ISEE Quantitative Reasoning: 37 questions in 35 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning is the second ISEE section: 37 questions in 35 minutes at Middle and Upper Level, 38 at Lower, with no calculator. Middle and Upper mix 18-21 word problems with 14-17 quantitative comparisons; Lower has word problems only. It tests reasoning more than how much math a student has learned.
Updated October 31, 2026 · by AdmitTest
The counts come from E3n's guides for Upper, Middle and Lower Levels (2021). The section sizes and clocks match the 2026-27 Quick Facts. The samples below are Upper Level questions written by us; tap a choice to check.
| Level | Questions and time | Word problems | Quantitative comparisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 38 in 35 min | 38 | none |
| Middle | 37 in 35 min | 18-21 | 14-17 |
| Upper | 37 in 35 min | 18-21 | 14-17 |
Word problems: reason first
E3n says these differ from ordinary math problems: some need no calculation or only a simple one, the emphasis is on working out a rule, and the wrong answers come from logical errors, not miscalculations. A question can also include information you do not need. Topics named include operations, estimation, logic, data and graphs, patterns, probability, measurement and statistics.
Method: say what the question is really asking before you touch the numbers. Cross out anything you do not need. Before you pick, ask what mistake in reasoning would lead to each wrong choice. With simple numbers, test your rule on a small case.
Sample · Word problems · written by AdmitTest
Each number in the sequence 3, 9, 21, 45, ... is found by the same rule applied to the number before it. What is the next number?
- 93
- 90
- 69
- 48
Answer: A. Check the rule: 3 → 9 → 21 works as 'multiply by 2, then add 3'. Apply it to 45: 2 × 45 + 3 = 93. Answering 69 comes from assuming the same difference each time.
Quantitative comparisons (Middle and Upper)
You see two quantities, Column A and Column B, and choose one of four fixed answers: A is greater, B is greater, they are equal, or the relationship cannot be determined. Since the four answers never change, learn them before test day.
- Compare, do not compute. Often you can see which is bigger without finishing the math. Cancel what the two columns share.
- With a variable, try several values. Use a positive number, a negative number, 0, 1 and a fraction, if the question allows them. If two allowed values give different results, the answer is "cannot be determined".
- With only numbers, "cannot be determined" is out. Two fixed numbers always have a relationship.
Sample · Quantitative comparison · written by AdmitTest
Compare the quantities in Column A and Column B.
- The quantity in Column A is greater.
- The quantity in Column B is greater.
- The two quantities are equal.
- The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Answer: A. The square's area is 8 × 8 = 64; the rectangle's is 9 × 7 = 63. A square has more area than a rectangle with the same perimeter, so Column A is greater.
Pacing: just under a minute a question
35 minutes for 37 questions is about 57 seconds each, and 55 seconds at Lower Level (our arithmetic). Questions get harder as the section goes on, so do not let an early one take three minutes. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so skip a stuck question, come back, and answer everything before the clock ends.
On our tests the section has all 37 or 38 questions on the real clock, and every question counts. The result shows word problems and comparisons separately.
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
What is the difference between Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement?
Quantitative Reasoning asks you to reason, often with little or no calculation, and its wrong answers come from logical errors. Mathematics Achievement is traditional math in one or more steps, and its wrong answers come from process errors such as using the wrong operation or formula.
Does the Lower Level have quantitative comparisons?
No. The Lower Level section is 38 word problems.
What are the answer choices in a quantitative comparison?
The same four every time: the quantity in Column A is greater, the quantity in Column B is greater, the two quantities are equal, or the relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Can my child use a calculator?
No, unless an accommodation allows one. Scratch work is allowed; what is provided depends on the format.
How many of these questions are scored?
32 of 37 at Middle and Upper, 35 of 38 at Lower, by the 2021 guides. Students are not told which are unscored. On our tests all of them count.