ISEE Verbal Reasoning cheat sheet

Synonyms: pick the answer closest in meaning regardless of connotation strength; if two choices are near-identical in meaning, both are wrong.

Sentence completion: the blank's part of speech must match the structure; a noun blank cannot be filled by a verb or adjective choice.

Signal words flip meaning: 'although', 'despite', 'yet', 'rather than' mark contrast, so the blank opposes the stated clue.

Cause-and-effect signals ('because', 'therefore', 'as a result') mean the blank agrees with the clue rather than opposing it.

Use the plus/minus/neutral charge method: tag the clue positive or negative, then eliminate choices with the wrong charge before fine-tuning.

Definition clues appear as appositives (set off by commas or dashes) or as 'that is' restatements of the blank's meaning.

Analogies: build a precise sentence linking the pair (e.g., 'a X is a small type of Y'), then test every choice in that same sentence.

Watch bridge direction and degree: part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, and worker-to-tool bridges are not reversible, and stronger pairs beat weaker ones.

Compare quantities in Columns A and B by simplifying both sides with the same operation; adding or subtracting the same value preserves the comparison.

Multiplying or dividing both columns by a negative number reverses the inequality; by a positive number it stays the same.

If a column contains an unknown, test zero, a positive fraction, and a negative number; one counterexample makes the relationship undetermined.

Percent change = (new − old) / old × 100; a 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease leaves 96% of the original, a net 4% loss.

Average (arithmetic mean) = sum ÷ count, so sum = average × count; use this to find a missing value or a total.

Rate problems: distance = rate × time; combined work adds rates (1/a + 1/b per unit time), not times.

Probability of an event = favorable outcomes ÷ total equally likely outcomes; independent events multiply, mutually exclusive events add.

Estimate before computing: answer choices are usually spread far enough that rounding to convenient numbers identifies the single plausible value.

Main idea = the author's central claim covering the whole passage; a true detail from one paragraph is a supporting idea, not the main idea.

Tone and attitude questions are answered from word choice and punctuation, not from the topic; 'qualified approval' differs from 'enthusiasm'.

Inference answers must be forced by the text; a choice that is merely plausible or likely true in the real world is wrong.

EXCEPT and NOT questions: three choices are supported by the passage, so locate lines for each and eliminate them.

Passage structure terms: 'however' and 'but' mark a shift, 'for example' marks illustration, 'therefore' marks the author's conclusion.

Vocabulary-in-context: return to the sentence and substitute each choice; the correct meaning fits the passage's usage, not the most common dictionary sense.

Compare paired passages by naming each author's position in one sentence, then note where they agree and where they diverge.

Beware extreme wording ('always', 'never', 'all') in choices; passages rarely support absolutes, while hedged choices ('some', 'often') more often do.

Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right.

Fractions: a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c; to add or subtract, rewrite over a common denominator first.

Slope = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, and parallel lines share m while perpendicular slopes multiply to −1.

Area formulas: rectangle lw, triangle ½bh, circle πr², trapezoid ½(b₁ + b₂)h; circumference = 2πr.

Pythagorean theorem a² + b² = c² applies only to right triangles, with c the hypotenuse opposite the right angle.

Exponent rules: xᵃ · xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ, xᵃ / xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ, (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ, and x⁰ = 1 for any nonzero x.

Solve linear equations by undoing operations in reverse order, then substitute the result back to verify.

Mean, median, and mode: the median is the middle value of an ordered list, so sort the data before locating it.

The prompt asks for a position on a stated issue; a scored essay states one clear thesis and defends it, rather than listing both sides evenly.

A defensible structure is introduction with thesis, two or three body paragraphs each built on one reason, and a conclusion that restates the position.

Each body paragraph needs a specific example or scenario; abstract assertion without concrete support weakens the argument.

Use transitions ('first', 'moreover', 'however', 'therefore') to make the reasoning chain visible to the reader.

Address the strongest opposing view in one paragraph and rebut it; acknowledging a counterargument shows control of the issue.

Vary sentence length and structure; a string of short declaratives reads as underdeveloped, while one long run-on obscures the argument.

Reserve two to four minutes to reread for grammar, agreement, and spelling; mechanical errors count against the score.

Write legibly and stay on the assigned topic; an off-topic or unreadable essay scores at the bottom regardless of length.

Synonyms: pick the answer closest in meaning regardless of connotation strength; if two choices are near-identical in meaning, both are wrong.

Sentence completion: the blank's part of speech must match the structure; a noun blank cannot be filled by a verb or adjective choice.

Signal words flip meaning: 'although', 'despite', 'yet', 'rather than' mark contrast, so the blank opposes the stated clue.

Cause-and-effect signals ('because', 'therefore', 'as a result') mean the blank agrees with the clue rather than opposing it.

Use the plus/minus/neutral charge method: tag the clue positive or negative, then eliminate choices with the wrong charge before fine-tuning.

Definition clues appear as appositives (set off by commas or dashes) or as 'that is' restatements of the blank's meaning.

Analogies: build a precise sentence linking the pair (e.g., 'a X is a small type of Y'), then test every choice in that same sentence.

Watch bridge direction and degree: part-to-whole, cause-to-effect, and worker-to-tool bridges are not reversible, and stronger pairs beat weaker ones.

Compare quantities in Columns A and B by simplifying both sides with the same operation; adding or subtracting the same value preserves the comparison.

Multiplying or dividing both columns by a negative number reverses the inequality; by a positive number it stays the same.

If a column contains an unknown, test zero, a positive fraction, and a negative number; one counterexample makes the relationship undetermined.

Percent change = (new − old) / old × 100; a 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease leaves 96% of the original, a net 4% loss.

Average (arithmetic mean) = sum ÷ count, so sum = average × count; use this to find a missing value or a total.

Rate problems: distance = rate × time; combined work adds rates (1/a + 1/b per unit time), not times.

Probability of an event = favorable outcomes ÷ total equally likely outcomes; independent events multiply, mutually exclusive events add.

Estimate before computing: answer choices are usually spread far enough that rounding to convenient numbers identifies the single plausible value.

Main idea = the author's central claim covering the whole passage; a true detail from one paragraph is a supporting idea, not the main idea.

Tone and attitude questions are answered from word choice and punctuation, not from the topic; 'qualified approval' differs from 'enthusiasm'.

Inference answers must be forced by the text; a choice that is merely plausible or likely true in the real world is wrong.

EXCEPT and NOT questions: three choices are supported by the passage, so locate lines for each and eliminate them.

Passage structure terms: 'however' and 'but' mark a shift, 'for example' marks illustration, 'therefore' marks the author's conclusion.

Vocabulary-in-context: return to the sentence and substitute each choice; the correct meaning fits the passage's usage, not the most common dictionary sense.

Compare paired passages by naming each author's position in one sentence, then note where they agree and where they diverge.

Beware extreme wording ('always', 'never', 'all') in choices; passages rarely support absolutes, while hedged choices ('some', 'often') more often do.

Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right.

Fractions: a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c; to add or subtract, rewrite over a common denominator first.

Slope = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁); slope-intercept form is y = mx + b, and parallel lines share m while perpendicular slopes multiply to −1.

Area formulas: rectangle lw, triangle ½bh, circle πr², trapezoid ½(b₁ + b₂)h; circumference = 2πr.

Pythagorean theorem a² + b² = c² applies only to right triangles, with c the hypotenuse opposite the right angle.

Exponent rules: xᵃ · xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ, xᵃ / xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ, (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ, and x⁰ = 1 for any nonzero x.

Solve linear equations by undoing operations in reverse order, then substitute the result back to verify.

Mean, median, and mode: the median is the middle value of an ordered list, so sort the data before locating it.

The prompt asks for a position on a stated issue; a scored essay states one clear thesis and defends it, rather than listing both sides evenly.

A defensible structure is introduction with thesis, two or three body paragraphs each built on one reason, and a conclusion that restates the position.

Each body paragraph needs a specific example or scenario; abstract assertion without concrete support weakens the argument.

Use transitions ('first', 'moreover', 'however', 'therefore') to make the reasoning chain visible to the reader.

Address the strongest opposing view in one paragraph and rebut it; acknowledging a counterargument shows control of the issue.

Vary sentence length and structure; a string of short declaratives reads as underdeveloped, while one long run-on obscures the argument.

Reserve two to four minutes to reread for grammar, agreement, and spelling; mechanical errors count against the score.

Write legibly and stay on the assigned topic; an off-topic or unreadable essay scores at the bottom regardless of length.