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United States · Admissions test

ISEE testing and the SSAT: the two private school admission tests

Private and independent schools use two admission tests, and both are run by one nonprofit, E3n. The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is for students applying to grades 2 to 12. The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is for students in grades 3 to 11. E3n was formed on March 1, 2026, when the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which made the ISEE, merged with the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), which made the SSAT. ISEE testing happens at schools, testing offices, Prometric centers or at home, and neither test has a pass mark.

  • Grades 2 to 12ISEE: by the grade you’re applying to
  • Grades 3 to 11SSAT: by the grade you’re in
  • 4 scoredISEE sections, plus an unscored essay
  • No pass markEach school decides how to use scores
Where to studyHow the test works

Updated October 2026 · Written from the ISEE and SSAT pages on Admission.org (E3n) and ERB’s What to Expect on the ISEE guides

Key facts

At a glance

E3n runs both tests
Formed when ERB and EMA merged on March 1, 2026
ISEE levels
Three Primary Levels, then Lower, Middle and Upper
SSAT levels
Elementary, Middle and Upper
Where you test
A school, a testing office, a Prometric center or home, depending on the test and level

How it works

How ISEE testing works on the day

  1. You register online in a parent account. The ISEE and the SSAT use two separate accounts, even though one organization runs both.
  2. For the ISEE, a Verification Letter arrives by email. Check every detail, because E3n says the registration isn’t confirmed without it, and bring a copy to an in-person test.
  3. On the ISEE, the essay comes last, after the multiple-choice sections and two 10-minute breaks.
  4. The SSAT runs the other way around at Middle and Upper Level, starting with the writing sample and ending with an unscored experimental section.
  5. No one is admitted to an ISEE test after it begins. Late arrivals must reschedule and pay the rescheduling fee.
  6. Scores post to your parent account, and schools see them only if you’ve chosen them as score recipients.

Topics

What’s on the test

01

ISEE levels and timing

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) has Primary, Lower, Middle and Upper Levels, and the grade your child is applying to decides which one they take.

Key points (4)
  • The level follows the grade a student is applying to, not the grade they’re in (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • Lower Level has 128 questions in 2 hours 20 minutes; Middle and Upper Levels have 161 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes, plus two breaks (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • Online and paper tests have the same number of questions, the same timing and the same chance to change answers within a section (E3n, ISEE Quick Facts Guide 2026-2027).
  • Each multiple-choice section has a few unscored questions that may be used on future tests (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
02

Verbal Reasoning and vocabulary

ISEE Verbal Reasoning uses synonyms and sentence completions. The SSAT’s Verbal section uses synonyms and analogies instead.

Key points (4)
  • ISEE Verbal Reasoning has two question types, synonyms and sentence completions, and both test vocabulary and reasoning (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • The Lower Level section has 34 questions in 20 minutes, and the Middle and Upper Level sections 40 questions in 20 minutes (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • Upper Level sentence completions include paired-word answers (ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE, Upper Level).
  • The Middle and Upper Level SSAT Verbal section has 30 synonym and 30 analogy questions in 30 minutes (E3n, What’s on the Upper Level SSAT).
03

Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning checks how a student thinks through math problems. E3n says its questions need little or no calculation.

Key points (4)
  • E3n says the section tests how well students think mathematically, not how much math they’ve learned (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • The Lower Level section is all word problems: 38 questions in 35 minutes (ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE, Lower Level; E3n, About the ISEE).
  • Middle and Upper Levels mix word problems with quantitative comparisons: 37 questions in 35 minutes (ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE, Middle Level).
  • Calculators aren’t allowed unless a student is approved for a calculator accommodation (E3n, ISEE Quick Facts Guide).
04

Reading Comprehension

Every ISEE level has a Reading Comprehension section built on passages followed by questions about them.

Key points (4)
  • Questions cover main idea, supporting ideas, inference, vocabulary, organization and logic, and tone, style and figurative language (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • The Lower Level has five passages with five questions each; Middle and Upper Levels have six passages with six questions each (ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE).
  • Primary 2 adds a few Auditory Comprehension questions that students listen to (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • The SSAT Reading section at Middle and Upper Level has 40 questions in 40 minutes, on passages of 250 to 350 words (E3n, What’s on the Middle Level SSAT).
05

Mathematics Achievement

Mathematics Achievement tests the math a student has been taught, and some questions need calculations or math terms.

Key points (4)
  • Questions follow National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) strands: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and problem solving (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • ERB’s guides say the calculations range from simple addition and subtraction at Lower Level to second-year algebra at Upper Level.
  • The section has 30 questions in 30 minutes at Lower Level and 47 questions in 40 minutes at Middle and Upper Level (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • On the SSAT, Middle and Upper Level students get two 25-question math sections of 30 minutes each, with no calculator (E3n, What’s on the Upper Level SSAT).
06

The ISEE essay and SSAT writing sample

Neither essay is scored, but schools that get your scores also get a copy of what your child wrote.

Key points (4)
  • The ISEE essay comes last, for Lower, Middle and Upper Levels, with 30 minutes for one prompt (E3n, About the ISEE).
  • A prompt is picked at random for each test date, and families don’t get a copy of the ISEE essay (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • The SSAT writing sample comes first at Middle and Upper Level: 25 minutes, with a choice of two prompts (E3n, What’s on the Middle Level SSAT).
  • Parents can buy a copy of a Middle or Upper Level SSAT writing sample for $26 (E3n, SSAT Score Reports).
07

The SSAT

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) has Elementary, Middle and Upper Levels, chosen by the grade a student is in when they test.

Key points (4)
  • Elementary Level is for students in grades 3 and 4, Middle Level for grades 5 to 7 and Upper Level for grades 8 to 11 (E3n, SSAT Candidate Handbook 2026-2027).
  • Elementary Level is offered on paper only; Middle and Upper Level students can also test at a Prometric center or at home (E3n, SSAT Candidate Handbook).
  • Middle and Upper Level scoring gives 1 point for a right answer and takes off a quarter point for a wrong one; skipped questions count zero (E3n, SSAT Score Reports).
  • Elementary Level has no penalty for wrong answers (E3n, SSAT Score Reports).
08

Scores and score reports

Both tests report scaled scores and percentiles that compare a student with others in the same grade, and the ISEE adds stanines.

Key points (4)
  • ISEE scaled scores run from 760 to 940 for each section (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • ISEE percentiles and stanines compare a student with others applying to the same grade over the past three years (E3n, ISEE Score Reports).
  • SSAT Upper Level section scores run from 500 to 800, Middle Level from 440 to 710 and Elementary Level from 300 to 600 (E3n sample SSAT score reports).
  • Neither test has a pass mark. E3n tells families to ask each school how it uses scores.

Test day

What to bring for the ISEE or SSAT

  • ISEE in person: your Verification Letter and an approved ID for the student. Upper Level students need a photo ID.
  • ISEE on paper: four sharpened #2 or HB pencils, four erasers and two black or blue ballpoint pens.
  • ISEE online at a test site: nothing to write with, because the site gives out pencils and scratch paper.
  • ISEE at home: four sheets of scratch paper and two pencils or pens in the room, plus a phone or tablet as the second camera.
  • SSAT on paper: the admission ticket, on a phone or printed. Pencils are the only writing tools allowed at the desk.
  • A snack and a drink for the breaks, for either test.

Before you go

  1. Check which test, or tests, each school accepts and its score deadline before you pick a date.
  2. If your child needs accommodations, apply and wait for the decision before you register.
  3. Ask a school your child is applying to about a fee waiver if your family may qualify.
  4. Try the official sample material for your child’s level so the question types aren’t a surprise on the day.
  5. For an at-home test, run the practice check-in on both devices at least three days ahead.
  6. Plan the trip so you arrive by the check-in time on the Verification Letter or admission ticket.
E3n: ISEE registration (iseeonline.erblearn.org)ISEE dates and test sites are listed when you start a registration. The SSAT is booked in a separate account on portal.ssat.org.

Study options

Where to study

Every ISEE registrant gets a free practice option from Test Innovators, E3n’s official ISEE practice partner, and ERB’s What to Expect on the ISEE guides are free PDFs with a full practice test. For the SSAT, E3n has a free 30-question Mini-Practice Test, and its full Online Practice costs $80. Tutoring and other paid options follow, with prices where each company shows them.

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official and free
ISEE online sample testsOfficial sample tests, every ISEE levelFrom E3n, which runs the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). E3n says the tests mimic the look and feel of the real online ISEE, and its score reports look like the ones families get.
FreeOne online sample test each for Primary 2, 3 and 4 and the Lower, Middle and Upper Levels, ending with a sample score report
E3n: ISEE Preparation (all sample tests) ↗
What to Expect on the ISEEOfficial guides (PDF), Lower, Middle and Upper LevelsWritten by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) with the test developer, copyright 2021. E3n says the guides introduce the test and aren’t training books for strategies.
FreeThe whole guide for each level, with sample questions, three sample essay topics, a full practice test, answer keys and score tables
ERB: Lower Level guide (PDF) ↗ERB: Middle Level guide (PDF) ↗ERB: Upper Level guide (PDF) ↗
SSAT Mini-Practice Test and Elementary guidesOfficial SSAT practiceFrom E3n, which runs the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). The Elementary guides are PDFs with section overviews, study tips and practice questions.
FreeA 30-question online Mini-Practice Test with a report of the ten strongest and weakest topics, and free Grade 3 and Grade 4 Elementary Level study guides
E3n: SSAT Mini-Practice Test ↗E3n: Elementary SSAT study guides ↗
Apps and websites
Official SSAT Online Practice and Guide BooksOfficial SSAT practice, Middle and Upper LevelsE3n says both have the same four full-length practice tests, 600 questions, written by the team that writes the SSAT. Online Practice adds 15 section tests and more than 50 subject quizzes. Middle and Upper Level books are sold separately.
Online Practice $80 for a year; Guide Book $70; both for $130Online Practice is included with an SSAT fee waiver; regular shipping on guide books is free
E3n: The Official SSAT Practice ↗
Test Innovators (ISEE)Official ISEE practice partnerE3n names Test Innovators as its official ISEE practice provider. Paid packages add full-length practice tests (1, 3 or 6), and Advanced adds a retired ISEE test, 2,650+ practice exercises and a video course. Prices are from Test Innovators’ package pages.
Free plan; Quick Start $89, Expanded $309, Advanced $419 for 12 months (Lower, Middle and Upper)A free plan with the What to Expect sample test online, and the Advanced package free with an ISEE fee waiver
Test Innovators: Upper Level ISEE packages ↗Test Innovators: Lower Level ISEE packages ↗
In person
The Princeton ReviewISEE and SSAT private tutoringThe 18-hour Comprehensive package covers the whole exam; the 10-hour Targeted package covers one or two areas. The same prices are shown on its ISEE and SSAT pages.
$167 an hour for 18 hours ($3,000), or $180 an hour for 10 hours ($1,800)Not listed on its ISEE and SSAT tutoring pages
The Princeton Review: ISEE tutoring ↗The Princeton Review: SSAT tutoring ↗
Varsity TutorsISEE private tutoringOne-to-one ISEE tutoring, with tutor profiles on the page. It shows no prices and asks you to call or send a short form.
Not listedNot listed
Varsity Tutors: ISEE tutoring ↗

Prices and ratings checked October 2026.

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Levels and sections

Lower LevelMiddle and UpperVocabularyEssay

FAQ

Common questions

What is ISEE testing used for?

Independent and private schools use the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) as one part of admission, alongside things like interviews and teacher recommendations. E3n says more than 1,200 schools accept it. It tests verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading and math, and an unscored essay goes to the schools you choose.

What happened to the ERB ISEE test?

It changed hands. On March 1, 2026, the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which made the ISEE, merged with the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), which made the SSAT. The merged nonprofit is called E3n and runs both tests. ISEE registration is on the iseeonline.erblearn.org site.

What is the official ISEE test site?

Admission.org is E3n’s site, with the official pages for both the ISEE and the SSAT. You register for the ISEE at iseeonline.erblearn.org and for the SSAT at portal.ssat.org. The two tests use separate parent accounts, and E3n says it plans to merge them.

Is the ISEE test hard?

There’s no pass mark, and E3n doesn’t publish pass rates. ERB’s preparation guide says no student is expected to answer every question. Scores count only right answers, so the guide says to make an educated guess rather than leave a question blank.

What sections are on the ISEE?

Lower, Middle and Upper Levels have four scored multiple-choice sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement. An unscored essay follows. Primary Levels have Reading and Mathematics only, with no essay. Every multiple-choice question has four answer choices.

Sources: E3n · ERB and 8 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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