10 Traps to Avoid on the ISEE

If your child is interested in attending an independent school, they will likely need to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) in order to apply. The test isn’t easy, and there are traps to avoid that you should learn about before sitting for the test. You’ll be set to go once you read our list of ISEE don’ts. Here are our best tips about traps to avoid on the ISEE test.  Don’t try to…

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Need Help Deciphering Your Child’s ISEE Report?

Need help deciphering your child’s ISEE report? The Individual Student Report (ISR), which will be posted to your family’s online account several days after your child takes the ISEE exam, shows the results from your child’s exam day and some useful metrics for gauging how well they performed on the exam. Copies of the ISR are also emailed to ERB schools and consultants if you have listed them as recipients (The essay, which is NOT scored…

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Should Your Child Take the ISEE More Than Once?

It can be very helpful for students to take the ISEE test more than once. Our recommendation is to start test prep before testing the first time, then continue test prep up until the second test date. It can be beneficial for students to have the experience of taking the test the first time, then reviewing those results with the tutor, strengthening test-taking strategies and improving content knowledge, and then testing again. But when can…

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Boston School Committee Approves Change to Exam School Admissions

The Boston School Committee voted in July in favor of a new policy for entrance to the city’s three exam schools in which students will be selected from eight tiers, divided by socio economic factors including income of families in a student’s census tract, the number of households in which a language other than English is spoken and the educational attainment of individuals in the tract. The unanimous vote came after a group of white…

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ISEE Levels, Test Sections, and Timing

A student’s testing level is determined by the grade to which the student is applying for admission—not a student’s current grade. The ISEE has four levels. The test sections, number of questions, and test timing vary by level. Here is a breakdown of the ISEE levels, test sections, and timing for each exam. PRIMARY ISEE LEVELS Primary 2 (applying to Grade 2) Section Questions Time Allotted Auditory Comprehension 6 7 minutes Reading 18 20 minutes…

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ISEE Registration for 2021-2022

Did you know that ERB recommends registering as early as possible in order to secure your ideal date? Test dates fill up quickly, so you should verify any application deadlines with the schools to which your student is applying to ensure that score reports are received in a timely manner. Registration closes two weeks before a test date. To register, please click here. Registering online is the fastest and easiest way to secure a testing…

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At-Home Testing for the ISEE Is Available

Students can now take the admissions test trusted by schools around the world from the comfort and safety of their homes, with three remote ISEE At Home testing options. Families should follow their application schools’ instructions when selecting their at-home testing choice. If your schools do not provide guidance, please pick the option that works best for you! Families can register for this at-home testing option anytime here. Students do not need to have an…

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Here’s the Key to Mastering the ISEE Essay

The key to mastering the ISEE essay is preparing yourself for the difficulty of developing a full essay within 30 minutes. Before we discuss the details of the essay assignment, there’s something you need to know: your ISEE essay is not being scored. It will be sent along with the rest of your test to the schools to which you are applying. It is going to be looked at alongside your admission essay (if the…

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9 Tips for Avoiding Traps with the ISEE Test

If your child is interested in attending an independent school, they will likely need to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) in order to apply. You’ll be set to go once you read our list of ISEE don’ts. Here are our best tips for avoiding traps on the ISEE test.  Don’t wait until the last minute to prep. Starting early is essential to understanding and becoming comfortable with the test format, which in turn…

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Is Your Child Taking the ISEE Exam?

Is your child taking the ISEE exam? It’s important for you and your child to understand that the test is far more challenging than the typical tests they have taken in school. The test is taken by the best and brightest students applying for competitive schools, so the pool of students taking the test is already very high-achieving. The makers of the test have developed the content to be challenging enough that most students will…

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