The ISEE at Home: What to Expect

• For the past five years, students have been able to take the ISEE at home. It has proved to be an accessible and convenient option for this important admissions test. There are two different proctoring options for at-home testing: you can either take the test through a school or through the ERB. The at-home testing option is available for all test levels: Primary (2-4), Lower, Middle, and Upper.

Although the structure and content of the ISEE at-home test remain the same, the experience of taking the test at home differs from taking it in person. Understanding what to expect will help ease test-day nerves and ensure that you are fully prepared.

Before Test Day

Technical Requirements

Here are the suggested system specifications for taking the Online ISEE at home:

To take the ISEE at home, you will need a computer or laptop with a webcam. You may use wired headphones or speakers connected to the computer or laptop, but wireless or Bluetooth headphones are not permitted.

*Please note: If your student is taking a Primary Level exam or has been approved for “Reader” (Audio) or “Speech-to-Text for Essay” accommodations, wired headphones or speakers are required.

You will also need reliable internet access. The ERB suggests a connection speed of 0.5 Mbps or greater. It is highly recommended that your computer or laptop be connected directly to your internet router via an Ethernet cable. If that’s not possible, be sure to find a place where the WiFi connection is strong. Ensure that other members of the household limit internet use while you’re testing.

Practice Check-In

Before test day, read the ERB At-Home Family Guide and complete the included “Testing Success Checklist” on the computer or laptop you will be using on test day. You will also need to download and install the Secure Browser application, which is required for taking the test.

It is recommended that you register for the exam at least one to two days before your desired test date. We also suggest conducting a Practice Check-In at least three days before your scheduled test date.

Other Requirements

Find a quiet space where you can be alone during testing. Ensure you have a clear workspace, such as a desk or table, and a comfortable chair.

On Test Day

Check-In Process

1. To begin the testing process, you must first ensure that you have properly downloaded and installed the testing application on your device.
2. Open the application and select “Start Test” under the heading “I’m at my home.”
3. You will be prompted to enter your Session Number, ISEE ID, and Last Name.
4. After that, you will need to review and agree to the Student Consent Form.
5. Then, you will configure your device. The system will check your device’s speaker, microphone, and camera. You may need to manually start these processes. Follow all on-screen instructions and click “Next” once you’re  ready to proceed. If the system detects more than one camera or audio device connected, you will be prompted to select the correct one from a drop-down menu.
6. Now, your student must verify their identification.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to first take a photo of the student and then a photo of their identification using the device’s webcam.
8. Double-check that the photos are clear—if the proctor deems a photo unusable, the student will be required to redo all check-in steps. 

1. Note: If your student wears eyeglasses, the proctor will ask them to remove them and hold them up to the camera for inspection.

9.  The final step in the check-in process is a Testing Area Scan.
10. This check, conducted by the proctor, ensures that the student’s surroundings are secure and free of prohibited items. 

1. A parent or guardian must be present for the Testing Area Scan

2. If any prohibited items are identified, the student will not be able to take or continue the exam until a repeat Testing Area Scan confirms their removal.

Testing Breakdown

Primary Levels 2-4

The Primary Level is designed for students applying to grades 2 through 4. Each grade level of the Primary Level has slight differences. 

Primary Level 2

Primary Level 3

Primary Level 4

Lower Level

The Lower Level is for students applying to grades 5 or 6.

Middle and Upper Level

The Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7 or 8. The Upper Level is for students applying to grades 9-12.

Navigation

Selecting an Answer

For the multiple choice questions, simply click on the letter next to the answer choice to select that answer. 

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Moving Between Questions

You will be able to navigate  between questions by using the “previous” or “next” buttons.

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Going Back to Questions

ISEE at home:

On the ISEE at home, you can use the “Review” window to see the questions have been answered, the questions haven’t been answered, and the questions that have been flagged. You can click on the question in the Review window to go directly to that question.

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

On the Test Innovators practice platform, the questions that have been answered will be shaded blue, the questions that haven’t been answered will be white, and the questions that have been flagged will have an orange dot above them. You can click on the question number to go directly to that question.

Typing the Essay

During the Essay section, you will type your essay in the space provided. 

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Finishing a Section Early

If you complete a section before the time runs out, you can review your work on that section and then finish the section once you’re done.

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Finishing a Section

When the time is up, you will be prompted to move onto the next section.

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Tools

Highlighting

You can use the highlighter tool to highlight important information. Simply click and drag your mouse over the text you want to highlight. This tool is especially useful during the ISEE Reading Section.

ISEE at home:

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

Eliminating Answer Choices

You can eliminate answer choices you believe are incorrect to narrow down the answer pool.

ISEE at home:

To eliminate answer choices on the ISEE at-home, click the strikeout icon and then click on the answer choice you’d like to cross off.

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

To eliminate answer choices on the Test Innovators practice platform, click on the ‘x’ next to the answer choice. 

Flagging Questions 

You can flag questions you want to come back to later. 

ISEE at home:

To flag questions on the ISEE at home, click on the flag icon in the top left corner. 

ISEE Practice on Test Innovators:

To flag questions on the Test Innovators practice platform, click on the “come back later” button. An orange dot will appear above the question once it has been flagged. 

After Test Day

Scores

Scores should be posted within five days of the testing day if your student took the test online. You can check the scores here: https://www.erblearn.org/families/isee-by-erb/score-reports/

Taking the Test Again

If you aren’t happy with your scores, you may be able to take the test again. Students can take the ISEE up to three times per year, once during each of the three testing seasons. The testing seasons are Fall (August-November), Winter (December-March), and Spring/Summer (April-July). 

For more information about the ISEE at home, check out the ERB’s site.

To prepare for the ISEE, check out ISEE prep from Test Innovators, the only ERB-endorsed ISEE test prep. Start your personalized preparation today