As you can see, 2017 was a year of student perseverance and pushing boundaries. 25,315 students from over 100 different countries answered over three million practice questions. Impressively, they spent 118,029 hours taking practice tests, studying vocabulary, watching instructional videos, and working through question banks. To prepare for the written component of the test, students crafted personal essays, with most commonly used words including “people”, “learn”, “world” and “help”.
For the first time, Test Innovators started to measure grit and provide students with a grit score. This metric indicates student tenacity in goal pursuit, an attribute that schools are increasingly looking for in their admissions evaluations.
Most importantly, the effort expended by students throughout their practice resulted in measurably improved SSAT and ISEE scores.
With only 25 minutes to write, managing your limited time effectively is incredibly important. Start by spending the first 2-5 minutes outlining your ideas to clarify and structure your thoughts. After you have a plan, go ahead and get writing! This is where you will spend the bulk of your...
When you apply to independent schools, it’s important to make sure that the ISEE scores you submit are valid. If it’s been some time since you took the ISEE, then you may be unsure if you can use those scores or if you need to retake the exam. Keep reading...
Enhance your learning with Wild Zebra, a customizable AI teacher that is designed to help you improve areas of weakness. Now available with our ISEE practice platform!
The first step to understanding what a “good” score is on the ISEE, is understanding how it’s scored to begin with. If you don’t already feel like you have a solid understanding of that, check out our post on how the ISEE is scored.
When it comes to preparing for an entrance exam, it can be easy to procrastinate because of all the other things you have to do for your applications. Giving yourself enough time to study will not only boost your performance and confidence, it will also help you retain information for...
The Middle and Upper Level SSAT exams include two separate Quantitative Reasoning sections. Both are 25 questions long and take 30 minutes to complete. The Elementary Level SSAT only includes one Quantitative Reasoning section, which is the first section of the test, takes 30 minutes to complete, and is 30...
With an important exam on the horizon, it is completely normal to feel some test anxiety. However, we have some great tips on how to reduce test anxiety and study effectively while you prepare to take the exam. Creating a focused study plan, practicing consistently, and building healthy habits will...
The Middle and Upper Level SSAT have six total sections. Two are unscored: the Writing Sample and the Experimental Section. The other four are scored: the two Quantitative (Math) Sections, the Reading Section, and the Verbal Section.
The Verbal Reasoning section of the ISEE is designed to assess vocabulary, including the ability to identify synonyms and complete sentences with missing parts.
Fast Facts
First and shortest section of the ISEE
Lower Level: 20 minutes with 34 questions
Middle and Upper Levels: 20 minutes with 40 questions
Made up...
