The Educational Records Bureau (ERB) sponsors the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE exam). This test is designed as an admissions tool for private schools for kids in 4th to 12th grade. Parents register their children to take the test in various cities in the United States. Parents and their kids should get familiar with the format and content of the test so they can adequate prepare to get sufficient scores for admission into the private school of their choice.
Study Guides:
ISEE has a policy of making test preparation available for all students rich and poor. You can either access the official ISEE study guides for free online or purchase a paper copy for $20 each. There is a What to Expect on the ISEE study guide for Lower Level (up to Grade 6), Middle Level (up to Grade 8), and Upper Level (up to Grade 12).
To access a free online copy of the study guide applicable to your child’s grade level, go to the ISEETest.org website. Be aware that this is 140 pages, so you will need lots of paper if you want to print out a copy. You can order a copy through the Student Guide or at the ISEETest.org website.
Use the study guides to learn the substantive material tested at each ISEE exam level. You may need to also supplement the study guides with actual textbooks used for that age range. Of course, there is no guarantee how well your student will perform on the ISEE test. It is better to study more than necessary than to study less.
Another benefit of the ISEE study guides is that the student may do practice questions. Ideally, have the student study the substantive material first and then do the practice questions. This is the best way to gauge a student’s potential to pass the exam so long as a comprehensive review is done before the actual Independent School Entrance Examination test day.
Fees:
The fee for online or mail-in ISEE registration is $89. It is also possible to pay $20 and order by phone or fax. The fax number is 919-682-5775. The ERB number for ISEE phone registration is 800-446-0320. Download the Student Guide to get access to the mail-in order form. Note that fees can increase to $180 for arrangements like individual testing or administration of the test at a remote location.
Resources:
Educational Records Bureau: Student Guide