E3n (formerly ERB)
ISEE 2026-27
The admission test for independent schools, for students applying to grades 2 through 12. Students applying to grades 2 through 12 at independent schools. The level is set by the grade the student is applying to, not the grade they are in now.
ISEE levels
- Primary Level 2applying to Grade 2
- Primary Level 3applying to Grade 3
- Primary Level 4applying to Grade 4
- Lower Levelapplying to Grades 5-6
- Middle Levelapplying to Grades 7-8
- Upper Levelapplying to Grades 9-12
Lower Level (applying to Grades 5-6): sections
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 | 20 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 | 35 |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 | 30 |
| Essay (unscored) | 1 | 30 |
| Total | 128 | 140 |
Middle & Upper Level (applying to Grades 7-12): sections
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 20 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 37 | 35 |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 35 |
| Mathematics Achievement | 47 | 40 |
| Essay (unscored) | 1 | 30 |
| Total | 161 | 160 |
Scoring
Each of the four scored sections gets a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank from 1 to 99, and a stanine from 1 to 9. Students are compared with others in the same grade who took the ISEE over the past three years. There is no penalty for wrong answers. The essay is not scored and goes only to schools.
ISEE dates, 2026-27
- Fall testing seasonAugust, September, October, NovemberStanding policy, no year given
- Winter testing seasonDecember, January, February, MarchStanding policy, no year given
- Spring/Summer testing seasonApril, May, June, JulyStanding policy, no year given
- Registration cutoff, online-format tests3 days or more before the test dateStanding policy, no year given
- Registration cutoff, paper tests (before late fee)21 days or more before the test dateStanding policy, no year given
Fees
- At-school test (online or paper), applying to Grades 5-12$170
- At-school paper test, late registration (20-14 days before), Grades 5-12$215
- At-school paper test, walk-in registration, Grades 5-12$230
- At-home test, school-administered, Grades 5-12$170
- At-home test, E3n-administered, Grades 5-12$250
- In-office test, Grades 5-12$225 group / $255 individual (accommodations)
- Prometric test center, Grades 5-12$250
- Reschedule / cancel (home, school, office)$50 reschedule; $55 cancellation fee deducted from refund
Retakes
Once per testing season (fall, winter, and spring/summer), so up to three times in a school year.
Keep this for planning
Frequently asked questions
Who takes the ISEE?
Students applying to grades 2 through 12 at independent schools. The level is set by the grade the student is applying to, not the grade they are in now.
How long is the ISEE?
140 minutes for 128 questions at the Lower Level (applying to Grades 5-6) level.
How is the ISEE scored?
Each of the four scored sections gets a scaled score from 760 to 940, a percentile rank from 1 to 99, and a stanine from 1 to 9. Students are compared with others in the same grade who took the ISEE over the past three years. There is no penalty for wrong answers. The essay is not scored and goes only to schools.
How many times can you take the ISEE?
Once per testing season (fall, winter, and spring/summer), so up to three times in a school year.
Sources, read October 6, 2026: admission.org, admission.org, cdn.erblearn.org, admission.org. The ISEE is run by E3n (formerly ERB), which is not affiliated with Dewey Smart.
