ISEE Verbal Reasoning: 40 questions in 20 minutes
Verbal Reasoning is the first and fastest ISEE section: 40 questions in 20 minutes at Middle and Upper Level, 30 seconds each, and 34 questions in 20 minutes at Lower Level. It has two kinds of questions: synonyms and sentence completions. Both test vocabulary and reasoning.
Updated October 31, 2026 · by AdmitTest
The counts are 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 | Synonyms | Sentence completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 34 in 20 min | 17 | 17 (11 single-word, 6 phrase) |
| Middle | 40 in 20 min | 17-23 | 17-23 single-word |
| Upper | 40 in 20 min | 19 | 21 (12 single-word, 9 paired-word) |
Synonyms
You see one word and choose the closest in meaning. E3n's guide says the choices are in alphabetical order, so their position gives no clue.
Method: say your own word first, then pick the choice closest to it. If the word is unfamiliar, think of where you have heard it ("a reluctant helper") and test each choice in that phrase. If you know only whether the word feels positive or negative, use that to rule out choices.
Sample · Synonyms · written by AdmitTest
INTENTLY
- angrily
- casually
- closely
- slowly
Answer: C. To watch intently is to watch with full attention, closely. Casually is the opposite way of watching.
Sentence completion
A sentence has a word missing, or a pair of words at Upper Level. At Lower Level some answers are short phrases. The sentence itself holds the clue.
Method: cover the choices and find the clue: a word such as "although" or "because" tells you whether the sentence turns or continues. Say your own word for the blank, then check the choices. For a pair, test the easier blank first and rule out every choice that fails it, then read the whole sentence with the choice you have left.
Sample · Sentence completion · written by AdmitTest
The scholar's lectures were famous for being ____, but his books, written in tangled sentences, were nearly ____.
- lucid; unreadable
- obscure; unreadable
- lucid; popular
- dull; engaging
Answer: A. “But” and “tangled sentences” show a contrast with clear lectures. Lucid lectures, unreadable books. Obscure lectures would not contrast with tangled books.
Pacing: 30 seconds a question
This is the tightest clock on the ISEE: 30 seconds a question at Middle and Upper Level, and about 35 at Lower (our arithmetic). Questions get harder as the section goes on. You either know a vocabulary word or you do not, so answer quickly, guess when stuck (no penalty), and keep the time for later questions. With a minute left, every remaining question gets an answer.
On our tests the section has all 40 or 34 questions on the real 20-minute clock, and every question counts. The result shows synonyms and sentence completions 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
How many questions are in ISEE Verbal Reasoning?
40 in 20 minutes at Middle and Upper Level, 34 in 20 minutes at Lower Level. By the 2021 guides, 35 of the 40 and 30 of the 34 are scored; students are not told which.
What is a paired-word sentence completion?
A sentence with two blanks, and answer choices that each give a pair of words. E3n's guide lists these for the Upper Level. Both words must fit, so one wrong word rules out a choice.
How can my child build ISEE vocabulary?
Regular reading, and learning words in families: a root such as 'bene' (good) opens benefit, benevolent and beneficial at once. For the test itself, practice saying your own word before reading the choices.
Should my child guess on words they do not know?
Yes. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, and a blank has no advantage. Rule out what you can, choose, and move on.