How to Prepare for the ACT: Your Comprehensive Guide
How to Prepare for the ACT: Your Comprehensive Guide
Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s step-by-step strategy guide to preparing for the ACT
Most students will have to take either the SAT or ACT when they’re applying to college. If you’ve decided to take the ACT, you might have a lot of questions– but most importantly, how can you best prepare yourself for this important college admissions test?
Since 2005, we’ve helped students rock their ACT exam and boost their chances for admissions to their dream schools.
Read on to learn how you can use our tried-and-true strategies to prepare an ACT study plan that will maximize your chances for success on the ACT.
Want our step-by-step guide to strategize your best prep plan for the ACT, which includes prep resources, a timeline, and study tips? Download our strategic planning guide here.
Jump to section:
Why the ACT?
Get to know the ACT
Creating a Preparation Plan for the ACT: Be Strategic
Take a Diagnostic
Set Your Goals
Strategize Your Prep
Find Consistency in Your Prep
Learn Important ACT Testing Skills
Measure Your Progress and Keep Re-Evaluating
Next Steps
Why the ACT?
Like the SAT, the ACT is a standardized test that many colleges use as an element of consideration when looking at what students they’ll admit to their school.
Many U.S. colleges accept both the SAT and ACT, so deciding which test to take is a highly individualized decision that depends on a few different factors.
Some students might find the ACT caters better to their learning styles or the academic concepts they’re more familiar with. For example, the SAT doesn’t have a Science section, whereas the ACT does. Students may feel their strengths in science as a subject make them a good candidate for taking the ACT.
Sometimes students even decide to take both the ACT and SAT to see what test they perform better on.
To learn more about the differences between the SAT and ACT and for additional guidance on choosing the SAT vs ACT, check out this post.
Get to know the ACT
The ACT consists of English, Math, Reading, and Science sections. There is also an optional essay for which students will be expected to analyze an issue and give an essay response to discuss their perspective on the issue, including specific evidence and examples.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time |
| English | 75 | 40 minutes |
| Math | 60 | 60 minutes |
| Reading | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Science | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 40 minutes |
To learn more about the structure of the test, what kind of questions you’ll face, and more, check out our comprehensive posts about each section of the test:
- ACT English: Everything You Need to Know
- ACT Math: Everything You Need to Know
- ACT Reading: Everything You Need to Know
- The ACT Science Section: Everything You Need to Know
Each section of the ACT is scored from 1-36, with 1 being the lowest score and 36 being the highest.
| ACT Section | Score Range |
| English | 1-36 |
| Math | 1-36 |
| Reading | 1-36 |
| Science | 1-36 |
Your score report will show both your section scores and an average called a composite score. To learn more about scoring on the ACT and what’s considered a competitive score, check out our posts about ACT scoring below:
- Average ACT Scores: The Latest Data
- ACT Scoring: Your Complete Guide for 2023
- Your Guide to a Good ACT Score in 2023
Creating a Preparation Plan for the ACT: Be Strategic
What’s the difference between an effective ACT study plan and one that falls short? The short answer is strategy.
The ACT, while not easy, is learnable in that it’s predictable: it covers a finite number of concepts.
If you can learn to target your weaknesses on the ACT test, you’ll spend more time on learning what you need, and you won't waste valuable time on what you don’t need.
You can allocate your study time to any weak spots that need addressing. There’s no reason to spend time working on practice questions you would get right if you took the test tomorrow.
Remember, the idea is to maximize your potential score, which means getting as many correct answers as possible.
Creating effective strategies for an ACT prep plan includes knowing yourself as a test-taker and recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses: are you good at recognizing patterns, but not so great with time management? Do you get fatigued by long tests, but have all the academic concepts firmly learned?
Again, use predictability to your advantage. The ACT can be learned. Of course, sometimes doing this all alone can be daunting–and that’s why we’re here to help. Consider reaching out for help in the form of preparation services or private tutoring. Contact us to learn more about what kind of ACT prep services we offer.
Want to get started on building your own strategic prep plan for the ACT? Download our guide for free here PrepMaven’s step-by-step strategy guide to preparing for the ACT!
Take a Diagnostic
The first step to creating your strategic ACT prep plan is to take a diagnostic test–a timed, full-length practice test under conditions as close to the big day as possible. ACT.org offers several full-length practice tests, which can be found here.
The ACT’s official practice tests are a great resource. Make sure to do your test under testing conditions that are as close to the real test as possible including the real time constraints of the test. Ask a parent, friend, or private tutor to help you proctor the test.
For tips on proctoring your own ACT test, check out our post here: How to Proctor Your Own ACT Test.
Score your test yourself or ask someone to help you. For your raw score in each section, you receive one point for each correct answer, with no penalty for wrong answers.
Convert your raw score into a composite score. We have a handy score conversion chart in our post here: https://prepmaven.com/blog/test-prep/act-scoring/. Add up your scores from each section, then divide by 4 to get your composite score.
After the ACT exam, take a few moments to reflect:
- What did you find most difficult about the exam? Did that correspond with your actual scores, or did you do worse on a section than you expected? Better on a section than you expected?
- Did you have enough time for each section or did you find yourself running out on any particular section? The English section? The Math section? The Reading section? The Science section? The ACT essay?
- Were you tired by the end of the ACT, or did you feel okay?
- Did the concepts that appear on the ACT feel familiar, or were many academic concepts new to you?
Set Your Goals
After you’ve taken the diagnostic and scored it, set your goals and the time frame in which you want to achieve them. How many points would you like to earn by your final test date? Do you want to improve significantly in one section in particular? What’s your target score? What do you think is realistic for you by your test date?
It’s important to set your goal score to give you something to work towards.
Consider setting a timeline that helps you measure your progress towards your goals. For example, by January, I’ll have improved by 1 point in each section, or 1 point on my composite score. Or, in the next two months, I want to improve by three points in my Math section.
Use regular practice exams, proctored under realistic testing conditions, to measure your progress.
Strategize Your Prep
As we mentioned, plan to focus only on the topics you need to. Again, this is a great place for reflection:
- Did a particular type of question confuse you?
- Did the instructions confuse you?
- Did you select answers that were correct but did not answer the question being asked?
- Are your incorrect answers still confusing to you, or are they now resolved?
If this seems like a lot to take on yourself, don’t worry–it is! That’s why many students choose to take prep courses or hire private tutors to help them through preparing for the ACT. They can help them choose the right prep books and create a personalized study plan.
Here at PrepMaven, one of our private tutors will analyze your diagnostic test for you, identify what types of questions tripped you up, and help create a prep plan tailored towards your specific needs and goals. If you want to learn more, contact us to learn more about how we can help.
Still want to build your strategic study plan yourself? Our step-by-step guide can help. Download it for free here! PrepMaven’s step-by-step strategy guide to preparing for the ACT
Find Consistency in Your Prep
One important element in creating your ACT preparation study plan will be deciding how you will stay consistent with your study sessions. Plan how much time you will devote to ACT prep. How much ACT homework can you get to each week?
Can you make a regular study schedule that you can stick to? It’s important to home in on the academic concepts and types of questions you need to review so you can maximize your time spent on review alongside a busy school and extracurricular schedule.
This is another place where setting realistic goals for yourself can help. Set week-to-week goals–for example, I’ll spend 45 minutes, three times a week, on ACT prep homework. Hold yourself to that schedule, even if it feels difficult at times.
Again, this is another place where a private tutor can help, not only with a study guide and plan but also with accountability. A private tutor will not only assign homework, but check in with you week-to-week to see how it’s going.
Learn Important ACT Testing Skills
One important element in creating your strategic ACT test prep is to make sure you’re comfortable with ACT testing skills in general.
Process of Elimination. Because the ACT utilizes multiple choice questions, using process of elimination is a crucial testing strategy. Eliminate answers you know are definitely wrong, then use the yes/no/maybe method to narrow your answers down to one or two options.
If you’re between two answers, choose the one that seems best to you. While there’s no guessing penalty on the ACT, if you can improve your chances to get an answer right, then you should!
Tackle easier questions first. One of the biggest challenges of the ACT test is managing time. There are strict time limits for a numerous number of questions. Don’t get stymied by difficult questions when there are easier ones that you could be answering. Tackle the questions that you know first, then go back and work on the more difficult questions.
Practice being more efficient. Don’t feel as though you need to do the test just like a school assignment. Remember, no one is going to grade you on your effort, but just on how many answers you got right! There are ways to complete the test more efficiently, even if it means not using your traditional academic skills–plugging in answer choices, using your own answers, eliminating unreasonable answers, and more.
Make sure you answer what the question is actually asking. One way the ACT likes to trip students up is by putting things that are correct and true in the answer choices–but that don’t answer the question. Make sure you’re 100% clear on what the question is asking of you before you choose your answer.
Measure Your Progress and Keep Re-Evaluating
Measure your progress at regular intervals with practice tests. You might find that you need to change your prep plan, or that new areas need strengthening, or that old ones have shaped up and can be left behind for now.
Next Steps
With a thoughtful plan, the proper resources, and a consistent practice schedule, you can make significant improvements to your baseline ACT score and help your chances of getting into your dream school.
Again, don’t feel like you have to do this all alone! Our expert tutors can customize a study plan tailored to your strengths and weaknesses, teach you the most effective strategies for improving your scores, and help you follow through with your study plan.
Contact us to learn how one of our highly experienced tutors can help you formulate a strategic prep plan that can carry you through to success on the ACT.
And don’t forget to download our step-by-step guide to preparing a strategic prep plan to the ACT for book recommendations, timeline guides, and more! You can download the guide for free here. PrepMaven’s step-by-step strategy guide to preparing for the ACT
Related ACT Posts
How to prepare for the ISEE
How to Prepare for the ISEE: A Guide to Getting Ready for Test Day
Bonus Material: PrepMaven’s step-by-step strategy guide to preparing for the ISEE
Taking the ISEE
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is an important component of private school admissions. If you or your student is planning to apply to private school, scoring well on the ISEE helps to boost your chances for successful admission to your school of choice.
The first step to achieving this goal, whether you’re working independently or with a private tutoring company, should be to formulate a strategic ISEE study plan.
Since 2005, we’ve helped students boost their ISEE scores and get into their top choice private schools.
In this post, we’ll share valuable information about when to start prepping for the ISEE, how to create a strategic ISEE study plan, and how to best prepare your student or yourself for success on your testing day.
Want a step-by-step-guide on how to prepare for the ISEE? Our Step-by-Step Guide to Making an ISEE Plan covers ISEE test prep strategy, a month-to-month test plan guide, quirks of the ISEE, and resources you can use to maximize your score. Download our guide for free here.
Jump to section:
What is the ISEE?
Keys to Preparing for the ISEE
Start Early
Take a Diagnostic
Analyze the Diagnostic
Determine Your Resources
Learn the Test Itself
Strategically review important concepts
Use the predictability of the test to your advantage
Ready to get started?
What is the ISEE?
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is a standardized test that many private schools require as part of the admissions process. Be sure to reach out to the school’s admissions office to understand their testing requirements.
A strong score, along with other strong application materials, can boost a student’s chances for admissions at the school of their choice.
For more detailed information about the ISEE, check out our post: What is the ISEE?
Keys to Preparing for the ISEE
1. Start early
If you do elect to take the ISEE, it’s important to start prepping early. Sometimes students prepare too last-minute for the ISEE test and find themselves rushing to learn the test and its concepts.
We suggest you start prepping as soon as possible, but generally not less than three months prior to your testing date if possible.
Some students choose to start preparing 1+ years beforehand, which is a great way to effectively build vocabulary, learn academic concepts that appear on the ISEE that may not have been covered in their school curriculum, and develop standardized testing skills.
Because students are limited to taking the ISEE three times, it’s important that they are ready to earn a high percentile score on their first, second, or third try.
Starting early and getting to know the structure of the test, and identifying any weaknesses such as gaps in academic knowledge or any issues with time management skills, will help control exam stress and maximize a student’s chance for success on the ISEE.
2. Take a diagnostic
Take a full-length practice test under actual testing circumstances. Time (or have a friend or parent time) each part of the test, and do the entire test in one session with real time constraints.
Finish each section under the time limit indicated on the exam. Taking a diagnostic will help students measure their progress and compare their starting score to their final score. We include suggestions for resources, including practice tests, in our step-by-step strategy guide
3. Analyze the diagnostic
Score the test. It will be hard to have an exact picture of an ISEE score from a practice test because ISEE scores are compared to other students’ who took the test on that date; their percentile rank is determined by their test performance compared to other students.
This is then converted to something called a “stanine score.” This stanine score is what most committees consider for admissions.
It can be difficult to determine an accurate score report from a practice test because of the confusing way that ISEE scores the test. You can read more about ISEE scoring in our post about the ISEE here: What is the ISEE.
One way to estimate a stanine score is to take the number of correct answers and then divide it by the total number of questions, then multiply that result by 100. The percentage can be estimated as follows:
- 90% or above - 9 stanine score
- 80 - 89% - 8 stanine score
- 70 - 79% - 7 stanine score
And so on. While this won’t give an exact stanine score, it will help students to estimate their performance on the ISEE test.
However, the ISEE test analysis can go further than just stanine scores and percentile scores. Again, this is another instance where an experienced tutor can help by creating a personalized, targeted study guide. The ISEE diagnostic should be analyzed for academic concepts where a student is weaker.
Instead of reviewing all the academic concepts on the tests, students should focus only on the concepts they need. By determining which question type is the most difficult for the individual student and using our free ISEE study guide, the student can maximize their study time.
4. Determine your resources
Once the student decides what concepts they will need to review, they should determine what learning tools are available to them and what practice materials are best for them.
Students should ask themselves: What books will I use? Are there additional resources online that will be helpful to me?
PrepMaven helps guide students to the right resources to use to prepare for the ISEE and resources for additional practice exercises.
They also provide complete practice tests for students to measure their progress. Contact us today to learn more about what ISEE prep packages we offer and how we can boost your student’s chances for success on the ISEE.
5. Learn the test itself
Learn the different levels of the ISEE, and what you’ll be responsible for on the test. Get to know the ISEE, what’s on it, what the different timed sections consist of, the types of questions you’ll see, and what you should expect on the day of the test.
| ISEE Levels | |
| Level | Grades |
| Primary | 2-4 |
| Lower | 5-6 |
| Middle | 7-8 |
| Upper | 9-12 |
Students will answer multiple choice questions and one essay question. The amount of questions and time on each section will depend on whether the student is taking a Primary Level, Lower Level, or Middle Level/Upper Level ISEE exam. There are time sections that differ in timing depending on the level of the test.
Primary Level
| Section | Questions | Timing |
| Auditory Comprehension (Only for Grade 2) | 1 audio passage w/ 6 questions | 7 minutes |
| Reading | Grade 2: 18 Questions | Grade 2: 20 minutes |
| Grade 3: 24 Questions | Grade 3: 28 minutes | |
| Grade 4: 28 Questions | Grade 4: 30 minutes | |
| Math | Grade 2: 24 Multiple Choice | Grade 2: 26 minutes |
| Grade 3: 24 Multiple Choice | Grade 3: 26 minutes | |
| Grade 4: 28 Multiple Choice | Grade 4: 30 minutes |
Lower Level
| Section | Questions | Time |
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
Middle Level and Upper Level
| Section | Questions | Time |
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
6. Strategically review important concepts such as vocabulary, reading concepts, and mathematics topics
Some ways to get started prepping for test day:
- Review vocabulary. Consult a list of vocabulary that commonly appears on the ISEE, and consider making flashcards or asking a parent or friend to quiz you week-to-week to see how your vocabulary skills are building up and how your level of knowledge is improving.
- Read both to build skills and for enjoyment. Reading regularly builds important reading and verbal skills. Head to your local library and build important ISEE skills while enjoying a good book.
- Build important mathematics skills for success on the two math sections of the exam. Target any math weaknesses that the diagnostic test reveals. Take time to do regular homework with practice questions and practice drills, targeting any skills in math that need improvement.
- Build a comprehensive study plan and stick to a study schedule to prepare in time for your ISEE testing date. Again, a private tutor can help you use the right prep materials and applicable practice exercises combined with a practice schedule to fulfill an efficient and effective study process.
- Consistent practice is key! It can be very helpful to have someone help to keep you accountable despite busy schedules from school and extracurriculars.
7. Use the predictability of the test to your advantage
There are aspects of the test that can be confusing at first–however, it’s important to think like a test-maker, not a test-taker. The average student may not be used to some of the unusual aspects of standardized tests and how they differ from in-school testing.
Once you learn the quirks of the test and exam format, you can use the predictability and regularity of the test to your advantage. The higher the level of knowledge you build about the exam, the better! Building your comfort level and confidence level with the exam will mean anxiety reduction and thus more success on the day of the test.
Since the ISEE test covers a finite number of concepts, it’s possible to learn all the concepts that will be covered on the test.
The test’s structure doesn’t change, so it’s also possible to learn important test-taking skills that will help improve your chances of a better score. These skills also combat test anxiety because they’re simple, straightforward ideas that can be used even if the ISEE is a difficult test. Some important skills are:
- Process of elimination: narrow down the answer choices to one or two possibilities.
- Time management insights: making sure you don’t spend too long on any one question, and even doing the test out of order if it means answering questions accurately and quickly.
- Not falling into the usual tricks and traps of the ISEE. Again, working with an ISEE test prep professional, such as one of PrepMaven’s tutors, can help you avoid the most common mistakes made by students on the ISEE.
Ready to get started?
Navigating how to prepare for the ISEE is daunting. The ISEE itself is complicated in structure and it can be difficult to know how much time to devote to the various topics you’ll be tested on.
A professional tutor will help you strategize a prep plan, assign you homework to build skills from week to week, hold you accountable for putting in prep and practice time, and measure your progress.
Maximize your chances for success by contacting us today to learn how a personalized ISEE prep plan can work for you.
Our Step-by-Step Guide to Making an ISEE Plan covers ISEE test prep strategy, a month-to-month test plan guide, quirks of the ISEE, and resources you can use to maximize your score. Download our guide for free here.
What is the ISEE? What you need to know
What is the ISEE? What you need to know
Bonus Material: Download our FREE set of ISEE practice questions
Your Introduction to the ISEE test
The ISEE is an important part of the admissions process for independent schools admissions.
However, many students and families either aren’t familiar with the ISEE, or aren’t sure if it’s the right test for them.
PrepMaven has over 20 years of experience helping students maxime their ISEE scores and gain admittance into their top choice private schools. We help students understand the test inside and out and learn the most effective ISEE test-taking strategies.
Read on to learn more about the test, with examples of questions from each section of the ISEE. Below, you can download a set of free ISEE sample questions to help you decide if your academic strengths align with the ISEE.
Jump to section:
What is the ISEE and why do I need it?
What are the different levels of the ISEE?
What are the different sections of the ISEE?
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Mathematics Achievement
The Advantages of the ISEE
Are there any disadvantages to taking the ISEE?
Should I take the ISEE?
What is the ISEE and why do I need it?
The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Examination, a standardized test some private middle and high schools use as an entrance exam for admissions.
Students applying for admissions to private schools– boarding schools, prep schools, or other types of elite independent schools– will need to take either the ISEE or SSAT, depending on the school’s preference. Check out your target school’s website or speak to an admissions representative to confirm what test their admissions department prefers.
While the ISEE won’t make or break a student’s admissions application, a strong score can boost a student’s chances for admission to the school of their choice.
Being familiar with the ISEE’s structure and knowing how to maximize your score can mean a stronger admissions application. Get to know the ISEE and how your own academic strengths can help you ace the different sections of the test.
And because the test is so competitive, we usually recommend working with an expert tutor who can help your child maximize their ISEE score – Reach out today!
What are the different levels of the ISEE test?
Students will take the ISEE that corresponds with whatever grade level they’re seeking admission to in the coming year. The different testing levels are:
| ISEE Levels | |
| Level | Grades |
| Primary | 2-4 |
| Lower | 5-6 |
| Middle | 7-8 |
| Upper | 9-12 |
Primary Level. The Primary ISEE tests for independent school entry for grades 2-4 and includes 18 reading questions, 24 math questions, six questions based on a listening comprehension section, and a writing prompt with a picture. All questions besides the writing prompt are multiple choice questions, with students being offered four answer choices.
| Section | Questions | Timing |
| Auditory Comprehension (Only for Grade 2) | 1 audio passage w/ 6 questions | 7 minutes |
| Reading | Grade 2: 18 Questions | Grade 2: 20 minutes |
| Grade 3: 24 Questions | Grade 3: 28 minutes | |
| Grade 4: 28 Questions | Grade 4: 30 minutes | |
| Math | Grade 2: 24 Multiple Choice | Grade 2: 26 minutes |
| Grade 3: 24 Multiple Choice | Grade 3: 26 minutes | |
| Grade 4: 28 Multiple Choice | Grade 4: 30 minutes |
Lower Level. The Lower ISEE tests for independent school entry for grades 5 and 6 and includes 34 verbal reasoning questions, 38 quantitative reasoning questions, 30 math achievement questions, five reading passages with five questions per reading passage, and an essay prompt.
All questions besides the writing prompt are multiple choice questions, with students being offered four answer choices.
| Section | Questions | Time |
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
Middle Level and Upper Level. The Middle and Upper ISEE tests for independent school entry for grades 7 to 12 and includes 40 verbal reasoning questions, 47 quantitative reasoning questions, 37 math achievement questions, six reading passages with six corresponding questions per reading passage, and an essay prompt.
All questions besides the writing prompt are multiple choice questions, with students being offered four answer choices.
| Section | Questions | Time |
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Break | - | 10 minutes |
| Essay | 1 | 30 minutes |
Ready to get started right away with practicing for the ISEE? Download our FREE set of practice questions here.
What are the different sections of the ISEE?
Verbal Reasoning
Aspects of students’ verbal reasoning ability will be tested through synonym questions and sentence completion questions. For Middle and Upper levels, this section is 20 minutes long.
Synonyms. Students will be expected to successfully identify words by answering synonym questions. This section will test students’ knowledge of vocabulary.
Sample question
ARRESTING
- Legal
- Striking
- Confusing
- Terrifying
ANSWER: B
Sentence Completions. Students will be asked to complete sentences with the correct vocabulary word and will be tested on their knowledge of vocabulary in context. These “fill-in-the-blank” questions will have one or two blanks to complete.
Sample Question
The ____________ to assess the success of the study was flawed.
- Scientist
- Achievement
- Mechanism
- Acquisition
ANSWER: C
Quantitative Reasoning
In this section, students will use logic and implement mathematical principles to answer questions accurately. For Middle and Upper Levels, this section is 35 minutes long. Some examples of questions students might see are:
Word Problems:
If Janet needs 3 dozen brownies for 36 students, how many dozen brownies will she need for 60 students?
- 12
- 5
- 24
- 2
- 8
ANSWER: B
Quantitative Comparison Problems:
| Column A | Column B |
| The surface area of a cube with a side of 4 | The area of a square with a side of 8 |
- if the quantity in Column A is greater
- if the quantity in Column B is greater
- if the quantities are equal
- if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given
ANSWER: C
Reading Comprehension
In this section, students will be expected to read passages and accurately answer corresponding questions about each passage. There are six reading passages, with accompanying questions for each passage. For Upper and Middle Levels, this section is 35 minutes long.
Sample Question
The word “mark” as used in the sentence “It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! — do you mark me well?” most likely means
- Understand
- Aim
- Symbol
- Draw
ANSWER: A
Mathematics Achievement
The Mathematics Achievement section includes more complex mathematics topics than the Quantitative Reasoning section and touches on concepts such as geometry, equations, data analysis, probability, algebraic concepts, and more.
Sample Question
If Jamie is v years old and Isabelle is 9 years younger than Jamie, which of the following gives Isabelle’s age, in years?
- 2v+1
- v+9
- 9-v
- v-9
ANSWER: D
Essay
The ISEE also includes an essay portion. Students will be given a prompt and are expected to write an essay that showcases their writing abilities as well as their ability to think analytically and write persuasively.
While the essay isn’t graded, schools will see your essay, so it is best to use this opportunity to showcase your personality while still using proper spelling and grammar. Students are given 30 minutes of writing time to write their essay on the ISEE.
Sample Question
Who do you most admire and why do they inspire you?
Want more practice? Download our FREE set of ISEE practice questions here.
The Advantages of the ISEE
There are some definite advantages to taking the ISEE compared to other independent school standardized tests, such as the SSAT:
It’s the only test available for certain primary level admissions. The ISEE is the only testing option for schools that require admission for grade 2; therefore, students seeking admission for independent schools for grade 2 that require standardized testing will have to seek out the ISEE.
Some schools prefer the ISEE. Some schools prefer students to take the ISEE instead of the SSAT. It’s best to check with your target schools to see what test they prefer from their applicants.
The ISEE offers more testing dates than the SSAT. Students with a packed schedule and limited time to squeeze in a test date might find the ISEE works better with their hectic schedule.
There’s no guessing penalty on the ISEE. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE, whereas on the SSAT there is a ¼ point penalty for each wrong answer. That means students can guess on questions and possibly pick up more points on the exam without facing any negative repercussions.
The ISEE favors students who love to read. Reading passages are longer on the ISEE. Therefore, if a student is used to taking on lengthier reading challenges, the ISEE might be a great fit.
Students who love analytical thinking excel with ISEE essay prompts. The ISEE essay is an expository essay; if a student prefers a more logical and factual approach to writing, they may prefer the ISEE.
There are no analogies on the ISEE. Many students find the analogy section of the SSAT baffling and daunting. If this is a major challenge for a student, the ISEE fortunately does not require students to answer analogy questions.
The ISEE highlights math student rockstars. Some students find the mathematics sections on the ISEE more challenging, but conversely, the language arts section less challenging. If a student wants to highlight their mathematics abilities, the ISEE could be a great option for independent school testing. On the other hand, if a student feels less confident in their language arts abilities, the ISEE might be a good alternative to the SSAT, which can be more challenging in the verbal and reading sections.
Are there any disadvantages to taking the ISEE?
Many students and parents struggle with the question of whether the ISEE or SSAT is a better standardized test for them. While there are many advantages to the ISEE exam, there might be some disadvantages that lead students to select the SSAT instead:
Some students might get easily distracted during the Reading Comprehension portion of the exam. The passages are longer than on the SSAT and less varied; the SSAT includes poetry in addition to fiction and nonfiction.
The mathematics portions of the ISEE are considered more difficult than the SSAT. Conversely, the SSAT tends to be more challenging in testing students’ verbal abilities.
If a student feels stronger in their language arts abilities compared to their mathematics abilities, the ISEE may not be the best choice compared to the SSAT, which tends to be more challenging in the verbal/reading sections and slightly less challenging in the mathematics sections.
Students can only take the ISEE a limited number of times. You can only take the ISEE up to three times. Therefore, students should feel confident they will score well before taking their exam. Taking practice exams or seeking help with test prep is a great way to make sure students make the most of their testing opportunity.
Creative students might not prefer the essay on the ISEE. Because the ISEE essay prompt is expository, students who prefer creative writing may not prefer the ISEE essay section.
To compare the ISEE to other standardized tests for independent schools like the SSAT, check out our post ISEE vs SSAT: Comparing the Private School Admissions Tests.
Should I take the ISEE?
There are many factors to consider when choosing an exam for independent school admissions. Students should consider their own academic strengths and weaknesses, any anxieties they have around testing, and what styles of mathematics, reading, and writing they like best.
The ISEE can be a great option for students seeking independent school admission, but there are many options to weigh when choosing a standardized testing option with your admissions application.
Setting yourself up for success on the big day might include taking ISEE practice tests, trying out practice questions, or seeking out professional test prep services. With students being limited to 3 test dates with the ISEE, it’s important students have taken multiple practice tests before the day of the exam and feel ready to perform at their best, preferably during the first or second testing session.
PrepMaven can match you with a highly qualified tutor to make sure you’re at your best on test day and know exactly what to expect.
Reach out today to prepare yourself to rock the ISEE and make your admissions package the most competitive it can be.
Want to get more familiar with the types of questions you’ll see on the ISEE? PrepMaven offers practice questions that you can download FREE by clicking here.