The ISEE Upper Level is an admissions exam for students applying to Grades 9–12 at independent and private schools that use the ISEE. The test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement and also includes an unscored essay that is sent to schools. This guide covers the current exam format, scoring, testing options, fees, retake rules, and study resources.
What Is the ISEE Upper Level?
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a standardized admissions assessment used by more than 1,200 independent schools. The Upper Level is designed for students applying to Grades 9 through 12.
The ISEE gives schools standardized information about a student’s verbal, reading, quantitative, and mathematics skills. Schools generally consider ISEE results alongside other application materials such as grades, transcripts, teacher recommendations, interviews, extracurricular activities, and writing samples.
There is no universal passing score. The ISEE is an admissions test rather than a pass/fail examination. Each school determines how it uses ISEE results as part of its own admissions process.
Who Should Take the Upper Level ISEE?
The Upper Level is intended for students applying to enter Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Not every independent school requires the ISEE. Before registering, check the admissions requirements of each school to which you plan to apply.
If a school does require or accept the ISEE, also check its application and score-reporting deadlines before choosing your test date.
ISEE Upper Level Exam Format
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 30 minutes |
The four scored sections contain a total of 160 multiple-choice questions. The essay does not receive a numerical score.
Lower, Middle, and Upper Level students also receive two scheduled breaks, generally lasting about 5–10 minutes each.
Verbal Reasoning
The Verbal Reasoning section contains 40 questions in 20 minutes. It measures vocabulary and the ability to use context and verbal reasoning to determine relationships among words and ideas.
The questions primarily involve:
Synonyms: identifying the answer choice closest in meaning to a given word
Sentence Completion: selecting the word or words that logically complete a sentence
Because the section is short relative to its 40 questions, vocabulary recall and pacing are both important.
Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning section contains 37 questions in 35 minutes.
This section focuses less on lengthy computation and more on recognizing mathematical relationships, reasoning with quantities, and deciding how to solve problems efficiently.
Students may encounter concepts involving:
Numbers and operations
Algebraic concepts
Geometry and measurement
Data analysis and probability
No calculator: Calculators are prohibited unless a student has an approved testing accommodation allowing calculator use.
Reading Comprehension
The Reading Comprehension section contains 36 questions in 35 minutes.
Students read passages drawn from subjects such as literature, history, science, and contemporary life and answer questions about what each passage says and how it is written.
Questions can measure skills such as:
Identifying the main idea
Recognizing supporting details
Making inferences
Determining word meaning from context
Analyzing organization and logic
Recognizing tone, style, and figurative language
Mathematics Achievement
The Mathematics Achievement section contains 47 questions in 40 minutes. It measures mathematical knowledge and the ability to carry out the procedures needed to solve problems.
Major areas include:
Real numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, operations, ratios, and related concepts
Expressions, equations, inequalities, functions, patterns, and algebraic relationships
Angles, lines, triangles, polygons, circles, coordinate geometry, and spatial relationships
Length, area, volume, units, conversions, and geometric measurement
Tables, graphs, statistics, data interpretation, probability, and related problem solving
The ISEE Essay
The final portion of the Upper Level ISEE is a 30-minute essay based on a short prompt.
The essay does not receive a numerical score and does not affect the student’s scaled scores, percentiles, or stanines.
However, the essay should still be taken seriously. A copy is sent to the schools designated to receive the student’s results, and individual admissions offices may use it to evaluate writing ability, organization, grammar, and how clearly the applicant communicates ideas.
Families do not receive a copy of the official essay. It is provided to the schools receiving the student’s ISEE results.
How Much Does the ISEE Upper Level Cost?
ISEE pricing depends on where and how the student tests. Current pricing for students applying to Grades 5–12 includes:
| Testing Option | Current Fee |
|---|---|
| At-School – standard paper or online registration | $170 |
| At-Home – school administered | $170 |
| At-Home – E3n administered | $250 |
| Professional Testing Office – group testing | $225 |
| Professional Testing Office – individual accommodated testing | $255 |
| Prometric Test Center | $250 |
Late registration, walk-in registration, rescheduling, or cancellation can involve additional fees. Available testing options also vary by location.
Fee waivers are available for qualifying families. Students seeking a waiver should contact a school to which they are applying for information about its fee-waiver process.
Where Can I Take the ISEE?
Upper Level students have several testing options.
Participating schools may administer the ISEE in paper or online format.
Professional educational offices may offer small-group or individual testing.
Upper Level students may take an online-format ISEE in person at participating Prometric Test Centers.
Students can take an online ISEE remotely through qualifying school-administered or E3n-administered testing.
The paper and online versions use the same number of questions and the same timing. In the paper version, students record responses on an answer sheet and handwrite the essay. In the online version, answers are entered on the testing device and the essay is typed.
How Often Can I Take the ISEE?
A student may take the ISEE once during each of three testing seasons:
This allows a maximum of three ISEE attempts during a school year, provided the student takes no more than one exam in each season.
When considering a retest, make sure another testing date will still allow the scores to reach your schools before their admissions deadlines.
What Should I Bring on Test Day?
Requirements depend somewhat on whether you are taking the paper, online, or at-home test.
Review your verification letter and arrive at the required check-in time.
Bring the identification required for your particular testing location.
Paper-test students should bring four sharpened #2 or HB pencils, erasers, and two black or blue ballpoint pens.
Students may bring a snack and drink for use during the scheduled breaks.
At-home students should follow the current device, room, scratch-paper, camera, and check-in instructions provided for remote testing.
Items You Cannot Use
Prohibited materials include:
Calculators unless specifically approved as an accommodation
Books and study materials
Rulers
Smartwatches and other smart devices
Mobile devices except when specifically authorized for an at-home testing requirement or accommodation
How Is the ISEE Upper Level Scored?
The four multiple-choice sections are scored separately. Your raw score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly.
There is no guessing penalty. Incorrect answers do not subtract points, so it is generally better to answer a question than leave it blank.
For each scored section, the Individual Student Report includes several ways of interpreting performance.
| Score Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Scaled Score | Ranges from 760 to 940 for each scored section and adjusts for small differences among test forms. |
| Percentile Rank | Ranges from 1 to 99 and compares the student’s performance with other ISEE applicants in the same grade-level norm group. |
| Stanine | Ranges from 1 to 9 and summarizes percentile performance into nine broad groups. |
A stanine of 5 is near the middle of the ISEE norm group. Because ISEE test takers are students applying to independent schools, percentile and stanine scores should be interpreted relative to that applicant population rather than the general student population.
Is There a Passing ISEE Score?
No. The ISEE does not have a universal passing or failing score.
Schools decide independently how heavily they weigh the exam and what score ranges are competitive for their own applicant pools. Some schools may place substantial emphasis on individual sections, while others use the ISEE as only one part of a broader admissions review.
For that reason, there is no single scaled score, percentile, or stanine that can accurately be called a passing score for every school.
When Will I Get My ISEE Scores?
Score-reporting time depends on the testing format.
Scores are generally available within 3–5 days.
Scores are generally available within 5–10 days.
Families receive an email when the Individual Student Report is available in their online ISEE account.
How Can I Prepare for the ISEE Upper Level?
The Upper Level moves quickly. The four scored sections contain 160 questions in only 130 minutes, before the 30-minute essay is included. Strong pacing is therefore almost as important as knowing the material.
Preparation should combine content review with repeated timed practice.
ISEE Upper Level Study Checklist
Build vocabulary through roots, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, and context.
Practice sentence-completion questions without relying on answer choices too early.
Review algebra, geometry, measurement, number operations, data analysis, and probability.
Practice solving quantitative questions without a calculator.
Read nonfiction and literary passages and practice identifying main ideas, evidence, inferences, tone, and organization.
Practice moving on when a question is taking too long and returning to it if time remains within the section.
Answer every multiple-choice question because incorrect responses do not reduce your score.
Practice planning and writing a clear essay within the 30-minute limit.
Complete full-length practice tests so the section timing and two-break schedule feel familiar before test day.
ISEE Upper Level Study Resources
Use these resources for additional Upper Level review and practice.
ISEE® is a registered trademark used for the Independent School Entrance Exam. The organizations that provide and administer the ISEE are not affiliated with StudyGuideZone or Mometrix Test Preparation and do not endorse these products or services.
