What will an Entrance Lane ISEE practice test include?
Which ISEE level does my child take?
The level depends on the grade your child is applying to, not the grade they’re in now. An 8th grader applying to 9th grade takes the Upper Level. The Middle and Upper Levels have the same sections, question counts and timing, and scores at every level are compared only with students applying to the same grade.
Sources: ISEE 2026–2027 Quick Facts Guide, checked October 19, 2026; ISEE for Families, checked October 19, 2026; ISEE Score Reports for Families, checked October 19, 2026.| Level | Applying to | Questions | Testing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Level | Grades 5 and 6 | 127 + essay | 2 hr 20 min |
| Middle Level | Grades 7 and 8 | 160 + essay | 2 hr 40 min |
| Upper Level | Grades 9 to 12 | 160 + essay | 2 hr 40 min |
Join the ISEE waitlist
We’re writing full-length ISEE practice tests, timed like the real one, with every answer explained.
What does an ISEE practice question look like?
We’re writing sample questions
Sample questions for each ISEE level, with explanations, will appear here before practice tests open. Join the waitlist.
Who publishes the ISEE?
E3n, the nonprofit formed when ERB, which developed the ISEE, merged with the Enrollment Management Association in 2026. The ISEE’s family pages now sit on E3n’s admission site, and the 2026–27 guide names E3n as the provider. Entrance Lane isn’t affiliated with E3n or ERB.
How is the ISEE scored?
Each of the four multiple-choice sections gets a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank from 1 to 99 and a stanine from 1 to 9. Scores count correct answers only. Percentiles compare your child with students applying to the same grade who took the ISEE over the past three years, so a percentile isn’t the share of questions answered correctly.
| Score | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Scaled score | 760 to 940 | The section score on the ISEE’s common scale |
| Percentile rank | 1 to 99 | The share of same-grade applicants with the same or a lower score |
| Stanine | 1 to 9 | The percentile in nine bands; 4 to 6 is average |
When can my child take the ISEE?
Once in each testing season: Fall (August to November), Winter (December to March) and Spring/Summer (April to July). That’s up to three tests in a school year. Schools set their own application deadlines, so it helps to check each school’s deadline before choosing a season.
Does the ISEE’s publisher offer official practice?
Yes. The publisher’s preparation page links a What to Expect on the ISEE guide for each level, each with a full practice test, and an online sample test for each level. It describes the guides as an introduction to the test rather than a strategy book.
Common questions about the ISEE
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the ISEE?
No. The ISEE counts correct answers only, so there’s no advantage to leaving a question blank.
Is the ISEE essay scored?
No. The essay isn’t scored, and a copy goes to the schools you choose to receive scores. Families don’t receive a copy of it.
How many times can my child take the ISEE?
Once in each of the three testing seasons, Fall (August to November), Winter (December to March) and Spring/Summer (April to July), so up to three times in a school year.
Can my child use a calculator on the ISEE?
No, unless your child has an approved ISEE accommodation for calculator use.
Where does my child take the ISEE?
At a school, at a testing office, at a Prometric test center or online at home. The online and paper versions have the same question counts and timing. Paper testing is offered in person only.