ISEE Upper Level: Sections and Timing

What’s on the ISEE Upper Level?

The ISEE Upper Level is for students applying to grades 9 to 12, so it’s the level an 8th grader takes for high school. It has four multiple-choice sections with 160 questions and an unscored 30-minute essay, for 2 hours 40 minutes of testing plus two 10-minute breaks. Wrong answers don’t cost points, and calculators aren’t allowed without an approved accommodation.

What’s on each section of the ISEE Upper Level?

Four multiple-choice sections, then the essay. Each multiple-choice question has four answer choices.

Section	Questions	Minutes
Verbal Reasoning	40	20
Quantitative Reasoning	37	35
Break		10
Reading Comprehension	36	35
Mathematics Achievement	47	40
Break		10
Essay (not scored)	1 prompt	30
Total	160 + essay	2 hr 40 min of testing

How is the Upper Level different from the Middle Level?

The two levels have the same sections, question counts and timing. What changes is who your child is compared with: Upper Level scores are compared only with other students applying to the same grade, using everyone who took the ISEE over the past three years.

What does my child need to bring on test day?

A photo ID, which the ISEE requires for the Upper Level. Calculators aren’t allowed unless your child has an approved accommodation for one.

How is the Upper Level scored?

Each multiple-choice section gets a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank and a stanine from 1 to 9. The essay isn’t scored; a copy goes to the schools that receive your child’s scores. The ISEE overview explains each score.

Is there an official Upper Level practice test?

Yes. The test owner publishes a What to Expect on the ISEE guide for the Upper Level with a full practice test, and an online sample test. Entrance Lane is writing its own Upper Level practice tests as well, with every answer explained.

Sources

E3n, ISEE 2026–2027 Quick Facts Guide. Upper Level grades, section question counts and minutes, total time, two 10-minute breaks, the unscored essay, no penalty for wrong answers, no calculators without an accommodation, and the photo ID rule.. Checked October 19, 2026.

E3n, ISEE for Families. The level is set by the grade a student is applying to, the Upper Level is used for high school entrance, and the Middle and Upper Levels share one structure.. Checked October 19, 2026.

E3n, ISEE Score Reports for Families. Scaled scores of 760 to 940, percentiles and stanines, compared with students applying to the same grade over three years.. Checked October 19, 2026.

ERB, What to Expect on the ISEE: Upper Level. Each question has four answer choices, the breaks come after Quantitative Reasoning and after Mathematics Achievement, and the guide includes a full practice test.. Checked October 19, 2026.

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More about the ISEE

What’s on the ISEE Middle Level?

The ISEE Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7 and 8. It has four multiple-choice sections with 160 questions and an unscored 30-minute essay, for 2 hours 40 minutes of testing plus two 10-minute breaks. Its sections and timing match the Upper Level, and your child’s scores are compared only with other students applying to the same grade.

What’s on the SSAT Upper Level?

The SSAT Upper Level is for students now in grades 8 to 11, so it’s the level an 8th grader takes when applying to high school. It has 150 scored multiple-choice questions in Quantitative, Reading and Verbal sections, plus an unscored writing sample and experimental section, for 3 hours 10 minutes with two breaks. Wrong answers lose a quarter point, and calculators aren’t allowed.

Which entrance test does my child’s school use?

The school decides, and its admissions page says which test it takes. Many Catholic high schools use the HSPT, often through their diocese. Independent schools usually ask for the ISEE or the SSAT, and many accept either. New York City’s specialized high schools use the SHSAT, and Catholic high schools in New York City and on Long Island use a test called the TACHS.

The ISEE, level by level

The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is an admissions test that more than 1,200 independent schools accept. Your child takes the level for the grade they’re applying to: Lower for grades 5 and 6, Middle for grades 7 and 8, and Upper for grades 9 to 12. Each level has four multiple-choice sections and an unscored essay. Entrance Lane is writing full-length practice tests for each level.