The ISEE test: levels, sections, scores, dates and fees
The ISEE is an admission test for independent schools, run by E3n. Students sit one of three main levels by the grade they are applying to: Lower (grades 5-6) has 127 questions, Middle (7-8) and Upper (9-12) have 160, in four timed sections plus a 30-minute unscored essay. Each section gets a scaled score from 760 to 940; there is no total score.
Updated October 31, 2026 · by AdmitTest
The facts here come from E3n's ISEE page for families and its Quick Facts Guide 2026-2027, checked on October 31, 2026. We are an independent practice service, so please confirm anything that matters with E3n or your school.
Which level: the grade your child is applying to
The level follows the grade applying to, not the current grade: a current 8th grader applying to 9th grade takes the Upper Level. E3n also has Primary levels for grades 2-4, which are shorter and have no essay; we do not cover them. E3n says over 1,200 independent schools accept the ISEE, and that many accept both the ISEE and the SSAT while some regions offer only one.
| Applying to | Level | Our full test | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 5-6 | ISEE Lower Level | 127 questions, four sections, 110 min | Free full test Quick test |
| Grades 7-8 | ISEE Middle Level | 160 questions, four sections, 130 min | Free full test Quick test |
| Grades 9-12 | ISEE Upper Level | 160 questions, four sections, 130 min | Free full test Quick test |
Which levels are open on this site, and when the others come, is on the ISEE practice test page.
Sections, questions and minutes
The order is fixed, with a 10-minute break after Quantitative Reasoning and another after Mathematics Achievement.
| Section | Lower (grades 5-6) | Middle (grades 7-8) | Upper (grades 9-12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 questions, 20 min | 40 questions, 20 min | 40 questions, 20 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 questions, 35 min | 37 questions, 35 min | 37 questions, 35 min |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 questions, 25 min | 36 questions, 35 min | 36 questions, 35 min |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 questions, 30 min | 47 questions, 40 min | 47 questions, 40 min |
| Essay, not scored | 1 prompt, 30 min | 1 prompt, 30 min | 1 prompt, 30 min |
| Questions in all | 127 | 160 | 160 |
The section counts add up to 127 and 160. E3n's page for families prints totals of 128 and 161 with no explanation, so we go by the section counts, which match the Quick Facts Guide.
Middle and Upper have the same structure and clocks; they differ in how hard the content is and in the norm group. All questions have four answer choices. Inside a section the questions get harder as they go, except in Reading, where they follow the passage.
Not every question counts, and nobody is told which
Each section holds questions that may be used on future versions and are not scored. E3n's 2021 guides for Lower, Middle and Upper count them; the section sizes in the 2026-27 Quick Facts are unchanged.
| Level | On the test | Scored | Unscored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 127 | 110 | 17 |
| Middle | 160 | 139 | 21 |
| Upper | 160 | 139 | 21 |
What our tests do: our forms keep all 127 or 160 questions on the real clocks, and every one of them counts toward the raw score. Taking the unscored ones out under the same clocks would make the pace easier than on test day.
The rules that change how to take it
- No guessing penalty. E3n scores only correct answers, so a blank has no advantage. Answer everything.
- No calculator, on any section, unless an accommodation allows one.
- Scratch work. At an in-person online sitting the site provides pencils and scratch paper; at home a student has four sheets of their own; on paper, the blank space in the booklet is used (Quick Facts).
- Going back. A student may change answers and return to skipped questions inside the same section, online or on paper.
Scores in one paragraph
The report gives each of the four sections a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank against applicants to the same grade over the past three years, and a stanine from 1 to 9. There is no total score and no pass or fail. Online results arrive in 3-5 days and paper results for grades 5-12 in 5-10 days (Quick Facts). More in ISEE scores explained.
Dates, retakes and registration
There is no national test day. The ISEE runs by season: Fall (August to November), Winter (December to March) and Spring/Summer (April to July), at schools, ISEE offices, Prometric centers and at home. A student may test once per season, up to 3 times per school year, so a September test means waiting until December. Specific dates appear only in the registration portal, so we do not list any. Ask your school which season and format it expects.
What it costs
From the Quick Facts Guide 2026-2027, US, for Lower, Middle and Upper:
| Where | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| Fee at a school | $170 |
| Fee at an ISEE office, small group | $225 |
| Fee at an ISEE office, individual | $255 |
| Fee at a Prometric center, online only | $250 |
| Fee at home, administered by a school | $170 |
| Fee at home, administered by ISEE | $250 |
A reschedule fee starts at $50 and a cancel fee starts at $55. Fee waivers are issued by the school you apply to and also cover a free test-prep package.
Free practice, ours and theirs
E3n gives its own free practice: an online sample test per level that ends with a sample score report, and a free What to Expect guide per level with a full paper practice test. Everyone who registers can also get a free practice test from Test Innovators, E3n's prep partner.
Ours is a free full online test at the real counts and clocks, written by us, with a report by section and skill and explanations for the first 10 questions of each section. For each level there is one free full test and three paid ones. The paid plan is $69 once for 12 months and adds every explanation: see ISEE pricing.
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 does ISEE stand for?
Independent School Entrance Examination. It is run by E3n, the nonprofit formed from the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and the Enrollment Management Association. Older documents still say ERB.
How long is the ISEE?
2 hours 20 minutes at Lower Level and 2 hours 40 minutes at Middle and Upper, plus two 10-minute breaks. Those times include the 30-minute essay.
When is the ISEE given?
There is no national calendar. Dates are by season (Fall August to November, Winter December to March, Spring/Summer April to July) and appear in the registration portal, by school or test site.
How many times can my child take the ISEE?
Once per season and up to 3 times per school year. E3n says it does not encourage multiple testing.
How much does the ISEE cost?
For Lower, Middle and Upper, the registration fee runs from $170 at a school to $250 at a Prometric center or at home with an ISEE administrator. Fee waivers are issued by the school you apply to.
Is a calculator allowed on the ISEE?
No, on any section, unless a student has an accommodation for one.