items and sentence-completion items. Synonyms ask you to choose the answer closest in meaning to a given word. Sentence completions ask you to choose one or two words that make the sentence logically and stylistically coherent.
314 words, about 2 min02Quantitative Reasoning: Comparisons and Word Problems
The ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning section has 37 questions in 35 minutes. It emphasizes mathematical reasoning rather than heavy computation. Expect quantitative comparison items and word problems drawn from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Calculators are not permitted.
317 words, about 2 min03Reading Comprehension: Evidence, Structure, and Inference
The ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension section has 36 questions in 35 minutes and typically presents several passages from literature, humanities, science, and social studies. Questions ask about main idea, supporting detail, inference, vocabulary in context, author's purpose, tone, and passage organization. Read for structure: identify the topic, the author's main claim, and how paragraphs develop it. Answer with evidence from the passage.
320 words, about 2 min04Mathematics Achievement: Computation and Application
The ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement section has 47 questions in 40 minutes. It tests computation and application across arithmetic, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis. Expect fractions, decimals, percents, ratios, expressions, equations, inequalities, area, volume, angles, probability, and statistics. No calculator is allowed.
315 words, about 2 min