Free ISEE Resources:Official Links, Planners and Glossaries

How to use this page

This section explains the difference between the two categories, the recommended order of use, and points to note when using the official resources.

Official resources and EDUBUS original materials

The two categories have different sources and different rules of use, so they should be distinguished before use.

Category	Includes	Rules of use
Official resources	Online sample test sites, What to Expect guides, the Quick Facts Guide, the At-Home Family Guide, and the explanation pages on admission.org	This page provides links only and does not reproduce any questions, charts or text from them; the copyright belongs to the test organizer. The latest version of the official pages governs test rules, fees, dates and score explanations.
EDUBUS original materials	12-week planner, error log template, test-day checklist, math terms glossary, ISEE glossary	Written by the EDUBUS teaching team. The schedules and training methods are EDUBUS recommendations, not requirements of the test organizer; the example sentences in the glossary are original and are not taken from any official or third-party questions. They may be printed freely for family use.

The official preparation page and the Quick Facts Guide also recommend a paid preparation product. That product is not a free resource; this page does not include or evaluate it. Each table notes its check date, and when the test organizer updates its content, this page is brought in line at the next review.

Recommended order of use

The official resources are few, but each answers a different question. EDUBUS recommends using them in the following order so that the official practice tests are not used up too early.

1. Understand the test. Read the Quick Facts Guide first. The booklet is short and covers the facts parents ask about most often: how the level is determined; how the school year is divided into three testing seasons (fall, August to November; winter, December to March; spring/summer, April to July), with at most one test per season; the differences between test formats; and when scores are released. Decide on the test format and season after reading it. Irvine families whose target schools have January application deadlines usually need to schedule the test in the fall season or the first half of the winter season to leave time for score sending; each school’s admission page governs the specific dates.
2. Diagnose. At the start of preparation, complete the online sample test site for the matching level, and treat it as a diagnosis rather than practice. How the student handles the computer-based interface for the first time is more informative than the score, including whether the student uses scratch paper, knows that answers can be revisited and changed, and checks the time remaining in each section.
3. Mid-point simulation. Save the practice test in the What to Expect guide for the middle of the preparation period, as one complete paper-based simulation. Afterward, check the answers and conversion tables in the guide and enter the errors in the error log on this page.
4. The week before the test. Families choosing a paper test or a computer-based test at a test site should reread the test rules section of the Quick Facts Guide; families choosing the at-home test should follow the At-Home Family Guide and complete device setup and the practice check-in at least 3 days in advance.
5. After scores are released. Use the score report explanation page and the ISEE glossary on this page to understand the score report, then decide whether to retake the test in the next testing season.

Points to note when using official resources

• The What to Expect guides currently linked from the official preparation page are the 2021 editions, and the contact information in them is out of date. Taking the Lower Level guide as an example, its practice test also has fewer questions than the current actual test. The Quick Facts Guide governs the test structure, and the test organizer should be contacted through the channels published on admission.org.
• The online sample test sites redirect to a demonstration domain of the testing system when opened. This is normal and is not a phishing site.
• The Primary 2, 3 and 4 levels have no What to Expect guide, only online sample test sites.

Understanding the test: rules and structure

These materials confirm the level, test structure, testing seasons and test formats, and are best read before deciding to register.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
About the ISEE	All	Entry grades for each level, number of questions and time for each section, testing season rules	admission.org About page
Quick Facts Guide (2026–2027)	All	PDF quick reference: testing seasons, structure of each level, test formats and fees, registration, score sending, score release timing, test rules	Quick Facts Guide PDF
Test Options	All	Comparison of the four formats (computer-based at a test site, paper-based at a test site, at home, and Prometric) and the test instructions for each	admission.org Test Options

Source: official ERB ISEE materials.

Practice and self-checks: official samples and EDUBUS practice

These materials help students become familiar with the question types and the computer-based interface and check progress during preparation.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
Preparation page	All	Main entry point for the official online sample test sites and What to Expect guides	admission.org Preparation page
Official online sample test sites	One each for Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Lower, Middle and Upper	Simulates the interface and operation of the actual computer-based test and produces a sample score report at the end	Enter by level from the official preparation page
What to Expect guide (Lower Level)	Lower (applying for grades 5 to 6)	PDF preparation booklet: test introduction, explanation of scoring and how schools use scores, with one paper practice test and answers	Lower Level guide PDF
What to Expect guide (Middle Level)	Middle (applying for grades 7 to 8)	Same as above	Middle Level guide PDF
What to Expect guide (Upper Level)	Upper (applying for grades 9 to 12)	Same as above	Download from the official preparation page
EDUBUS free practice	Lower, Middle, Upper	Original short sets arranged by level; after completing a set under a time limit, enter the errors in the error log	Free practice center

Source: official ERB ISEE materials.

Planning and review: EDUBUS original tables

These materials help schedule weekly tasks and analyze errors, and are designed to be printed and kept at the desk. They are short versions of the detailed guides; for day-by-day task schedules, see the corresponding full pages.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
12-week planner (short version)	Lower, Middle, Upper	Lists the phase, focus and Sunday review questions for each week	Below on this page
Error log template	All	Sorts errors by cause to find recurring causes	Below on this page
12-week preparation plan (full version)	Lower, Middle, Upper	Daily task tables, time and allocation by section	12-week preparation plan

12-week planner (short version)

This table is for Lower, Middle and Upper Level students about 12 weeks before the test, with one row per week.

Week	Phase	Focus this week	Questions to answer at the Sunday review	Done
Week 1	Diagnosis and foundations	Use the official online sample test to diagnose all four sections; start a vocabulary notebook	What is the order of strength across the four sections? Which type of error is most common in each section?	☐
Week 2	Diagnosis and foundations	Fill gaps in math knowledge; organize new words by root	Do the points filled in this week still produce errors in Saturday’s mixed practice?	☐
Week 3	Diagnosis and foundations	Practice every question type in all four sections at least once	Are not-yet-learned errors starting to decrease?	☐
Week 4	Diagnosis and foundations	Checkpoint quiz: one timed set in each of the four sections	Compared with Week 1, have errors of the same type decreased? Which section is still weakest?	☐
Week 5	Section training	Time all practice, following the official section times	Can each section be finished within the time allowed?	☐
Week 6	Section training	Practice the weakest section twice a week	Are out-of-time errors decreasing?	☐
Week 7	Section training	First full mock test, following the actual test order and times	Which section has not changed since Week 4? Which section was not finished?	☐
Week 8	Section training	Adjust based on the mock test; redo the not-yet-learned errors from the mock test	Have all not-yet-learned questions from the mock test been mastered?	☐
Week 9	Section training	Wrap up section training; list the question types with repeated errors	Can all four sections be finished on time?	☐
Week 10	Mock tests and review	Second full mock test	Compared with the first mock test, how have the error types changed?	☐
Week 11	Mock tests and review	Work through the error list; compile a one-page summary of review points before the test	Are there questions on the error list that have not been redone?	☐
Week 12	Mock tests and review	Reduce practice volume, continue vocabulary practice, prepare for test day	Have materials, identification and the route been confirmed?	☐

Daily vocabulary practice continues from Week 1 through Week 12 without interruption in any phase. Verbal Reasoning has the tightest time limit and improves most slowly, and last-minute memorization before the test has limited effect.

Error log template

The purpose of the error log is not to record which questions were missed but to find where the same cause recurs. The cause column takes only one of the following three entries:

Cause	Meaning
Not yet learned	The concept or word has not yet been mastered
Careless error	The student knows how to solve it but made a mistake in reading, calculating or checking the choices
Out of time	The student knows how to solve it but could not finish within the time allowed

The first row of the table below is a sample entry.

Date	Section	Question type	Cause (not yet learned / careless error / out of time)	Next time
10/05	Mathematics Achievement	Sum of consecutive even numbers	Careless error	Circle “consecutive even,” write “differ by 2,” then set up the equation

Filling in and reviewing the log follows these steps:

1. Fill in the log on the day of each practice session; do not save entries for the weekend.
2. Write the “Next time” column as one specific action, such as “circle NOT first” or “estimate before setting up the equation”; do not write statements that cannot be acted on, such as “be more careful next time.”
3. Every Sunday, count the entries for each of the three causes and adjust the next week’s plan accordingly: when not-yet-learned errors dominate, schedule instruction and practice; when careless errors dominate, add circling key words in the question to the next week’s practice; when out-of-time errors dominate, shorten the time per question for that section the next week and answer the questions the student is sure of first.

Vocabulary and terms

These materials address two kinds of reading obstacles: the English wording in math questions, and the English terms in official materials and score reports.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
Math terms glossary	Lower, Middle, Upper	51 high-frequency terms from Mathematics Achievement and Quantitative Reasoning, each with an original English example sentence	Below on this page
ISEE glossary	All	Plain-language explanations of English terms related to scores, levels, scored sections and test administration	Below on this page
Preparation guide for non-native English speakers	All	Systematic training methods for vocabulary, reading and the language of mathematics	ISEE preparation for non-native English speakers
Mathematics Achievement page	All	Scope by level, mathematical English and original examples	Mathematics Achievement page

Math terms glossary

All questions in Mathematics Achievement and Quantitative Reasoning are written in English. EDUBUS teaching experience shows that a considerable share of the points Chinese-speaking students lose in these two sections comes from misreading the question, not from being unable to calculate. The tables below group 51 high-frequency terms into four topics, each with an original English example sentence. EDUBUS recommends studying one group per week and having the student explain, in the student’s first language, what each example sentence asks.

Operations

English	Meaning	Example
sum	Result of addition	The sum of 14 and 9 is 23.
difference	Result of subtraction	The difference between 50 and 18 is 32.
product	Result of multiplication	The product of 6 and 7 is 42.
quotient	Result of division	When 45 is divided by 5, the quotient is 9.
remainder	Amount left over after division	When 29 is divided by 4, the remainder is 1.
factor	Number that divides another evenly	8 is a factor of 32.
multiple	Product of a number and a whole number	32 is a multiple of 8.
prime number	Number whose only factors are one and itself	13 is a prime number because its only factors are 1 and 13.
integer	Whole number, positive, negative or zero	−3, 0, and 12 are all integers.
even / odd	Divisible by two / not divisible by two	The product of two odd numbers is always odd.
consecutive	Following one after another in order	11, 12, and 13 are three consecutive integers.
digit	Single numeral in a place of a number	In 4,728, the tens digit is 2.
reciprocal	Number whose product with another is one	The reciprocal of 3/5 is 5/3.
exponent	Number of times a base is multiplied by itself	In 2⁵, the exponent 5 tells how many times 2 is multiplied by itself.

Comparison and inequality

English	Meaning	Example
greater than	Larger than	0.6 is greater than 0.58.
less than	Smaller than	A number less than 10 cannot be 10 itself.
at least	Greater than or equal to	Each team needs at least 5 players, so 5 players are enough.
at most	Less than or equal to	The elevator holds at most 8 people.
no more than	Less than or equal to	Mia spent no more than $20, so she may have spent exactly $20.
no less than	Greater than or equal to	The trip takes no less than 2 hours.
exceed	Strictly greater than	The total cost must not exceed $150.
between	In the range from one value to another	Which fraction is between 1/3 and 1/2?
twice as many as	Two times the amount of	Leo has twice as many stamps as Ava, who has 15.
ratio	Comparison of two quantities	The ratio of boys to girls in the club is 3 to 4.
proportional	Changing at a constant rate with another quantity	The cost is proportional to the number of tickets bought.
percent increase	Increase as a percent of the original value	The price rose from $40 to $50, a percent increase of 25%.

“At least” and “no less than” include the endpoint, while “exceed” and “greater than” do not; this is where students lose the most points in this group. EDUBUS recommends circling these words while reading the question and rewriting them as the symbols ≥, ≤, > and <.

Geometry

English	Meaning	Example
perimeter	Distance around a polygon	The perimeter of a square with side 6 cm is 24 cm.
area	Size of a flat surface	The area of a rectangle is its length times its width.
volume	Space inside a solid figure	The volume of a cube with edge 3 inches is 27 cubic inches.
radius	Distance from the center of a circle to its edge	The radius of a circle is half of its diameter.
diameter	Distance across a circle through its center	A circle with radius 5 has a diameter of 10.
circumference	Distance around a circle	The circumference of a circle is π times its diameter.
parallel	Never meeting, always the same distance apart	Opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel.
perpendicular	Meeting at a right angle	The two streets are perpendicular and meet at a right angle.
right angle	Angle that forms a square corner	A right angle measures 90 degrees.
congruent	Same size and shape	Two congruent triangles have the same size and shape.
similar	Same shape, possibly different size	Similar figures have the same shape but may differ in size.
vertex	Corner point where sides meet	A triangle has three vertices.
quadrilateral	Four-sided polygon	A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides.
isosceles triangle	Triangle with two equal sides	An isosceles triangle has two sides of equal length.

Data and probability

English	Meaning	Example
mean (average)	Sum of the values divided by their number	The mean of 4, 8, and 12 is 8.
median	Middle value in an ordered list	The median of 3, 7, 9, 10, and 15 is 9.
mode	Value that appears most often	In the list 2, 5, 5, 6, the mode is 5.
range	Largest value minus smallest value	The range of 12, 20, and 31 is 19.
data set	Collection of values	The data set shows the heights of ten students.
frequency	Number of times a value occurs	The frequency table shows how many students chose each sport.
bar graph	Chart that uses bars to show amounts	According to the bar graph, which month had the most rain?
probability	Likelihood that an event occurs	The probability of rolling a 6 on a fair number cube is 1/6.
outcome	Possible result of an experiment	Flipping a coin has two possible outcomes.
at random	Without a pattern or choice	A marble is chosen at random from the bag.
equally likely	Having the same chance of occurring	Each of the four colors on the spinner is equally likely.

In data questions, “range” means the largest value minus the smallest value, which differs from the everyday sense of the word; “mean” and “average” have the same meaning in test questions. More Mathematics Achievement question types and original examples are on the Mathematics Achievement page.

ISEE glossary

Parents reading official materials and score reports encounter the following English terms repeatedly. Each entry gives the English term with a plain-language explanation.

Scores

Scaled Score: A score converted from the raw score (the number of questions answered correctly). Each scored section ranges from 760 to 940. The conversion offsets differences in difficulty between test forms, so scores from different test dates at the same level can be compared. Wrong answers carry no penalty, so every question should be answered.

Percentile: The share of students in the norm group whose scores are equal to or lower than the student’s, ranging from 1 to 99. The norm group consists of test takers applying to the same grade in private schools over the prior three years. A 70th percentile does not mean 70% of the questions were answered correctly; it means the student scored as well as or better than about seven in ten students in the group.

Stanine: Divides percentiles into 9 bands, with 1 the lowest and 9 the highest. The middle three bands, 4, 5 and 6, together cover 54 percentile points, while bands 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 each cover 23 percentile points. The “9999” that Irvine parents often mention means a stanine of 9 on all four scored sections; it does not mean every question was answered correctly.

Stanine Analysis: A chart in the score report that adds a shaded band on either side of each section’s stanine, showing a range of one stanine above and below. The test organizer uses it to indicate that variation within one stanine is normal when the same student retakes the test. When comparing a student’s relative strengths across sections, this variation should be taken into account, and a single-point difference of one stanine should not be read on its own.

Score Report: Formally named the Individual Student Report (ISR) and released in the parent account. The report compares each scored section with the comparison group and shows responses broken down by subcategory. It does not show how many times the student tested in an admission cycle, and it does not list other score recipients.

Score Recipients: The schools the parent designates to receive scores, which can be chosen at registration or added after scores are released. Once the student begins the test, schools already selected cannot be removed. Each school sets its own score deadline, so check each school individually.

Levels

Primary: Primary 2, 3 and 4 correspond to applying for grades 2, 3 and 4. The test covers two sections, reading and mathematics, all multiple choice; the Primary 2 reading section also includes a small number of listening questions played from a recording. The Primary levels have no essay, instructions are played from a recording, and the test includes one 10-minute break.

Lower: For students applying for grades 5 to 6. The test covers four scored sections, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics Achievement, and one unscored essay. Total time is 2 hours 20 minutes, plus two 10-minute breaks.

Middle: For students applying for grades 7 to 8. The sections are the same as the Lower Level; total time is 2 hours 40 minutes, plus two 10-minute breaks. Applicants to two grades take the same test form, but scores are compared only with students applying to the same grade.

Upper: For students applying for grades 9 to 12. The number of questions and time are the same as the Middle Level, with content aimed at higher grades. Upper Level test takers must present photo identification on test day.

Scored sections

Verbal Reasoning: Includes two question types, synonyms and sentence completion, and tests vocabulary and the ability to infer word meaning from context. The test organizer groups it with Quantitative Reasoning as the reasoning sections that measure the ability to learn. It is the section with the tightest time limit and depends mainly on long-term vocabulary building.

Quantitative Reasoning: Tests mathematical reasoning. At the Lower Level all questions are word problems; the Middle and Upper Levels add quantitative comparison questions, which compare the size of two quantities. According to the official explanation, some questions require no calculation or only simple calculation; the key is choosing the method.

Reading Comprehension: Students read short passages and answer questions; passages come from the sciences and the humanities. The test organizer writes questions in categories such as main idea, supporting details, inference, vocabulary in context, organization and logic, and tone and figurative language, and groups this section with Mathematics Achievement as the sections that reflect strengths in specific subjects.

Mathematics Achievement: Tests mathematics learned in school and requires actual calculation; some questions require knowing the mathematical English terms for the relevant grade. Calculators are not allowed at any point in the test, except for students with approved accommodations.

Essay: The Lower Level and above include one 30-minute essay written in response to an assigned prompt. The essay is not scored, but it is sent unchanged to score recipients, and schools read it; for test security reasons, families cannot obtain a copy. Students type the essay in computer-based tests and write it by hand in paper tests.

Test administration

Testing Season: The school year is divided into three testing seasons: fall (August to November), winter (December to March) and spring/summer (April to July). A student may test at most once per season and at most three times per school year.

Verification Letter: A confirmation emailed to the parent after successful registration. It lists the registration details, test format, date and check-in time, and includes the student’s ISEE ID. The test organizer states that without a Verification Letter the registration is not yet confirmed. For tests at a test site it must be presented at check-in; for the at-home test, a printed copy or an electronic copy on a separate device is required.

ISEE At Home: The student answers online at home on a computer or tablet while a remote proctor monitors throughout by camera and microphone; it is available only in the online format. A parent or guardian must be at home during the test. The test organizer requires device setup and the practice check-in to be completed at least 3 days in advance, and on test day check-in begins 30 minutes before the test starts.

Practice Check-In: A rehearsal before the at-home test. The family downloads the testing application and connects a second camera device to confirm that the equipment can start the test; if a problem appears, there is still time to change devices or contact the test organizer.

Prometric: A global testing services company that offers the ISEE in the online format for students applying for grades 5 to 12. Its test centers serve test takers beyond the ISEE, so other people may be taking other exams on site. A parent or guardian must wait at the test center for the entire test, and both the student and the parent must bring original identification.

Accommodations: Test adjustments for students with a documented disability. The family must apply and receive an approval decision before registering; approval is valid for 24 months, and the score report does not indicate that the student used accommodations.

Fee Waiver: Families facing financial hardship can ask the schools they apply to for a waiver of the test fee. Waiver codes are issued by schools, not directly by the test organizer.

ISEE Student ID Form: An official form for students without suitable identification to use on test day; it is valid only when signed and stamped by a school official or a notary. Upper Level test takers without photo identification can use this form instead.

Registration and test administration

These materials help complete registration, choose a test format, apply for accommodations or a fee waiver, and prepare for the test.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
Registration page	All	Registration methods, test formats, fees for each format, rescheduling and cancellation rules	admission.org Registration page
Parent account	All	Register, reschedule, manage score recipients, apply for accommodations, view score reports	Log in at iseeonline.erblearn.org
Public test date search	All	Browse available test sessions by location without logging in	Public date search page on iseeonline.erblearn.org (no login required)
At-home test page	All	At-home test process, testing application download, second camera device application, check-in tutorial video	admission.org At Home page
ISEE At-Home Family Guide	All (at-home test)	PDF: device requirements, network requirements, practice check-in, Verification Letter and ISEE ID, prohibited items, test rules	Family Guide PDF
Prometric page	Lower, Middle, Upper	Identification requirements, parent attendance rules and test instructions for Prometric test centers	admission.org Prometric page
Accommodations page	All	How students with a documented disability apply for accommodations, which must be requested before registration	admission.org Accommodations page
Fee Waivers page	All	Fee waivers are issued by the schools applied to, not directly by the test organizer	admission.org Fee Waivers page
ISEE registration guide (EDUBUS)	All	EDUBUS explanation of testing seasons, the four test formats, fees and score sending	ISEE registration guide
Test-day checklist (short version)	All	Lists general checks and the additional at-home steps in time order	Below on this page; a detailed checklist by format is in the test-day checklist

Source: official ERB ISEE materials.

Test-day checklist (short version)

This checklist lists, in time order, the checks common to all test formats and the additional steps for the at-home test.

1 week before the test

• Check the student’s name, test format, date and check-in time on the Verification Letter
• Prepare the student’s original identification, with the name spelled as in the registration; Upper Level test takers need photo identification

3 days before the test or earlier

• At-home test: complete device setup, download the testing application, connect the second camera device and complete one practice check-in

1 day before the test

• Paper test: prepare 4 sharpened No. 2 or HB pencils, 4 erasers and 2 black or blue ballpoint pens
• Prepare snacks and drinks for the breaks; check the route to the test site and where to park
• Print the Verification Letter, or save it on a device other than the testing device

Test day

• Test site: arrive at the check-in time on the Verification Letter; at-home test: begin check-in 30 minutes before the test starts
• Do not bring phones, smartwatches, calculators or books into the testing area (except the device used as the second camera for the at-home test)
• Prometric test takers: the parent brings signed photo identification and waits at the test center for the entire test

After the test

• Watch for the email notice: online test results usually arrive in 3 to 5 days, and paper test results in 5 to 14 days, depending on the entry grade

Source: official ERB ISEE materials.

The test organizer states that no one can check in after the test begins, and a late student must reschedule and pay the rescheduling fee. For Irvine families whose test site is toward Los Angeles or San Diego, morning rush-hour traffic on Interstates 5 and 405 is hard to predict, so EDUBUS recommends allowing extra travel time beyond the check-in time on the Verification Letter.

Understanding scores

These materials help families understand the score report, arrange score sending and decide whether to retake the test.

Material	Levels	Purpose	Access
Score Reports page	All	Official explanations of scaled scores, percentiles, stanines and the stanine analysis, plus rules for score release and score sending	admission.org Score Reports page
Score report	All	The student’s Individual Student Report (ISR), with an email notice on release	Log in to the parent account at iseeonline.erblearn.org
ISEE glossary	All	Plain-language explanations of the English terms in the score report	See the “Vocabulary and terms” section of this page
Score and retake guide (EDUBUS)	All	EDUBUS explanation of reading the score report, score sending and retake rules	ISEE score reports, score sending and retake rules

Source: official ERB ISEE materials.

Free trial account and placement assessment

After a period of self-study with the free materials, EDUBUS recommends a self-check: go to the free practice center, choose a short set for the matching level, complete it under a time limit, enter the errors in the error log on this page, and then use the math terms glossary to check whether any question stems were misread.

For a fuller picture of the student’s preparation, EDUBUS offers the following two free entry points, both of which can be requested on the ISEE courses and assessment page:

Entry point	Content	When to use
Free trial account for the online learning system	One full mock test and the corresponding error report	The family wants to try a realistic mock test and error sorting before formal preparation
Placement assessment	An EDUBUS teacher gives preparation recommendations based on the student’s starting point	After a self-check, the family still cannot determine where the student should begin