ISEE Top Tips
ISEE Pacing:
Efficient pacing is one of the most important skills to master on the ISEE. While different questions may take more or less time to answer, avoid spending more than a couple of minutes on any single question (unless you’re done with all the others). When writing the essay, it’s essential to learn how to outline and write out four to five paragraphs in 30 minutes; hence, practice is critical!
The ISEE Essay:
The ISEE essay is not graded, but it is sent to the schools that you’re applying to. Choose appropriate essay content, understanding that the school’s admissions department is your audience. What will they learn about you through your writing?
Guessing on the ISEE:
There’s no penalty for guessing on the ISEE; bubble-in a lettered answer for every question, even if you don’t have time to read the question. If you flag a question to come back to later, you should still mark an answer in the event that you do return in time to review the question.
Levels of the ISEE:
Each level of the ISEE is taken by multiple grades (for example, the Upper Level test is taken by 8th-11th graders). Since the test is designed to challenge students across several grades, it’s completely normal to come across unfamiliar topics—however, with preparation, you can learn many new math concepts and vocabulary words before test day.
ISEE Strategies:
Spend some time learning test-taking strategies. For example, read non-math questions and come up with an answer before reviewing the listed answer choices. Many wrong answers are tempting and may trick you—first decide what you are looking for in a correct answer.
Practice How You Want to Perform
Remember to take your timed practice exams in calm, non-distracting settings. Get adequate sleep (especially the few nights before your test), and relax and breathe, both as you prepare and on test day.
Originally published on May 12, 2014. Updated on January 30, 2026.
