About the ISEE Upper Level
The ISEE Upper Level is the ACT of private school admissions for grades 9 through 12. Just as colleges use the SAT and ACT to determine applicant preparedness, many independent schools across the US achieve the same effect with the ISEE.
Because teachers, curriculums, and academic difficulty vary from school to school, a student’s report card is not sufficient enough to accurately compare students from different schools. Therefore they use a standardized test like the ISEE.
ISEE is an acronym that stands for the Independent School Entrance Exam. It is administered by the non-profit group ERB, Educational Records Bureau. You’ve probably heard of ERB before in the context of annual testing, particularly if your school administers the CTP-4, which is somewhat similar to the ISEE.
ISEE Upper Level Research, Analysis, & Adice
Is the ISEE Test Difficult?
If you’re considering applying to private schools and preparing for the admissions process, you may be wondering, “Is the ISEE test hard?” Private school admissions offices use Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) scores to help determine which applicants belong in their student body, so this test is meant to be challenging to the average student—but just how hard is it? Here’s everything you need to know about the difficulty of [...]
Math Enrichment with Piqosity’s New Math 5 and Algebra I Courses
We're excited to announce the launch of our new math enrichment courses for 5th grade math (Math 5) and 8th grade math (Algebra I). These two new math courses mark the beginning of our expansion into enrichment and remediation of core academics; by the end of October we will also launch English Language Arts enrichment and remediation courses for 5th grade (ELA 5) and 8th grade (ELA 8). Like all [...]
Books to Prepare for the Upper Level ISEE
When studying for the Upper Level ISEE exam, some methods of preparation may be more engaging than others. In addition to ordinary test prep, reading novels helps Upper Level ISEE students by steadily building their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. We have organized a reading list based on the ERB's reporting categories that are tested throughout the Reading Comprehension section and [...]
Piqosity’s Suggested ISEE Exam Prep Timeline
If you’re looking into a private middle or high school for yourself or your child, you’re probably researching what to do when it comes to preparing for the ISEE. The Independent School Entrance Examination (pronounced “i-see”) is used in the process of determining admissions for many private schools. Getting a good score on the ISEE sets students up for success on their applications, so it’s important to start preparing well [...]
The Student’s Role in the Private School Admissions Process
The ISEE test is part of a process in which you present yourself as a candidate to a group of people whom you have likely never met. This same group of people has to then decide if they like you or not based on your credentials and, in some cases, your personality. What sounds like a thorough job interview is, in fact, the admissions process for many excellent private high [...]
Using Winter Break to Study for the ISEE: Last-Minute ISEE Prep Tips
Wondering how to study for the ISEE when it’s just around the corner? You’re in the right place! Whether you’ve been prepping for months or started recently, read on for advice on how to maximize your ISEE test prep in these last few weeks. The January ISEE ISEE test dates span three testing seasons: Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March), and Spring/Summer (April–July). Students may retake the ISEE, but they can only [...]
