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Lower Level Course Information
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The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) Lower Level Exam is for students currently in grades 4 or 5 who are applying for admission to grades 5 or 6.
The test is used by prestigious private middle schools and boarding schools to help determine a student’s admission qualifications. The test has five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement and an Essay. A copy of the essay is sent to each school you are applying to; however, it does not factor into the overall test score.
Keep in mind that many private schools have more openings for admission at “natural” entrance points- i.e. grades 6 and 9- than for the intervening grades. If your student was not accepted for grade 5, it may be useful to apply again to grade 6.
The ISEE Lower Level Exam was constructed to meet the specifications of a national committee of independent school faculty, and was developed for the Educational Records Bureau by the Educational Testing Service.
The ISEE is offered in over thirty cities across the country. For test dates in your area, visit http://www.iseetest.org.
Regular registration deadlines are three weeks before each test date. Late registration (phone or fax only) deadlines are two weeks prior to each exam date. You may want to register at least 6 – 8 weeks ahead of time to avoid late charges and ensure that you can take the ISEE at your nearest test center.
Register one of four ways:
Registration Method | Cost |
$75 | |
Online | $78 |
Phone or Fax | $98 |
Late Registration (less than 3 weeks prior to test date) |
$95 |
You should receive a copy of your Individual Score Report (ISR) within two weeks after your test date. Your selected schools will also receive a copy of the report.
You may only take the ISEE once in a six-month period. Practice tests are not allowed – you must make a formal application to a school for each administration of the test.
A good score is one that will get you into the school of your choice, so the answer depends on which school you want to attend. While there is not a “passing” score for the ISEE, it is important to know what the average score is for students admitted to your preferred schools. You may want to consult one or more of these reference websites for private schools with contact information so you can find out the average score of students accepted.
It is best to start preparing as early as you are able. This allows maximum time to attain your score goals.