How to Prepare for the ISEE in a Week or Less
Let’s start with this: we don’t recommend waiting until the last minute to prepare for the ISEE–if you have the option, start early! At Test Innovators, we suggest beginning your preparation at least six to eight months before your test date. This gives you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the exam, isolate areas for improvement, and strengthen your test-taking skills.
However, we also recognize that life happens! Sometimes you don’t find out that you need to take the test until a week before school deadlines (or even later). If that sounds like your situation, don’t panic! While it’s not ideal, there are still effective ways to prepare and boost your performance in a short amount of time. Here’s what you can do to prepare before the ISEE at crunch time:
1 Week Before the Test: Take a Full-Length Practice Test
This is the most important step that you can take. Completing a full length practice test helps you:
- Pinpoint strengths and weaknesses
- Get familiar with the format and timing of the test
- Reduce surprises on test day
Make sure to set aside enough time to take the test under realistic conditions (i.e. in an isolated and quiet environment) and without interruptions.
- Lower Level: 2 hours, 20 minutes
- Middle/Upper Levels: 2 hours, 40 minutes
6 Days Before the Test: Analyze Your Results
Once you have taken your practice test, set aside some time to evaluate your performance in depth.
Focus Areas:
- Scores vs. Target Goals: Identify sections where improvement is needed. Don’t waste time on areas where you already score well.
- Time Management: Did you spend too long on certain questions? Did you finish every section?
- Question Types: Determine which specific types of questions within each section gave you the most trouble (e.g. algebra, sentence completions, reading inference, etc.)
Choose 1-3 Areas for Improvement
Select a few specific focus areas based on your results, such as:
- Vocabulary
- Algebra
- Reading comprehension strategies
- Time/Pacing
5, 4, 3, and 2 Days Before the Test: Practice with Purpose
Now is the time for focused daily practice.
Work on your improvement areas by:
- Completing targeted practice exercises
- Reviewing short, focused video lessons
- Practicing test sections (rather than full-length tests)
Don’t forget to spend some time on the essay section! Even though it is unscored, it will be sent to schools and should reflect your writing capabilities.
Pro Tip: If possible, sign up for a Crash Course or 1-on-1 tutoring session:
Crash Courses: 3 hour group classes that cover tips and strategies for each section.
1-on-1 Tutoring: Personalized support tailored to your needs and availability.
The Day Before the Test: Rest and Prepare
The day before the test, it’s important to relax and trust in your hard work.
Do:
- Light review (if it helps calm your nerves)
- Gather everything you need (ID, pencils, snack, etc)
- Get a good night’s sleep!
Don’t:
- Cram or study late into the night
Test Day: You’ve Got This
- Wake up early
- Eat a balanced breakfast
- Leave plenty of time to get to the testing center (or get logged in, if you are taking an at-home test)
It’ll be just like what you’ve practiced, and you’re going to do great. Good luck!
Originally published on December 27, 2017. Updated on June 6, 2025.
