CS Upper School Placement

FAQ's about the ISEE test

2008-11-13T16:01:00.004-05:00

The Independent School Entrance Examination ("ISEE") Online Registration allows you to register for an ISEE test at an open test site during the 2008 - 2009 year, in accordance to ERB's privacy policy.

ISEE STUDENT GUIDE: The ISEE Student Guide is available for download at www.ISEEtest.org Also, an ISEE Student Guide can be obtained from the school to which you are applying or by contacting the Educational Records Bureau at ISEE@erbtest.org. The ISEE Student Guide contains a mail-in registration form.

TESTING WITH ACCOMMODATIONS: The Educational Records Bureau will make every effort to arrange special administrations to accommodate students who are unable to take the ISEE under standard conditions because they have a documented physical challenge or learning difference Testing with accommodation seats are not listed on the online registration and a student cannot register for a test with accommodations online.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If for some reason you will not be taking the ISEE after registering for it, you may receive a refund. Please call the Operations Office at 1-800-446-0320 or 919-956-8524 within four weeks of your scheduled test date for a refund. All refunds shall have a $20 service fee deducted.

How long does it take to complete the ISEE?
Approximately three hours, not including time to read testing directions and breaks. Parents should arrive at the school to pick up students no earlier than three hours after the testing time listed on the Verification Letter. Please be respectful of testing staff and pick students up promptly.

Are there breaks during the test?
Yes, there are two five-minute breaks, one after the second section of the test, and the other after the fourth section of the test.

What may I take with me to the exam?
You should take pencils and pens, as it says on your Verification Letter. You may also take a small snack to consume only during the breaks. Many schools provide snacks, but they are not required to do so. Do not bring cell phones, beepers, calculators, books, scrap paper, or anything else with you. If a student does not comply, he or she will be excused from testing and the test will be invalidated.

Whom do I call to change the schools I'm sending scores to, or to add more schools?
You may call the ISEE Operations Office at 1-800-446-0320. If you add schools after the student tests, or if the total number of schools is more than six, there will be a $15 charge.

My child is ill. What do I do?
If your child is ill, you should use your best judgment as ISEE strives for optimal testing conditions. A student may not test more than once in a six-month period. If you need to postpone testing due to illness, please call the ISEE Operations Office at 1-800-446-0320.

My child cannot go to the test that day and I need to change the test date. What do I do?
You should call the ISEE Operations Office as soon as possible to reschedule testing. Please note that we cannot reschedule testing for test sites that are filled to capacity and test dates where registration has closed. There is a $20 fee for change of test site and/or test date. If you wish to cancel the exam, please call the ISEE Operations Office within four weeks of your scheduled test for a refund. All refunds have a $20 processing fee deducted.

In the event of inclement weather, how do I find out if the test will be held?
Call the ISEE test site directly or check the school's website to see if they will be holding or rescheduling the test.

OVERVIEW OF THE ISEE (INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM)

2008-10-30T13:00:00.003-04:00

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!

OVERVIEW OF THE SSAT (SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM)

2008-10-30T12:40:00.003-04:00

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

There are several different private school admission tests, but perhaps the most common is the SSAT. Roughly 55,000 students take the test each year as a required part of their application to private day or boarding schools. Geared to fifth through eleventh graders, the SSAT evaluates the same skill sets that many standardized tests evaluate, such as math, reading comprehension, and verbal skills. Schools use your scores to make an admission decision as well as to determine your curricular needs for the future.

When and where:
You can register to take the SSAT in the United States at National Administration sites about eight times a year, or at more convenient times for you with FLEX test dates available throughout the year through educational consultants and private schools. If you're not sure of which option is best for you, you can search schools and get further information about the registration process at the official site of the SSAT. Regardless of when or where you test, you can register online, although for FLEX test dates, you must make an appointment directly with the site or agency prior to completing your registration online. SSAT officials also advise that if you plan to take the test at an official test center in October, make sure you register online well in advance. October test dates are usually administered at only a limited amount of U.S. centers and testing capacity is limited. The only way to be sure you get a seat is to register online.

The format:
The SSAT is administered at grades 8-11 and comes in many different versions to ensure that repeat test-takers don't take the same test twice.

There are five sections to the test:

A 25-minute essay segment
A 40-minute reading comprehension portion
Two 30-minute quantitative (math) sections
A 30-minute verbal section with synonyms and analogies.

Everything on the test is based on skills you've learned in school, so if you're up to par on your studies, you've got everything covered.

Scoring:
Most of the time, scores come out about two weeks after testing is completed, via regular and electronic mail. Your score report comes complete with a detailed explanation of your scores and how they compare to the last three years' test-takers. Students in grades 5–9 will also receive an estimate on how they compare to the overall national student population. If you're in grades 7–10, your report will include an estimate of how you might score on the SAT when you take it.

On the SSAT, all questions are considered equal. You won't be graded down by not answering a question, but you will lose points for incorrect or multiple answers to a question. You'll earn points for each correct answer and lose ¼ point for each incorrect response. Your essay isn't a part of all the number crunching, though — it is used by schools to evaluate your writing skills.

The other sections are scored by SSAT and add up to the following:
Verbal, Quantitative, and Reading scores for grades 8–11: 500–800 (1500–2400 total)

CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMS

2008-10-30T12:27:00.004-04:00

This overview is taken from Peterson's Services http://www.petersons.com

Local Baltimore Catholic Schools require the HSPT (High School Placement Test) to evaluate the student's academic progress and potential and to determine placement in classes best suited to their abilities.

The HSPT (High School Placement Test):

The test is administered by individual high schools to eighth graders applying to their schools. For specifics on costs and dates, you'll need to contact the specific school you're interested in directly as they schedule and administer their own tests.

The HSPT takes approximately two and a half hours to complete and has five multiple-choice segments:

Verbal: A 16-minute segment with 60 questions including synonyms, antonyms, analogies, logic, and verbal classification problems.

Quantitative: A 30-minute segment with 52 questions covering geometric comparisons, non-geometric comparisons, and number manipulations.

Reading: A 25-minute section with 62 questions covering several short reading passages.

Mathematics: At 45-minutes in length, this section is the longest and has 64 questions covering arithmetic, elementary algebra, and basic geometry.

Language: A 25-minute section with 60 questions covering capitalization, punctuation, usage, spelling, and composition.

Class of 2009... "Oh! The Places You'll Go"

2008-09-16T11:57:00.008-04:00

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Dr. Suess

Calvert School Class of 2008

2008-09-07T18:59:00.009-04:00

For the last five years, Calvert School 's 8th graders have averaged a 90% acceptance rate to their first choice school .

Congratulations to the most recent graduating class! The Class of 2008 had a 96% acceptance rate to their first choice school and are enrolled in 13 different schools.