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ISEE Upper Level study materials
ISEE Upper Level study resources

ISEE Upper Level: Mathematics Achievement: Computation and Application

ISEE Upper Level · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Mathematics Achievement: Computation and Application

What the section tests

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.

Core rules

  • Follow order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, addition and subtraction left to right.
  • When solving equations, perform the same operation on both sides and check by substitution.
  • When solving inequalities, reverse the inequality sign if you multiply or divide by a negative number.
  • Use formulas: area of a triangle = one-half base times height; circle area = pi times radius squared; circumference = two pi r; volume of a rectangular prism = length times width times height.
  • For data questions, distinguish mean, median, mode, and range, and read axis labels before calculating.

Worked example

Solve 3(2x - 4) = 5x + 7. Distribute: 6x - 12 = 5x + 7. Subtract 5x from both sides: x - 12 = 7. Add 12: x = 19. Check: left side 3(38 - 4) = 3(34) = 102; right side 5(19) + 7 = 95 + 7 = 102. The solution is 19.

Traps that cost marks

Distribution errors with negatives are common: -3(x - 4) is -3x + 12, not -3x - 12. Students confuse area and perimeter, or use diameter instead of radius. Percent questions require identifying the base, and percent increase is not the same as percent of. Also, do not round intermediate values; keep exact fractions until the final step.