ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$130-$205
Provider
ERB
Validity
1 year
Available
USA
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites and no minimum score to qualify. Any student seeking admission to a school that accepts the ISEE may register.
- The testing level is determined by the grade the student is applying to, not the grade the student is currently in.
- Registration is done online at iseeonline.erblearn.org, or by phone at 1 (800) 446-0320. Prometric Test Center registration must be done online, because phone registration is not available for Prometric.
- Paper tests must be registered 21 days or more before the test date. Online tests must be registered 3 days or more before the test date.
- An approved form of identification is required at check-in. Upper Level students must present a photo ID.
- A copy of the Verification Letter is required to check in. It is emailed after registration and is also available in the parent account.
- Accommodations must be approved before registering. E3n advises waiting for the decision to avoid a rescheduling fee, and approvals then last 24 months.
- At-home testing requires two devices: a computer or tablet with a built-in camera and microphone running the ISEE by E3n app, and a phone or second tablet running Remote Proctor Connect as a side camera.
- At a Prometric Test Center a parent or guardian must remain at the centre for the duration of the test, with no exceptions.
- Prometric Test Centers serve applicants to Grades 5 through 12 only. Applicants to Grades 2 through 4 must test at home, at a school, or in a professional testing office.
Number of Questions
161 items at Middle and Upper Level: 160 multiple-choice questions plus 1 essay prompt. Lower Level has 128 items. Primary 2 has 48, Primary 3 has 48 and Primary 4 has 56, with no essay at any Primary level.
Duration
160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes) of timed testing at Middle and Upper Level, plus two breaks of 5 to 10 minutes each. Lower Level is 140 minutes with two breaks. Primary 2 is 53 minutes, Primary 3 is 54 minutes and Primary 4 is 60 minutes, each with one break.
Question Format
Verbal Reasoning synonyms, Verbal Reasoning sentence completions, Quantitative Reasoning problems that require little or no calculation, including estimation, comparison of quantities, data analysis and graphical interpretation, Reading Comprehension questions on passages, covering main idea, supporting ideas, inference, vocabulary in context, organisation and logic, tone, style, point of view and figurative language, Mathematics Achievement questions mapped to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics strands, where calculation is expected, Auditory Comprehension questions at Primary 2 only, where the passage is heard rather than seen, One essay prompt, randomly selected per test date, unscored and sent to designated schools
Passing Requirement
There is no cut score and no pass or fail. E3n publishes no minimum and advises member schools to consider each section score separately rather than combining them. What counts as competitive is set by each school's admitted-student profile, which families should ask the admission office for directly.
How It Is Delivered
Four options. At school, in person, in paper or online format, group testing. At home, remotely proctored in online format only, individual testing. In a professional educational testing office, in person, paper or online, group or individual. At a Prometric Test Center, in person, online format, group testing, available for applicants to Grades 5 through 12 only. E3n states both modalities carry the same number of questions, the same timing and the same ability to change answers inside a section.
Languages Offered
English only. E3n does not publish translated versions of the ISEE.
Visit the official ERB certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Scaled scores from 760 to 940 for each scored section, reported alongside a percentile rank from 1 to 99 and a stanine from 1 to 9. Lower, Middle and Upper Level reports carry four scored sections. Primary 2, 3 and 4 reports carry two. The essay is never scored.
Score You Need
There is no cut score and no pass or fail. E3n publishes no minimum and advises member schools to consider each section score separately rather than combining them. What counts as competitive is set by each school's admitted-student profile, which families should ask the admission office for directly.
How It Is Calculated
Raw score is simply the number of correct answers, because nothing is deducted for a wrong answer. E3n releases new forms every year built to identical content and difficulty specifications, then creates a unique score conversion for each form so scores from different forms are fully comparable. Each multiple-choice section also contains several unscored field-test questions that may appear on future editions. Percentiles and stanines come from a norm group of same-grade ISEE takers over the previous three years.
When You Get Results
No unofficial score is shown at the end of the test. Individual Student Reports are usually ready in three to five days after an online administration and five to ten days after a paper administration, with E3n separately noting seven to fourteen days for paper tests taken by applicants to Grades 2 to 4. Reports post to the parent account at iseeonline.erblearn.org and an email notification is sent when they appear.
In raw terms: E3n does not publish a raw-to-scaled conversion table, and cannot, because the conversion changes for every form by design. The score report's Analysis area does give a breakdown of the number of questions in each section against how the student performed.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam)?
There are no academic prerequisites and no minimum score to qualify. Any student seeking admission to a school that accepts the ISEE may register.. The testing level is determined by the grade the student is applying to, not the grade the student is currently in.. Registration is done online at iseeonline.erblearn.org, or by phone at 1 (800) 446-0320. Prometric Test Center registration must be done online, because phone registration is not available for Prometric.. Paper tests must be registered 21 days or more before the test date. Online tests must be registered 3 days or more before the test date.. An approved form of identification is required at check-in. Upper Level students must present a photo ID.. A copy of the Verification Letter is required to check in. It is emailed after registration and is also available in the parent account.. Accommodations must be approved before registering. E3n advises waiting for the decision to avoid a rescheduling fee, and approvals then last 24 months.. At-home testing requires two devices: a computer or tablet with a built-in camera and microphone running the ISEE by E3n app, and a phone or second tablet running Remote Proctor Connect as a side camera.. At a Prometric Test Center a parent or guardian must remain at the centre for the duration of the test, with no exceptions.. Prometric Test Centers serve applicants to Grades 5 through 12 only. Applicants to Grades 2 through 4 must test at home, at a school, or in a professional testing office..
How much does the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) cost?
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) exam costs $130-$205. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam)?
Visit the official ERB certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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