The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is administered by the testing organization E3n. Test instructions are published on the official website, admission.org, and registration is completed in the official registration system, iseeonline.erblearn.org. The rules on testing seasons, test formats, fee tiers and score sending directly affect how many times a student can test and whether results reach schools before their deadlines. This page first sets out the rules item by item from the official pages, then explains the test format choices and scheduling common among Irvine families.
Three testing seasons a year, at most one test per season
This section explains the maximum number of tests a student can take in a school year and the interval between two tests.
| Testing season | Months | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | August to November | At most one test per season |
| Winter | December to March | At most one test per season |
| Spring/Summer | April to July | At most one test per season |
A student can therefore test at most three times in a school year. The official example: a student who has tested in September can test again in December at the earliest. Testing seasons are defined by month, not by how many times the student has registered.
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
Four test formats and eligible grades
This section explains where the test is taken, how students respond and which grades each format serves. The test organizer divides the test into four formats; the official English names apply.
| Official name | Description | Eligible application grades | Response method | Location and arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-Person & Paper | Paper test taken in person | Grades 2 to 12 | Printed test booklet, bubbled answer sheet, handwritten essay | School test site or professional testing office; group or individual |
| In-Person & Online | Online test taken in person (not at a Prometric center) | Grades 2 to 12 | Computer-based, typed essay | School test site or professional testing office; group or individual |
| At-Home | Online test at home with remote proctoring | Grades 2 to 12 | Computer-based | The student’s home; individual only |
| Prometric | Online test at a Prometric test center | Grades 5 to 12 | Computer-based | Prometric test center; group |
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
The official materials state that the online and paper formats are identical in the number of questions, timing and opportunity to change answers. The two formats differ in how quickly results are released (see “Score release and score sending rules” below) and in device requirements.
Device and procedure requirements for at-home online testing. The test organizer requires the following preparation before the test, and a trained proctor supervises remotely throughout.
- A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, used to answer the questions
- An additional phone or tablet serving as a second camera, showing the student’s keyboard, desk and hands
- The official secure testing applications, ISEE by E3n and Remote Proctor Connect, installed on the two devices respectively
- The testing application opened 30 minutes before the test to begin check-in
Prometric test centers. Prometric is a professional testing services company with test centers in many locations. Its centers accept only the Lower, Middle and Upper Levels, for applicants to grades 5 through 12. The official 2026 Prometric test center list includes an Orange County test center under California, which is relatively convenient for Irvine families.
Six steps to register
This section explains what to prepare for registration and the order of the steps.
- Create a parent account. Register for an ISEE parent account in the official registration system, iseeonline.erblearn.org; families with an existing account can log in directly.
- Add the student and confirm the level. The level is determined by the grade the student is applying to enter, not by the student’s current grade; see the table below.
- Choose the test format, location and date. Available sessions are listed on the public dates page of the registration system. Test dates are first come, first served, with no single deadline, and the test organizer cautions that popular dates fill quickly.
- Pay. Fees depend on the test format and the application grade; see the fee table in the next section. Eligible families should obtain a waiver issued by a school before paying.
- Select schools to receive scores. Designate the schools that will receive scores in the parent account; schools can also be added later.
- Keep the confirmation documents. In-person tests generate a Verification Letter, which must be presented at check-in on the test day. Prometric test centers send an Appointment Confirmation by email, which states the check-in time, usually 30 minutes before the test begins.
| Applying to grade | Test level |
|---|---|
| Grade 2 | Primary 2 |
| Grade 3 | Primary 3 |
| Grade 4 | Primary 4 |
| Grades 5 to 6 | Lower Level |
| Grades 7 to 8 | Middle Level |
| Grades 9 to 12 | Upper Level |
Students who need testing accommodations, such as a separate testing room, should first obtain approval through the process on the official accommodations page (admission.org/assessments/isee/accommodations) and then register for an appropriate session.
Fees, rescheduling and refunds
This section lists the fees on the official registration page. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, as shown on the official registration page on September 29, 2026; the amount shown on the official registration page (admission.org/assessments/isee/registration) on the day of registration applies.
| Test location and type | Applying to grades 2 to 4 | Applying to grades 5 to 12 |
|---|---|---|
| At-home test, School-Administered | $130 | $170 |
| At-home test, E3n-Administered | $185 | $250 |
| School test site, online or paper, standard registration | $130 | $170 |
| School test site, paper, late registration (20 to 14 days before the test) | $175 | $215 |
| School test site, Walk-In registration (fewer than 13 days before the test) | $190 | $230 |
| Testing office (In-Office), group test | $185 | $225 |
| Testing office, individual test (with accommodations) | $210 | $255 |
| Prometric test center | Not offered | $250 |
The two at-home fee tiers correspond to different proctors: for School-Administered tests, staff of an E3n member school serve as proctors; for E3n-Administered tests, proctors trained and vetted by E3n are responsible. Paper tests at school test sites registered 21 or more days before the test are charged the standard fee.
| Situation | At-home, school test site, testing office | Prometric test center |
|---|---|---|
| 31 or more days before the test | Rescheduling $50; cancellation refunded after a $55 deduction | Rescheduling or cancellation free |
| 30 to 15 days before the test | Same as above | $25 change fee |
| 14 to 5 days before the test | Same as above | $45 change fee |
| 4 to 1 days before the test | Same as above | Rescheduling $75; no refund for cancellation |
| On or after the test day | No rescheduling, no refund | No refund; students more than 30 minutes late are not admitted |
Cancellation refunds for at-home, school test site and testing office tests may be requested only within 90 days of registration.
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
Fee waivers. Official fee waivers are intended for families with financial need who plan to apply for financial aid. The usual reference point is an annual income of about $80,000 for a family of four, adjusted for local cost of living, and the final decision rests with the school. Waivers are not issued directly by E3n; parents should request one from the schools they are applying to before registering. Waivers cover registration fees for school test sites, testing offices and at-home testing, but not Prometric test centers. Waivers issued this school year expire on July 31, 2027. Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
Score release and score sending rules
This section explains how long results take to be released and how they reach schools.
| Item | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Online test results | Usually 3 to 5 days |
| Paper test results | Usually 5 to 10 days |
| Delivery to schools | Sent automatically after release to the schools the parents selected |
| Whether to send scores | Parents may choose to send or not to send |
| Adding schools after the test | No additional fee for schools added after the score report is generated |
| Removing schools | Only before the test date; schools cannot be deleted after the test |
| Sending part of a report | Not permitted; schools can receive only the complete score report |
Source: official ERB ISEE materials.
EDUBUS recommends the following: because schools listed before the test cannot be removed afterward, parents may list only schools to which the student will certainly apply and which will accept any result for the first test, and add other schools after results are released. Whether to retake after the test, and which result to send to which school, are covered with a complete decision path on the “Retakes and score sending” page in this library.
Choosing a test format
This section draws on the official rules above to explain which test format suits which students.
| Test format | Suited to | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| In-person paper test | Students used to working on paper and marking up the test booklet; younger applicants to grades 2 to 4 who are not yet comfortable using a computer | Results take longer, so more time must be allowed before school deadlines |
| In-person online test | Students who type fluently and want faster results | Held at a school or testing office with an on-site proctor; students do not need to manage the equipment themselves |
| At-home online test | Families confident in both their equipment and a separate room | Saves travel, but places the highest demands on home equipment and environment |
| Prometric test center | Applicants to grades 5 to 12 who type fluently | Accepts only the Lower, Middle and Upper Levels |
The EDUBUS assessment: applicants to grades 2 to 4 should favor an in-person test site, where on-site staff handle the equipment and procedures. For applicants to grade 5 and above who type fluently, the faster results of an in-person online test or a Prometric test center make it easier to meet deadlines. At-home testing suits families confident in both their equipment and a suitable room, and EDUBUS does not recommend it as the first choice for a first test.
Test scheduling for Irvine families
This section explains which month to schedule the test in to leave time for a retake and for results to be released.
A common arrangement among Irvine families is to take the first test in the fall season, focus on strengthening the weakest section after results are released, take the second test in the winter season, and send the stronger result to schools. Scheduling should work backward from school deadlines rather than forward from the student’s preparation progress.
Take Sage Hill School as an example. The school’s admission page states that official ISEE or SSAT results for 2027-28 applications must arrive by January 31. Based on the official score release times, a paper test must be completed by January 21 at the latest and an online test by January 26 at the latest, and neither date leaves any margin for the unexpected. EDUBUS recommends scheduling the winter test in December or early January and confirming with the admission office how “arrival” of scores is determined. Source: Sage Hill School admission page.
Two further points should be considered in advance:
- The earlier the first fall test, the more time is available to strengthen weaknesses before a winter retake. A student who tests in September can retake in December at the earliest, leaving more than two months for review.
- The winter season is also when interviews, essays and recommendation letters are concentrated, so retake preparation should be scheduled together with the application materials.
The months of each testing season and the dates compiled on this site are listed on the test calendar; specific sessions are as shown in the official registration system on the day. For pacing two tests around a student’s level and target schools, see EDUBUS ISEE courses and assessment; the pace of the fall class is designed around the fall and winter testing seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a single registration deadline for Irvine students taking the ISEE?
No. Test dates are first come, first served, and the test organizer cautions that dates fill quickly, so families should register early. For paper tests at school test sites, standard registration applies 21 or more days before the test, late registration applies 20 to 14 days before the test, and walk-in registration applies fewer than 13 days before the test; the latter two cost more.
How should Irvine families decide between testing at home and testing at a test site?
At-home testing suits families that have a quiet, separate room, a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, and an additional phone or tablet to serve as a second camera. When the student is young, is easily disrupted by device problems, or the home internet connection is unreliable, EDUBUS recommends a school test site or a testing office. Applicants to grades 5 through 12 may also choose an online test at a Prometric test center.
What is the ISEE registration fee for an Irvine student applying to grade 6?
Applicants to grade 6 take the Lower Level and pay the rate for applicants to grades 5 through 12. As shown on the official registration page on September 29, 2026: $170 at a school test site, $250 at a Prometric test center, and for at-home testing $170 when administered by a school or $250 when administered by E3n. The amount shown on the official registration page on the day of registration applies.
How are fees calculated if an Irvine family needs to reschedule or cancel an ISEE registration?
For at-home, school test site and testing office tests, rescheduling 1 or more days before the test costs $50; cancellation is refunded after a $55 deduction and may be requested only within 90 days of registration. No rescheduling or refund is available on or after the test day. Prometric test centers use a separate tiered schedule: rescheduling 31 or more days before the test is free, and fees rise as the test date approaches.
Can Irvine families apply for an ISEE registration fee waiver?
Yes, but waivers are not issued directly by the test organizer. Families planning to apply for financial aid should request a fee waiver from the schools they are applying to before registering, and the school decides based on the family's financial circumstances. Waivers cover registration fees for school test sites, testing offices and at-home testing, and generally do not cover Prometric test centers.
Can Irvine students add schools to receive scores after taking the ISEE?
Yes. The official materials state that adding schools after the score report is generated incurs no additional fee. Schools on the score-sending list can be removed only before the test date and cannot be deleted after the test; schools can receive only the complete score report, not selected sections.
Sources12 sources · checked 2026-09-29
- admission.org/assessments/isee/about
- admission.org/assessments/isee/registration
- admission.org/assessments/isee/instructions/test-options
- admission.org/assessments/isee/instructions/in-person-paper
- admission.org/assessments/isee/instructions/in-person-online
- admission.org/assessments/isee/instructions/home
- admission.org/assessments/isee/instructions/prometric
- admission.org/assessments/isee/score-reports
- admission.org/assessments/isee/fee-waivers
- 5232910.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5232910/Admission.org/ISEE%20Prometric%20Test%20Center%20List%202026.pdf
- iseeonline.erblearn.org
- sagehillschool.org/admission/how-to-apply
