The ISEE and SSAT are nationally administered exams used for admission to private elementary, middle, and high schools.
For nearly two decades, Bespoke has been helping students of all ages succeed on these exams through compassionate, empowering instruction. Our comprehensive approach to test prep incorporates individualized tutoring sessions, weekly homework from our proprietary textbooks, and frequent mock testing to comprise a program that is both thorough and tailored to your student’s specific needs. Our tutors communicate frequently with parents to ensure test prep fits within a student’s broader academic context—allowing the student to excel on the exams without feeling overwhelmed.
Whether you’re ready to begin tutoring immediately or just have questions about the tests, our client services team is looking forward to speaking with you! You’ll talk to a knowledgeable, caring individual who will create a test prep plan and pair you with the perfect tutor for your student’s personality and learning style. Your student will then learn the actionable skills to build confidence and thrive on test day and beyond.
ISEE vs. SSAT
One of the most common questions families have when beginning test prep is, “Which test should my child take?” The first consideration in answering this question is which exam the schools on your list accept. Boarding schools tend to prefer the SSAT while other private schools often prefer the ISEE.
If your schools do not express a preference, you should consider which exam best highlights your student’s strengths. The best way to answer this question is to have your student take a practice test of each. Bespoke’s mock testing program makes it easy to take realistic ISEE and SSAT practice exams in our offices or from the comfort of your home. Our experienced client services team then uses your student’s scores, experience of the exams, and learning profile to help you make an informed decision.
“When we were looking for a high school for our daughter, Bespoke’s tutors and office team could not have been more patient, knowledgeable, and capable. Their middle school admissions seminar provided us with lots of information about what the high school admissions process would be like. Bespoke paired Ali with a terrific ISEE instructor who helped her with test strategies and zeroed in on her reading comprehension weaknesses. She got into all three private schools she applied to.”
– Parents of a P.S. 334 eighth grader
About the ISEE
What is the ISEE?
The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is produced by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). It is used for admission to private elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools. Most boarding schools will also accept the ISEE, but you should make sure to check with the admissions office of any school to which you are applying.
Who takes the ISEE?
The ISEE is taken by students in first grade through eleventh grade.
Younger students take the ISEE Primary test, which comes in three levels:
- ISEE Primary 2—for students in first grade applying to second grade
- ISEE Primary 3—for students in second grade applying to third grade
- ISEE Primary 4—for students in third grade applying to fourth grade
There are also three versions of the ISEE for older students:
- Lower Level—for students in fourth and fifth grades applying to fifth and sixth grades
- Middle Level—for students in sixth and seventh grades applying to seventh and eighth grades
- Upper Level—for students in eighth grade and above applying to ninth grade and above
What’s on the test?
The ISEE Primary exams contain multiple-choice Math and Reading Comprehension sections as well as a multiple-choice Listening section for ISEE Primary 2 test takers, an Essay based on a picture prompt for ISEE Primary 3 test takers, and an Essay based on a written prompt for Primary 4 test takers.
The Lower, Middle, and Upper Level ISEE exams contain four multiple-choice sections—Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Math Achievement—as well as an Essay.
How long is the test?
The ISEE takes approximately two and a half hours to administer.
How is the test scored?
Each multiple-choice section has a scaled score between 760–940. Students are then assigned a percentile rank for each section based on how they scored relative to their peers. The most important number on a student’s score report, however, is the stanine. Stanines have values of 1–9, with each value representing a range of percentiles.
| Percentile | Stanine |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1 |
| 4–10 | 2 |
| 11–22 | 3 |
| 23–39 | 4 |
| 40–59 | 5 |
| 60–76 | 6 |
| 77–88 | 7 |
| 89–95 | 8 |
| 96–99 | 9 |
A student’s essay is not scored but is sent to each school that receives the student’s ISEE scores. The essays are important additions to most students’ applications and can be used to assess handwriting, idea generation, and knowledge of writing mechanics.
I’m hearing a lot about “superscoring.” What does that mean?
Some schools employ a process called “superscoring” which can be very beneficial for students. When superscoring, schools consider the highest stanine a student has achieved for each multiple choice section.
(For example, if an Upper Level ISEE student scored 4 VR, 7 QR, 9 RC, and 8 MA in September and 7 VR, 9 QR, 8 RC, and 7 MA in December, the student’s superscore would be 7 VR, 9 QR, 9 RC, and 8 MA.)
Because of superscoring, we highly recommend students take the ISEE once in the Fall and once in the Winter. Check with individual school admissions offices to see if they employ superscoring.
If students take the ISEE multiple times, do they have to send schools all of their scores?
The ISEE allows students to select which scores to send to schools; however, some schools require applicants to submit all scores received. Check with individual admissions offices to confirm their policies.
(Note: If students elect to send ISEE scores from a given test date, they must send all of the section scores from that date—i.e. they cannot opt to send their Math Achievement score but not their Reading Comprehension score. Admissions offices that allow “superscoring” will calculate superscores on their own from all of the scores submitted.)
How is the test administered?
The Primary Level ISEE exams are offered online at Prometric centers throughout the country.
The Lower, Middle, and Upper Level ISEE exams are offered in both online and pencil-and-paper formats. The pencil-and-paper version is offered at several locations in New York City and elsewhere, and the online version is offered at Prometric centers throughout the country. Students also have the option of taking the online test at home using Prometric’s ProProctor software.
When is the test offered?
The ISEE is administered on various dates during each of three testing seasons: Fall (August–November), Winter (December–March), and Spring/Summer (April–July). Students can take the test once per testing season and up to three times total. Bespoke generally recommends that students sit for the exam once in the Fall and once in the Winter.
When will students receive their scores?
According to the ISEE, students who take the online exam will receive scores in 2–3 days and students who opt for the paper-and-pencil exam will receive their scores within a week.
Where can I get more information on the ISEE?
For more information on the ISEE, and to register online, please visit the ERB/ISEE website.
About the SSAT
What is the SSAT?
The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is produced by the Enrollment Management Association. It is used primarily for admission to boarding and military schools in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Some private elementary and secondary schools also accept the SSAT.
Who takes the test?
The SSAT is taken by students in third grade through eleventh grade. There are three different versions of the SSAT:
- Elementary Level—for students in third and fourth grades applying to fourth and fifth grades
- Middle Level—for students in fifth, sixth, and seventh grades applying to sixth, seventh, and eighth grades
- Upper Level—for students in eighth grade and above applying to ninth grade and above
What’s on the test?
The Elementary Level SSAT has three multiple-choice sections—Quantitative/Math, Verbal, and Reading—as well as a Writing Sample.
The Middle and Upper Level SSAT exams have four multiple-choice sections—two Quantitative sections, one Verbal section, and one Reading section—as well as a Writing Sample.
The Elementary, Middle, and Upper Level SSAT exams all end with a 15-minute experimental section which contains multiple-choice questions similar to those a student would see on the Quantitative, Reading, or Verbal sections. The experimental section is not graded.
How long is the test?
The Elementary Level SSAT takes approximately two hours to administer, while the Middle and Upper Level SSAT exams take approximately three hours to administer.
How is the test scored?
- Each multiple-choice section on the Elementary Level SSAT has a scaled score between 300–600, for a total of 900–1800.
- Each multiple-choice section on the Middle Level SSAT has a scaled score between 440–710, for a total of 1320–2130.
- Each multiple-choice section on the Upper Level SSAT has a scaled score between 500–800, for a total of 1500–2400.
A student’s Writing Sample is not scored but is sent to each school that receives the student’s SSAT scores. The Writing Samples are important additions to most students’ applications and can be used to assess handwriting, idea generation, and knowledge of writing mechanics.
I’m hearing a lot about “superscoring.” What does that mean?
Some schools employ a process called “superscoring” which can be very beneficial for students. When superscoring, schools take a student’s highest score for each multiple choice section and combine them into a new “superscore.”
(For example, if an Upper Level SSAT student scored 650 Quantitative, 780 Reading, and 720 Verbal for a 2150 total in October and 730 Quantitative, 750 Reading, and 760 Verbal for a 2240 total in January, the student’s superscore would be 730 Quantitative, 780 Reading, and 760 Verbal for a new total of 2270.)
Because of superscoring, we highly recommend students take the SSAT at least twice. Check with individual school admissions offices to see if they employ superscoring.
If students take the SSAT multiple times, do they have to send schools all of their scores?
The SSAT allows students to select which scores to send to schools; however, some schools require applicants to submit all scores received. Check with individual admissions offices to confirm their policies.
(Note: If students elect to send SSAT scores from a given test date, they must send all of the section scores from that date—i.e. they cannot opt to send their Quantitative score but not their Verbal score. Admissions offices that allow “superscoring” will calculate superscores on their own from all of the scores submitted.)
How is the test administered?
The Elementary Level SSAT is only offered in a paper-and-pencil format. This can be taken at testing centers around the world on specified dates or as a “Flex” test administered by a school on a non-standard test date.
The Middle and Upper Level SSAT exams are offered in both online and pencil-and-paper formats. The online version is offered at Prometric centers throughout the country, while the pencil-and-paper version can only be taken as a “Flex” test at a participating school. Students taking the Middle and Upper Level SSAT exams also have the option of taking the online test at home using customized remote proctoring software.
When is the test offered?
Standard (i.e. non-”Flex”) administrations of the SSAT occur once a month from October–April, as well as once in June. An SSAT “testing season” runs from August 1–July 31.
- Students taking the Elementary Level SSAT may take two tests per testing season.
- Students taking the Middle or Upper Level SSAT may take two tests per testing season at a Prometric center and up to five tests per testing season at home.
- Additionally, students of any level may take one “Flex” test per testing season.
When will students receive their scores?
According to the SSAT, students who take the paper-and-pencil exam typically receive scores within two weeks of the test date. Middle and Upper Level students who take the test at a Prometric center can expect to receive scores four business days after the test date, and those who take the test at home typically receive scores four business days after the first Sunday following the exam.
Where can I get more information on the SSAT?
For more information on the SSAT, and to register online, please visit the SSAT website.
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