Which ISEE level does my child take?
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is used by many independent schools for students entering grades 2 to 12. The level depends on the grade your child is applying to, not the grade they are in now.
| Applying to grade | ISEE level | Essay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Primary 2 | No |
| 3 | Primary 3 | No |
| 4 | Primary 4 | No |
| 5 or 6 | Lower Level | Yes, not scored |
| 7 or 8 | Middle Level | Yes, not scored |
| 9 to 12 | Upper Level | Yes, not scored |
Both the online and paper versions have the same number of questions and the same timing.
Primary Levels 2, 3, and 4
The Primary Levels have two multiple-choice sections, Reading and Mathematics, with one 10-minute break. There is no writing sample. On Primary 2, the reading section also includes a few auditory comprehension questions: a short passage is read aloud and the child answers questions about it.
Primary 2 (applying to grade 2)
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading (with a few listening questions) | 24 | 27 minutes |
| Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Total: 48 questions, 53 minutes, plus one 10-minute break | ||
Primary 3 (applying to grade 3)
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 24 | 28 minutes |
| Mathematics | 24 | 26 minutes |
| Total: 48 questions, 54 minutes, plus one 10-minute break | ||
Primary 4 (applying to grade 4)
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Mathematics | 28 | 30 minutes |
| Total: 56 questions, 60 minutes, plus one 10-minute break | ||
Practice: Grade 2 tests · Grade 3 tests · Grade 4 tests · lessons for each grade
Lower Level (applying to grades 5 and 6)
From the Lower Level up, the ISEE has four multiple-choice sections and an essay, with two 10-minute breaks. Verbal Reasoning has synonym and sentence completion questions. Quantitative Reasoning is about reasoning through word problems more than calculating. Reading Comprehension uses passages from science, history, and the humanities, and Mathematics Achievement checks the math taught in school.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Essay | 1 prompt | 30 minutes |
| Total: 2 hours 20 minutes, plus two 10-minute breaks | ||
Practice: 12 full Lower Level tests in this exact format · Lower Level lessons on math, synonyms, sentence completion, and reading
Middle Level and Upper Level
The Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7 and 8, and the Upper Level for grades 9 to 12. They share the same 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 |
| Total: 2 hours 40 minutes, plus two 10-minute breaks | ||
Practice: 12 full Middle Level tests in this exact format · Middle Level lessons on math, quantitative comparison, synonyms, sentence completion, and reading
Practice: 12 full Upper Level tests in this exact format · Upper Level lessons on math, quantitative comparison, synonyms, sentence completion, and reading
How the ISEE is scored
- Scores count only correct answers. Wrong answers are not subtracted, so a child should answer every question.
- Your child is compared only with other students applying to the same grade.
- The score report shows each section compared with peers and a breakdown by subsection.
- The essay (Lower, Middle, and Upper) is not scored. Schools you choose as score recipients receive a copy; families do not.
- Online test results usually arrive within three to five days.
When and where children take it
There are three testing seasons: fall (August to November), winter (December to March), and spring and summer (April to July). A student may take the ISEE once per season. It can be taken at a school, at an ISEE office, at a Prometric test center (online, grades 5 to 12), or at home online with a parent present. Fees for 2026–27 run from $130 to $255 depending on the level and location.
During the test, a child can go back to skipped questions only within the section they are working on.
How to prepare
- Take a full practice test first to see which skills need work, in the real time limits.
- Practice over weeks, not days. Short, regular sessions work better than cramming.
- Work on the misses. Read the explanation for every wrong answer; that is where most learning happens.
- Practice harder than the real thing. A real ISEE form has a spread of easy and hard questions, so practice that is harder than average makes test day feel familiar.
Every SigmaBudgie practice test, lesson, and quiz is free. Each test question has an explanation, and the score report shows skill by skill where to focus.
Source: ISEE 2026–2027 Quick Facts Guide (E3n, the provider of the ISEE). Formats, fees, and policies can change; check iseetest.org before you register. ISEE is a registered trademark; SigmaBudgie is not affiliated with the test provider.