The Lower Level Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is intended for students applying to 5th or 6th grade. Here are some tips for preparing your student for the test:

Register In Advance

For the ISEE, students can take the test up to three times a year, once per testing season. The testing seasons are defined by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) as Fall (August – November), Winter (December – March), and Spring/Summer (April – July). 

We recommend that students plan to take the test more than once. That way, if the first test doesn’t go quite as planned, they have another opportunity to test. It’s best to schedule both test dates in advance, so that you can secure your preferred testing dates and times. Scheduling two test dates will also help relieve some of the pressure your child may feel as they take the test for the first time. Just make sure you give your child enough time to reset and review in between test dates.

You can register for the official test on the ERB’s website here.

Learn About the Test

Sign up for a free trial ISEE account on Test Innovators’ site. Your student will have access to:

• 1 sample ISEE test
• Interactive diagnostics
• Score report 
• Personalized Prep Plan

Download the Lower Level What to Expect on the ISEE Guide published by the ERB. This document details how to register for the test, what to expect,  and how it’s scored. The PDF also includes a sample test.

Practice and Prepare

Take several full-length practice tests. This gives your student firsthand experience with the test’s format, timing, and question types.

The Lower Level ISEE test takes over 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete, and most students in 4th and 5th grade are not used to sitting for such a long test. Each time your student takes a practice test, treat it as if it were a real test. Set up a quiet area at home, and have your student take the test in one uninterrupted period. 

Additionally, we offer a live-proctored mock test to simulate real testing conditions. This experience mimics the official test day and helps reduce anxiety by showing you exactly what to expect.

Review Your Results

After completing a practice test, review all the questions that were incorrect. Understanding which types of questions your student can improve on will help target their test prep. Formulate a plan to address these concepts in a methodical way.

Utilize the timing data from iseepracticetest.com to help your student allocate their time on questions appropriately. The ISEE is a challenging assessment and there will be concepts, themes, and vocabulary your student hasn’t learned before, so time management is especially crucial.

Ready to get started? Check out our Lower Level ISEE practice tests!