What Every Parent Should Know About the ISEE

Let’s face it, the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is going to be the most challenging academic experience your child has had up to now. Taking the “ERBs” each year (more appropriately called the CTP4s) is a nice precursor to what to expect, but it doesn't compare to the level of rigor on the ISEE. While other standardized tests your child is used to focus on achievement, the ISEE is a test of exceptionalism.

Basics

There are 4 scored sections of the test, all of which are multiple choice. 

Verbal Reasoning: Synonyms and sentence completions. Both kinds of questions test vocabulary and reasoning ability.
Quantitative Reasoning: Tests a student's ability to decide how to solve math problems. It does not test the amount of math a student has learned, but how well they think mathematically. 
Reading Comprehension: Assesses a student's critical reading skills and contains reading passages related to history, science, literature, and contemporary life.
Math Achievement: Tests mathematical skills students have learned from the very beginning of their school career.

On your child's score report, scores from these four sections will be converted to percentiles and stanines. Percentiles range from 1–99 and gauge how a student scored compared to all other test takers. For example, a student in the 75th percentile scored higher than 75% of all testers. Stanines range from 1–9 and are best thought of as a simplified version of percentiles. They are based on a student's percentile rank, but just group percentiles into larger ranges or "stanines." For more on scores, percentiles, and stanines, see a sample score report here.

There is also 1 un-scored essay section that will be sent to the schools to which a student applies.

Essay: Allows schools to gauge an applicant's writing ability or class placement.

For more details, visit the official ISEE site here.

Contrary to popular misconception, it is NOT imperative that your child score a stanine of 7–9 in order to be considered for admission to any school. In fact, many admissions directors and the data we have collected have told us that a score of 5 or higher warrants a thoughtful consideration in conjunction with other aspects of the application process. You’re in the game! The application process includes personal statements, student and parent interviews, and several other unwritten expectations that you can read more about on Christina Simon’s Beyond the Brochure blog. 

Strategy

Below are a few basic test taking strategies that will work for the ISEE—and all other standardized and school tests.

1. Process of Elimination (POE): Rule out answers that clearly are wrong or do not make sense. There is no penalty for guessing on the ISEE (every question should be answered no matter what!), so eliminating an answer or two can make an educated guess much more…educated.
2. Pacing: The clock is one of the biggest obstacles on this exam, especially if a student is not used to that kind of pressure (schools do not administer the CTP4s all in one sitting). Never spend too much time on any one question. If stuck on a solution, mark it and return later. That ensures that all questions in a section that a student CAN answer are addressed appropriately. Plus, sometimes the work needed for a different question will remind a student of a concept to help with the original question.
3. Specific Section Techniques: Each section has unique strategies that can maximize performance. Contact ArborBridge for more customized advice if your child is struggling with verbal, math, or other skills.
4. Motivation and Mindset: Above all, it's about confidence, determination, and concentration. Developing these traits will not only maximize your child’s potential on the ISEE, but will have a major impact in both school and life. Don't look at the ISEE as a terrible obstacle. Instead, use this requirement as an opportunity to make sure your child is ready for their new—and more rigorous—environment.

Intangibles

One of the most important things to consider as you and your child prepare for the ISEE exam is anxiety. The amount of content learning and practice that a student does will mean nothing if they're not in the right mental place on test day.

Here are the top 5 tips to help your child manage the stress:

1. Parents transmit their anxieties to their children without even realizing it. You must stay positive. Celebrate your child's ability and successes. And avoid saying things to your child that will make them nervous about this one-time exam.
2. Build test familiarity. Knowing exactly what they'll see on test day calms every student's nerves. You can take advantage of free diagnostic tests proctored by ArborBridge, or find tests online that correlate with the actual exam. There are also review books on the market geared just to the ISEE.
3. Every single school day is another opportunity to prepare for this challenging exam. Your child will learn content in class that will reappear on the test. Your child should start the school year strong and keep up with all assignments. And, of course, your child should be reading every day, whether for school or pleasure…or both.

4. For more on managing test anxiety, we recently had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Sian Beilock speak at a conference for the Association of Educational Therapists. Her book, Choke, has influenced a lot of our thinking on this subject and is a good read for parents who want to dive further.

What are your next steps?

1. Sign up for a free practice test and comprehensive score report on our website. One of our expert Directors of Tutoring will review the detailed analysis with you. 
2. Understand the official test registration process, including accommodations if necessary. Check here to register and to learn when the official exam is administered. For further information regarding accommodations, you can begin here.
3. Get your questions answered. If you have any questions about the ISEE, reach out to us by emailing info@arborbridge.com, calling 917-525-2548, or visiting our site. One of our ISEE experts can guide you and help formulate a customized plan for your child.