ISEE skills Guide

UKiSET test practice

Welcome to our latest guest article on Mosaic Fit’s skills highlighting ISEE Guide for Parents and ISEE Test Tips.

School Entrance Tests Guide for Parents

The ISEE test involves:

  • Verbal reasoning,
  • English comprehension,
  • Quantitative reasoning skills and
  • Maths abilities.

These occur in all levels of ISEE test. There will be very minor differences between the different grade level tests. The comprehension reading part lasts for not more than 25 minutes, followed by the mathematics achievement, which lasts for 30 minutes. Along with two to three other portions of the test, the total duration become 2hrs 50 minutes.

 

ISEE study guide

The primary ISEE level is for students applying for standards 2,3, or 4. The mode of the test is online only. ISEE Lower level is for candidates applying for standard 5 or 6. The medium of the test is online and through the paper test. ISSE Middle Level includes an option of an online and paper test for candidates applying for 7 or 8 grades. Students seeking admissions in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 appear for ISEE Upper Level, and they also have the option to choose the computer or the paper test.

The Primary Level of ISEE evaluates candidates as per their reading, writing, and mathematical abilities. The rest three levels, Lower, Middle, and Upper focus on verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematical competencies, and essay writing skills.

ISEE Testing dates

There are three testing windows in a year available for the candidates applying for the ISEE. The initial testing window starts in August each year and ends in November. The second testing window begins as per the school year, that runs from December to March. The third and the last testing window starts in April and closes in July. A student may take the test once in an entire window and can retake the test one time in each of the three test windows.

  • No matter the candidate has chosen for the online or the paper test, the questions and the time remains the same. The only difference is the experience.
  • Both ISEE & SSAT examines grade of 3 to 12. However, ISEE includes exams for Grade 2 as well. Some schools only accept the scores gained in ISEE, some accept the scores of SSAT. Few private schools allow the students to choose the test as per their preference.

 

What are the different ISEE sections/ISEE question types?

ISEE questions are classified into five different sections as below:

  • Verbal reasoning questions

The verbal section of ISEE measures the logical reasoning and vocabulary of the students with the help of sentence completions and synonym questions.

Quantitative/ Numeric reasoning questions

It includes questions of numbers and operations, geometry, algebra, measurement, probability, data analysis and problem-solving, word problems. It evaluates the thinking ability and the mathematical understanding of the student.

Reading Comprehension

It presents a series of passages in the question paper followed by number of questions. Students are required to provide solutions to the questions by reading and analyzing the given passage(s). Also, students will need to provide summary of main idea of the passage, examine supporting ideas and claims, drawing proper inferences, define vocabulary along with identifying structural patterns and elements within the text.

Maths Achievement

The ISEE math achievement focuses on the evaluation of the student’s understanding and capabilities in performing required calculations and determining mathematical terminology. It also considers all mathematical domains as the quantitative reasoning section.

Essay

  • A random topic is given with a defined word limit.
  • 30 minutes is given to the candidate.
  • And the same essay is passed on to the private schools along with the scores.
  • It gives a fine opportunity to showcase the individual’s writing skills and leave an impression.

 

ISEE costs

If someone gives the exam in a large group, the online/phone test costs around $125- $150. If a student wishes to take the exam in a small group, it is $195- $220. Some students choose to write the exam all alone then it costs $225. There is also a late registration fee of $155- $180. Some extra charges always make a room for the study materials, tuition fees, etc.

 

Registration

Before appearing for the test, registration is mandatory that cost as below:

If someone gives the exam in a large group, the online/phone test costs around $125- $150. If a student wishes to take the exam in a small group, it is $195- $220. Some students choose to write the exam all alone then it costs $225. There is also a late registration fee of $155- $180. Some extra charges always make a room for the study materials, tuition fees, etc.

 

What if English isn’t my first language?

We recommend:

  • Contacting the school/s where they are interested in applying to and ask what their specific application and entrance policies are.
  • If English is not your first language, then ask if you can do a verbal reasoning assessment in your first language. Since this would certainly provide a more accurate and more realistic assessment of your potential.
  • Improving (English) verbal reasoning by spending as much time as possible speaking and reading In English….
  • For example, by watching English TV and American movies
  • Also, Word games like Scrabble.
  • Or websites like www.lumosity.com with different kinds of games for practice.

 

ISEE test prep levels

The ISEE is classified into four levels

Primary ISEE level

This is for the students applying for standards 2,3, or 4. The mode of the test is online only.

ISEE Lower level

The ISEE Lower level is for candidates applying for standard 5 or 6. The medium of the test is online and through the paper test. ISSE Middle Level includes an option of an online and paper test for candidates applying for 7 or 8 grades. Students seeking admissions in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 appear for ISEE Upper Level, and they also have the option to choose the computer or the paper test.

The Primary Level of ISEE evaluates candidates as per their reading, writing, and mathematical abilities. The rest three levels, Lower, Middle, and Upper focus on verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematical competencies, and essay writing skills.

ISEE test tips

How to ace the ISEE test?

Certain tips and tricks are used which it can be ensured that applicants ace this test, which have been discussed below.

Giving yourself enough time to test multiple times is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Everyone needs to keep in mind that unless they are happy with the result, they should keep taking the test, even if they have to take the test multiple times. However, one will be able to take only 3 pts at the test, which are done on a seasonal basis such as in the winter fall, summer and spring. One should first register online at the ERB platform, where more details regarding registration are available.

Secondly, practising consistently is very important. If students are practising regularly for at least 30-60 minutes, then it will be far better than practising for 5 hours total in one single week. One can do frequent practices from the learning platform at ERB as well. The study platform allows the students to take tests for determining how much they have learned almost once every week. For the rest of the days of the week, the students will be able to stay involved in additional practice sessions.

ISEE test tips

Furthermore, if students are making themselves familiar with the test strategies and do consistent practice on a targeted basis, then it will be better for them in the long run. For example, the ISEE preparation classes offer certain specialized classes to students educating them about the key strategies for all sections of the test. During the classes being held in small groups, the chances of learning are better. Every student gets an equal degree of attention and a group discussion pattern allows the elimination of wrong answer choices. Students will now be knowing how to eradicate the wrong question choices.

ISEE Test format

  • Usually taken online although it can be taken in a paper format as well.
  • The time limit provided to each student is also the same. The only noticeable difference is the testing format between the two types.
  • For any kind of rough or problem solving, the centres provide white paper and pencils to the students.
  • On the other hand, the students appearing for the ISEE paper test will find a similar kind of question and a similar time limit compared to the online format. The questions will be provided in a booklet.
  • The board is quite strict when it comes to using the right kind of pencil for answering purposes and that is a #2 and HB pencil, whichever is preferable to the students.

ISEE test tips

SSAT test differences with the ISEE assessment

The ISEE & SSAT are quite similar in terms of content, and structure. Both the examinations are classified in elementary, middle, and upper grades and focus on reading, writing, mathematics, and verbal skills.

However, the examination questions are different from one another. SSAT includes questions related to analogy whereas ISEE includes questions on quantitative reasoning and synonyms. SSAT question paper contains fictional and non-fictional passages, it carries poetries while the ISEE only uses non-fictional passages.

ISEE keeps the score of mathematics separately in lower, middle, and upper levels. In SSAT there is no separate score structure, and it combines and forms a single score. It displays that ISEE concentrates more on the mathematic scores, and SSAT focuses more on verbal skills.

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ISEE test prep and ISEE Practice Tests.