How to prepare for the ISEE: a 6-week plan and what to use
Start with one full timed practice test: 2 hours 10 minutes at Middle and Upper Level, 1 hour 50 minutes at Lower, before the essay. It shows which of the four sections cost points. Then practice the weak skills 30 to 45 minutes a day and take another full test about a week before the real one. Six weeks fits this well; two weeks still covers the format and the clocks.
Updated October 31, 2026 · by AdmitTest
First, three things to settle
- The level. It follows the grade your child is applying to: Lower for grades 5-6, Middle for 7-8, Upper for 9-12.
- The season. There is no national test day, and a student can test only once per season. Ask each school which deadline applies, then pick a date in the registration portal.
- The format. Online and paper have the same number of questions and the same timing. Scratch work differs a little, so read the Quick Facts page for your format.
What to use, free first
| What | From | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online sample test, one per level | E3n sample tests | Free | Seeing the test organization's own online screen; ends with a sample score report |
| What to Expect guide, one per level (Lower, Middle, Upper) | E3n / ERB | Free | A full paper practice test with answer key and conversion tables; the guide says it uses questions from earlier versions of the ISEE |
| Test Innovators practice test | E3n's prep partner | Free for those who register | A practice test with personalized feedback; its paid packages are on its own site |
| Our full online test | AdmitTest | Free | All questions on the real clocks, a report by section and skill, explanations for the first 10 questions of each section |
| ISEE Practice Tests | AdmitTest | $69 once, 12 months | Three more full tests per level, an explanation for every question, a mistake notebook, writing prompts with a self-check list |
Students whose school gave a fee waiver also get a free test-prep package, so check before you buy anything.
Our tests are written by us in the published format. They are not the real test, and they are not equated to it.
A 6-week ISEE plan
This is our own suggestion, not E3n's: about 30 to 45 minutes on school days, with a full test at the start and the end. The order matters more than the exact days.
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | One full timed test, no calculator. Read the result together. Pick the two weakest sections and, inside them, the skills that lost the most points. |
| Week 2 | Verbal Reasoning: 10 new words a day from your child's own reading, plus sentence completions. Say the missing word before reading the choices. |
| Week 3 | Quantitative Reasoning: reason before computing. At Middle and Upper, learn the four fixed comparison answers. |
| Week 4 | Mathematics Achievement: the weakest skill areas, by hand. Write out each step and find where wrong answers came from. |
| Week 5 | A second full test. Reading Comprehension: one passage a day on the clock, with a reason for every answer. One timed essay. |
| Week 6 | Another full test early in the week, if you have one. Go over all wrong answers. Lighter practice after that, and an early night before test day. |
If you only have two weeks
Take one full test in the first days. Spend the next week on the two skills that lost the most points, then take a second test about three days before the real one. Skip the vocabulary lists: two weeks of memorizing does less than learning the clocks and answering every question.
Practice the pace, not only the content
The clocks differ by section (our arithmetic from E3n's counts):
| Section | Lower | Middle and Upper |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | about 35 seconds a question | 30 seconds |
| Quantitative Reasoning | about 55 seconds | about 57 seconds |
| Reading Comprehension | 60 seconds, passage included | about 58 seconds, passage included |
| Mathematics Achievement | 60 seconds | about 51 seconds |
Verbal is the tightest. Since questions get harder as a section goes on (Reading excepted), it pays to skip a stuck question and come back, then answer everything before the clock ends.
How to read a practice result
Look at two things: skills with many wrong answers, and sections where the clock ran out. Go over each wrong answer together and say why the right one is right. Our full tests also show an estimated, unofficial scaled range for each section. Use it as a rough guide; it is not a forecast, and the score guide explains how it is made and why we show no percentile or stanine.
Free ISEE practice tests, no sign-up. Every test is timed section by section and ends with the score of each section and skill.
Choose your level and startCommon questions
How long does it take to prepare for the ISEE?
There is no set answer, and E3n publishes none. Our suggestion is about six weeks of short sessions. Two weeks is enough to learn the format and the clocks and to work on the weakest skill. Vocabulary and reading grow slowly, so they gain most from an early start.
What free ISEE practice is there?
E3n's own free online sample test and free What to Expect PDF for each level, a free Test Innovators practice test for everyone who registers, and our free full online test.
Should my child guess on the ISEE?
Yes. E3n scores only correct answers, so a blank has no advantage. Practice leaving a minute at the end of each section to answer whatever is left.
Can my child retake the ISEE?
Yes: once per season and up to 3 times per school year, though E3n says it does not encourage multiple testing. Check each school's deadline before you count on a second sitting.
Will practice raise my child's score?
We cannot promise that, and no one honestly can. Practice makes the format and pace familiar and closes gaps that are quick to close. The ISEE also measures years of reading, vocabulary and math.