The ISEE & the SSAT: How they compare
SSAT vs. ISEE - which test is a better fit for your child? Find out the key differences between the two main private/independent school entrance exams: the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) and the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam).
The SSAT
- vs.
- The ISEE
- Elementary Level: for students currently in grades 3-4
- Middle Level: for students currently in grades 5-7
- Upper Level: for students currently in grades 8-11
- Test Levels
- Primary Level: for students currently in grades 1-3
- Lower Level: for students currently in grades 4-5
- Middle Level: for students currently in grades 6-7
- Upper Level: for students currently in grades 8-11
- verbal reasoning, vocabulary, quantitative reasoning, math, reading, and writing skills (unscored writing sample)
- Content Covered
- verbal reasoning, vocabulary, quantitative reasoning, math, reading, and writing skills (unscored writing sample)
- synonyms and analogies
- Verbal Question Types
- synonyms and sentence completions
- five-choice multiple-choice questions
- Math Question Types
- four-choice multiple-choice and quantitative comparison questions (middle and upper levels)
Six sections: 1, 25-minute writing sample; 1, 30-minute verbal section; 2, 30-minute quantitative sections; 1, 40-minute reading section; 1, 15-minute Experimental section (Total of 3 hours and 5 minutes)
The Elementary Level exam only has one quantitative section and lasts for 2 hours, 5 minutes total.
Test Format
Five sections (lower level): 1, 30-minute writing sample; 1, 20-minute verbal section; 1, 35-minute quantitative section; 1, 25-minute reading section; 1, 30-minute math section (Total of 2 hours and 20 minutes)
Five sections (middle and upper levels): 1, 30-minute writing sample; 1, 20-minute verbal section; 1, 35-minute quantitative section; 1, 35-minute reading section; 1, 40-minute math section (Total of 2 hours and 40 minutes)
- yes, you lose 1/4 of a point for incorrect answers
- Penalty for Wrong Answers?
- no, you do not lose points for incorrect answers
- Elementary Level: Scale of 300-600 for Verbal, Quantitative, and Reading; scale of 900-1800 total
- Middle Level: Scale of 440-710 for Verbal, Quantitative, and Reading; scale of 1320-2130 total
- Upper Level: Scale of 500-800 for Verbal, Quantitative, and Reading; scale of 1500-2400 total
- Scoring
- All Levels: Scale of 760-940 for Verbal, Reading, Quantitative, and Math
- SSAT percentile rank between 1-99%; rank based on student's performance as compared to the other students in the same grade and of the same gender who have taken the test within the past three years
- Percentile Rank
ISEE percentile rank between 1-99%; rank based on student's performance as compared to the other students in the same grade who have taken the test within the past three years; Stanine score between 1-9
- Can choose which set(s) of SSAT scores to submit to schools
- Score Report
- Can choose which set(s) of ISEE scores to submit to schools
- National Test Dates: Offered 8 times per year in January, February, March, April, June, October, November, December
- Flex Test Dates: Flexible, but can only take one Flex Test per year
- Regional Flex Test Dates: Set by regional consortia, but can only take one Flex Test per year
- Testing Options
Offered on various test dates across the United States throughout the year. Students may register to take the ISEE one time in any or all of three testing seasons. The ISEE testing seasons are defined as Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March), and Spring/Summer (April–July).
ssat.org
- More Information
- erblearn.org
Related Topics
For an overview of the SSAT, visit the SSAT Overview page.
For a list of upcoming SSAT test dates, visit the SSAT Test Dates page.
To learn how to register for the SSAT, visit the SSAT Registration page.
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