ISEE test: levels, format, cost and practice
The ISEE test is ERB’s Independent School Entrance Exam, an admission test for students applying to Grades 2 to 12 at independent schools, accepted by over 1,200 schools. Lower, Middle and Upper Level take 2 hours 20 minutes or 2 hours 40 minutes in four multiple-choice sections plus an unscored essay. You can test once per season, up to three times a school year.
- Test
- ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), by ERBERB ISEE for Families, checked 19 October 2026
- Levels
- Primary 2–4, Lower (Grades 5–6), Middle (Grades 7–8), Upper (Grades 9–12), by grade applying toERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
- Length
- Lower 2 h 20 min; Middle and Upper 2 h 40 min; plus two 5- to 10-minute breaksERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
- Sections (Grades 5–12)
- Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, unscored essayERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
- Fee
- $130 to $255 depending on level and testing option; $250 at Prometric centersERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
- Retakes
- Once per testing season, up to three times a school yearERB ISEE for Families, checked 19 October 2026
- Formats
- Online or paper at a school or office, Prometric test center, or at home (online)ERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
- Calculator
- Not allowed without an ERB-approved accommodationERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026
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Why you can trust these ISEE questions
What is the ISEE test?
What is an ISEE test? It is the Independent School Entrance Exam, an admission assessment published by ERB (Educational Records Bureau) for students applying to Grades 2 to 12 at independent and private schools. ERB says the ISEE entrance exam is accepted by over 1,200 independent schools around the world and that it measures how students think, not only what they know.
When people search for the ERB ISEE test, this is the same exam: ERB is the organization behind it. Your level is set by the grade your child is applying to, not the grade they are in now.
Source: ERB — ISEE for Families. Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE lower level test, middle level test and upper level test
The ISEE lower level test is for students applying to Grades 5 and 6, the ISEE middle level test for Grades 7 and 8, and the ISEE upper level test for Grades 9 to 12. Applicants to Grades 2, 3 and 4 take Primary 2, 3 or 4, which cover only reading and mathematics and have no writing sample.
- Lower Level: Verbal Reasoning 34 questions in 20 minutes; Quantitative Reasoning 38 in 35 minutes; Reading Comprehension 25 in 25 minutes; Mathematics Achievement 30 in 30 minutes; essay 30 minutes. Total 2 hours 20 minutes.
- Middle and Upper Level: Verbal Reasoning 40 questions in 20 minutes; Quantitative Reasoning 37 in 35 minutes; Reading Comprehension 36 in 35 minutes; Mathematics Achievement 47 in 40 minutes; essay 30 minutes. Total 2 hours 40 minutes.
- Primary 2, 3 and 4: Reading and Mathematics only, 53, 54 and 60 minutes in total, with one short break.
Source: ERB — ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is on the ISEE test?
At Lower, Middle and Upper Level the multiple-choice ISEE test questions come in four sections. In ERB’s own guide, Verbal Reasoning is made up of synonyms and sentence completions, and Quantitative Reasoning has word problems and quantitative comparison questions. Reading Comprehension uses passages followed by questions, and Mathematics Achievement tests math skills directly.
Calculators are not allowed unless ERB has approved a calculator accommodation. Scores count correct answers only: incorrect answers are not deducted, so leaving a question blank never helps.
Source: ERB — What to Expect on the ISEE, Upper Level (2021). Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE test essay questions
Lower, Middle and Upper Level end with one essay prompt and 30 minutes to write. ERB states that the essay for students applying to Grades 5 to 12 is not scored; schools receive it with the score report and read it themselves.
ERB’s What to Expect guide prints sample essay topics, such as writing about a book that made a strong impression on you or what makes someone successful. Practise planning and writing a full response in 30 minutes by hand or on screen, depending on your format.
Source: ERB — ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
How much does the ISEE test cost?
The fee depends on the level and where your child tests. These are the amounts in ERB’s Quick Facts Guide for the 2025–2026 testing year; check your registration account for the current year’s fees.
- At a member school: $130 (Primary) or $165 (Lower, Middle, Upper)
- At an ISEE testing office, Grades 5–12: $225 small group or $255 individual
- Prometric test center (online, Grades 5–12): $250
- At home, administered by ERB: $185 (Primary) or $240 (Lower, Middle, Upper)
- Phone registration adds $35; rescheduling costs at least $50 and cancelling at least $55
Source: ERB — ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
How to register and when to test
ERB says registering online is the fastest and easiest way to secure a testing date. Dates are first come, first served. There are three testing seasons: Fall (August to November), Winter (December to March) and Spring/Summer (April to July).
Students may take the ISEE once per testing season, up to three times a school year, and ERB suggests testing twice if possible. Students with accommodations must be approved before they register, and there is no extra fee for accommodated testing.
Source: ERB — ISEE for Families. Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE vs SSAT test
ERB describes the SSAT and ISEE as similar, with slight differences in format and content. Both are independent school admission tests, so the deciding factor is which test your schools accept.
If a school accepts both, ERB suggests asking the school whether it has a preference, or having your child try a practice test for each exam and comparing how they feel about them.
Source: ERB — What Is the ISEE Admission Test? 15 Questions Answered. Checked 19 October 2026.
Official ISEE practice test, sample questions and PDFs
The official guides are titled What to Expect on the ISEE, one each for Lower, Middle and Upper Level, available as free PDF downloads. ERB calls the guide the only authorized guide produced by ERB. Each contains ISEE sample questions with explanations and an ISEE practice test in the same format as the actual exam, with answer keys.
So the ISEE lower level practice test PDF, the ISEE middle level practice test PDF and the ISEE upper level practice test PDF are these three guides. There is no separate ISEE math practice test PDF; Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement practice is inside each level’s guide.
For an ISEE erb practice test on screen, ERB also offers free online sample tests for every level, from Primary 2 to Upper, so students can get used to the exam portal and question types.
Source: ISEE Preparation (Admission.org, linked from ERB). Checked 19 October 2026.
Where to find free ISEE practice tests
The free ISEE practice tests that come from the test maker are the What to Expect guides and the online sample tests. ERB says the guides are an introduction to the test, not training books for exam strategies, so treat each ISEE practice test as a check of format and level rather than a full study plan.
Use the ISEE upper level practice test or the ISEE middle level practice test once early, to find weak sections, and again closer to test day. Lower level students can use the ISEE lower level practice test the same way.
Source: ISEE Preparation (Admission.org, linked from ERB). Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE test prep books, courses and tutoring
ERB’s own printed material for families is the What to Expect guide. If you are comparing an ISEE book or other ISEE prep books, check that the section names and timings match the current Quick Facts Guide. The same goes for ISEE preparation books bought second-hand: older editions can describe outdated timing.
ISEE preparation courses, an ISEE prep course or ISEE prep classes and ISEE test tutoring are all offered by independent providers, not by the test itself. A good ISEE test tutor should work from the official sections: verbal, quantitative, reading, math achievement and the essay. For ISEE middle level test prep, the four multiple-choice sections at Middle and Upper Level have the same question counts and timing, so practice material for one carries over closely to the other.
Source: ERB — ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE test official website
The ISEE test official website named in ERB’s Quick Facts Guide is iseetest.org for test information, and registration and score reports are handled in the ISEE online account at iseeonline.erblearn.org. ERB also lists a family support line: 1 (800) 446-0320, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
Source: ERB — ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
ISEE practice questions
Certsqill’s ISEE practice questions are expert-developed for ISEE test prep and ISEE test preparation, and organized by the ISEE sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement. Regular ISEE practice like this is the core of any ISEE prep plan, whatever level your child takes.
Every question comes with an explanation for each answer option, and your results build a readiness score per section, so you can see which part of the ISEE test needs more work before test day. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
ISEE questions people ask
What is the ISEE test?
The Independent School Entrance Exam from ERB, an admission test for applicants to Grades 2–12 at independent schools, accepted by over 1,200 schools. Source: ERB, checked 19 October 2026.
How long is the ISEE exam?
Lower Level 2 hours 20 minutes; Middle and Upper Level 2 hours 40 minutes, each with two 5- to 10-minute breaks. Primary levels take 53 to 60 minutes. Source: ERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026.
How much does the ISEE cost?
In ERB’s 2025–2026 guide, $165 at a school for Lower, Middle and Upper, $250 at a Prometric center and $240 at home administered by ERB. Primary costs less. Source: ERB, checked 19 October 2026.
How many times can you take the ISEE?
Once per testing season, up to three times a school year. Source: ERB ISEE for Families, checked 19 October 2026.
Is the ISEE essay scored?
No. ERB says the essay for Grades 5–12 is not scored; schools receive it with the score report. Source: ERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026.
Is there an official ISEE practice test PDF?
Yes. ERB’s What to Expect on the ISEE guides for Lower, Middle and Upper Level are free PDFs with a practice test and answer keys. Checked 19 October 2026.
Can you use a calculator on the ISEE?
No, unless ERB has approved a calculator accommodation. Source: ERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026.
Are wrong answers penalized on the ISEE?
No. Scores are based only on correct answers. Source: ERB Quick Facts Guide 2025–2026, checked 19 October 2026.
