OVERVIEW OF THE ISEE (INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM)

This overview is given by Peterson's Services http://www.petersons.com

The ISEE is a test developed by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) for use in the admission procedures of its 1,540 member schools. In conjunction with the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the ISEE was developed with input from independent school faculty and directors, and is considered to be a high quality assessment of student performance and potential.

When and where:
You can register for any administration via mail, phone, fax, or Internet — the Internet being the fastest and easiest…and cheapest. It costs $20 extra to register via fax or phone. You can only take the test once in a six-month time frame, and unlike some other standardized tests, you must take it strictly for purposes of admission to a school, not as a practice exam.

There are schools and offices where you can take the test in more than 30 metro areas, and information on how to register for testing in any of these locations is available at the ERB Web site, where you can download an ISEE Student Guide for free.

The format:
Because the ISEE is for students entering fifth through twelfth grade, the exam has three different levels: the Lower Level exam, for students entering fifth and sixth grades; the Middle Level exam, for students entering seventh and eighth grades; and the Upper Level exam, for students entering ninth through twelfth grades. Regardless of which version you'll be taking, the ISEE takes about three hours to complete, not including time between sections and two scheduled breaks.

Every level of the ISEE includes a 30-minute essay portion where you'll need to respond to a topic statement, as well as a 40-question Verbal Reasoning section. Each version of the test also includes sections on Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement. The high school version includes math questions specific to your skills in Algebra and Geometry.
Regardless of what level of the exam you take, the ISEE serves to measure your learning capabilities and to identify your strengths and weaknesses in key areas.

Scoring:
Approximately 7–10 days after you take your test, you'll receive an Individual Student Report (ISR) which will include your test scores and diagnostic information. This report will also be sent to the parents, as well as up to six schools that you identify when you register for the exam. PLEASE BE AURE TO PUT CALVERT SCHOOL DOWN AS WELL. Your essay isn't scored, but a copy will be sent to your selected schools so they may see a sample of your writing.
Based on the information they receive, schools can finalize admission decisions and develop an individualized instructional program for you.

The ISEE is one of the two most commonly used admission tests for a variety of private schools — the other is the SSAT. Be sure of which one you need to take to get into the school of your choice. The tests are similar, but most schools will require only one or the other. Don't take the wrong one!