Which is easier ISEE or SSAT
Secondary School Admission Test
The Secondary School Admission Test is an admission test administered by The Enrollment Management Association in the United States to students in grades 3–11 to provide a standardized measure that will help professionals in independent or private elementary, middle, and high schools to make decisions regarding student admission.
Which is easier, the ISEE or SSAT?
Which is easier ISEE or SSAT? The verbal section of the SSAT is more difficult than that of the ISEE, whereas the math section of the ISEE is more difficult than that of the SSAT. On the reading comprehension section, passages on the SSAT include both nonfiction and fiction, whereas the ISEE tests only nonfiction. Click to see full answer.
Which test should I take, the SSAT or the ISEE?
SSAT vs ISEE: Which test should my child take? Check to see if the school to which your child is applying has a preference. If not consider the differences in the tests. The SSAT may be better for students with strong language skills, as the SSAT requires students to know words with no context provided.
Which one has more takers between SSAT and ISEE?
Which one has more takers between SSAT and ISEE? The quick and simple response is most definitely the SSAT from all the proof online. The 70,000 or so SSAT exam-takers a year would be more than enough to fill most of the places in most schools.
Which test is harder the HSPT, SSAT or ISEE?
The Verbal section includes analogies, unlike the HSPT or ISEE. Overall, the HSPT tends to be the easiest of the three tests. The ISEE’s math sections tend to be difficult, even for advanced students. The SSAT can be challenging but reasonable for well-prepared students.
How is the SSAT different from the ISEE?
The ISEE tests four competencies (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement) while the SSAT tests just three (Quantitive Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Verbal Reasoning); consequently, the ISEE score has a dedicated math score, while the SSAT score rolls math ...
Is the ISEE test difficult?
The ISEE is an extremely difficult test, and each level—Lower, Middle, and Upper—is designed to challenge multiple grade levels. Because of this, there is material on the test that you are not expected to know. Remember you will only be compared to other students at your grade level.
Is the SSAT test hard?
While the test is designed to be of "middle difficulty," this is a very competitive group of students against which you're being scored—these are the select students applying to the finest independent schools.
Is ISEE harder than SHSAT?
Students have told me that the SHSAT math is pretty hard, but that the ISEE math is harder, and that the ISEE reading is definitely harder than the SHSAT reading (longer passages, more subtle questions). However, the competition to get into Stuyvesant is extremely fierce.
Is SSAT an IQ test?
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized exam used to assess the abilities of students who want to attend private school. It is not an IQ test; rather, it measures your verbal, math, and reading skills.
Is ISEE like SAT?
Unlike college admission tests like the SAT and ACT, which contain material that most students have covered in their coursework (or can efficiently learn), the ISEE is meant to assess a short band of academic skills that are cumulative in nature, and thus, less coachable.
How long should you study for the ISEE?
That's why we recommend a nice long runway to prepare for the ISEE. Most of our students are engaged in 1:1 programs meeting twice weekly–once with a literacy specialist and once with a math specialist–for 15-25+ weeks, which translates to 45 to 90 hours of instruction (plus homework).
Why is ISEE so difficult?
Your child will be questioned on content from multiple grades, and as such will need to be comfortable with years of information. This is the reason the ISEE is considered such a difficult exam.
How do kids prepare for the SSAT?
Prepare For SSAT | Read, Read, Read Reading helps contextualize knowledge; it helps cement vocabulary, and it teaches kids to follow logic. Always encourage your child to read, inside and outside of test-taking season.
What is a good SSAT score for a 8th grader?
And for the Perfect 99% Percentile For female 8th graders, it's 50 as a bar for the raw score and it's 55 for the males. At the upper end, it's quite competitive for the male SSAT test takers for the verbal section.
When should I start studying for the SSAT?
When should you start preparing for the SSAT? As a general rule, we recommend starting your SSAT prep six to four months before your test date. So if you are planning to take the test in November, then you should take a diagnostic practice test sometime between May and July.
What is harder SSAT or SHSAT?
How does the SHSAT (Stuyvesant Test) compare to the SSAT? The SHSAT is 80% math and reading, so preparing for both isn't too much of a stretch. However, the SHSAT's material is harder, especially the math. The SHSAT also has grammar.
Is SHSAT harder than SSAT?
The SHSAT should be much easier to study for than the SSAT. While the questions are not easy, the difference between the SSAT and SHSAT is in what they want to learn about the student. The verbal or reading section of both the SHSAT and SSAT are similar. Both have a reading comprehension section.
What's a good ISEE Score?
In general, a good ISEE score is a Stanine Score of 7, 8, or 9. Stanine Scores of 4, 5, and 6 are considered average, and scores of 1, 2, and 3 are below average. However, the comprehensive answer to this question depends on several factors, including the schools to which you are applying.
How smart is an IQ of 140?
On a standardized exam, such as the Stanford-Binet test, the average IQ score is 100. Anything above 140 is considered a high or genius-level IQ. It is estimated that between 0.25% and 1.0% of the population fall into this elite category.
Can I take SSAT multiple times?
Can I take the SSAT more than once? In general, yes. You may take the SSAT on any or all of the standard test dates. However, you may only take the SSAT on one FLEX test date per year.
What is an IQ of 130?
Someone with an IQ score of 130 or higher would be considered gifted or very advanced. IQ scores of 130 are often used as a threshold for identifying individuals who are intellectually gifted and may qualify for Mensa membership.
Are ISEE scores important?
It's important to remember that ISEE scores are only one component of a student's application, and they are rarely the most important piece. Schools also consider an applicant's school grades, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, essays, etc.
What is a good ISEE score for Harvard Westlake?
Looking GoodSectionPercentile 1st 50th 99thISEE Verbal Reasoning0-89 89-96 96-99ISEE Quantitative Reasoning0-89 89-96 96-99ISEE Reading Comprehension0-89 89-96 96-99ISEE Mathematics Achievement0-89 89-96 96-99
What does ISEE stand for?
The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Examination, and it's used for admission to private middle schools and high schools.
What is a good score on the ISEE test?
In general, a good ISEE score is a Stanine Score of 7, 8, or 9. Stanine Scores of 4, 5, and 6 are considered average, and scores of 1, 2, and 3 are below average. However, the comprehensive answer to this question depends on several factors, including the schools to which you are applying.
What is a good ISEE score for Brearley?
The only exceptions are a handful of the highest tier schools (Trinity, Brearley and Collegiate) where some 8's and 9's are necessary. A “6” is a good result and will be fine for most schools. A “5” is OK. We advise that anything below a 5 is not good, and will be challenging for entry to most independent schools.
What is on the ISEE exam?
The five sections that make up the ISEE are (in order of testing): Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and an Essay which is written by the student in his or her own handwriting in response to a given writing prompt.
How are ISEE and SSAT similar?
In many ways, the ISEE and SSAT are very similar tests. After all, the ISEE and SSAT have a similar purpose: to help your student gain admission to a private school. They also test similar content.
How to study for ISEE and SSAT?
How to Study for the ISEE and SSAT Tests. Preparation is key to doing well on both the ISEE and SSAT. The better you do on your test, the better chance you'll have for admission into the independent school you want to attend. The best way to do well on either test is to have a strategy and prepare.
What Is the ISEE?
The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is a standardized test whose purpose is to help admissions committees at private primary, middle, and high schools evaluate the potential performance of applicants. More than 1,200 independent schools around the world accept ISEE scores as part of their admissions processes.
What are the two standardized tests that are used in private schools?
There are two standardized exams used by admissions committees at private elementary, middle, and high schools: the ISEE and the SSAT.
How often can I take the ISEE?
The ISEE and SSAT have different rules regarding how often applicants may retake them. The ISEE can only be taken up to three times a year (i.e., once during each of the three testing sessions). Practically speaking, this means you can only take the test once per admissions cycle.
What level do you write an expository essay on the SSAT?
On the ISEE, students are required to write an expository essay, whereas students taking the SSAT must choose between creative writing prompts at the Middle Level, and creative and expository prompts at the Upper Level.
What grade do you take the ISEE?
The ISEE exam begins at the primary level with an exam for students entering the 2nd grade. The SSAT, on the other hand, begins with an exam for entrance into the 4th grade. If you or your child is very young, you'll have no choice but to take the ISEE. Finally, take into account your test preparedness and anxiety level.
Which is better, ISEE or SSAT?
If your student has a history of significant test anxiety, the SSAT is likely the better choice; in a study by psychologist William Davidson, 80% of students said their test anxiety was reduced when they knew they had the option to retake a similar test, and over 50% of those who did retest saw a significant score improvement. On the other hand, if your student is risk-averse, his score would compare poorly to risk-neutral or risk-positive students on tests which penalize incorrect answers, according to a study by Maria Paz Espinosa. In this instance, the ISEE is a better fit because the student can guess without trepidation when he has a strong inclination toward an answer. You should also consider your student's strengths; the SSAT reports scores on two verbal and one quantitative test, while the ISEE score is made up of half verbal and half math scores. Accordingly, students who feel stronger with language gravitate toward the SSAT and those who feel stronger in math tend to take the ISEE.
What are the similarities between the ISEE and the SSAT?
Each one's verbal test contains out-of-context vocabulary questions; the other half of the ISEE is in-context vocabulary, while the SSAT instead tests analogies . Neither test scores its writing sample, opting instead to send these directly to the schools to which the student applies. Different versions of the ISEE and SSAT are given depending on the student's grade level. The SSAT gives a "lower" test to students applying for entrance up to 7th grade and an "upper" test for students applying to 8th grade or high school, while the ISEE splits its test three ways into lower (applying to 5th and 6th), middle (applying to 7th and 8th), and upper (applying to 9th - 12th) tests. And, most frustrating to parents and students, neither test releases much practice material. The ISEE has created a guide (titled "What to Expect on the ISEE", which you can download for free from the Educational Records Bureau's website), and the SSAT has a few free practice problems for free on its website and a guide you can order for $35, but neither has the wealth of practice resources you would find for the SAT or ACT.
What is the difference between the SSAT and the ISEE?
While both The SSAT and ISEE have reading sections, the SSAT contains literary fiction, humanities, poetry, science and social studies passages while the ISEE contains only non-fiction passages “related to science, literature, history and contemporary life” according to the maker of the test. Both tests contain questions about inferences, main ideas, attitude, tone and vocabulary.
How many times can you take the SSAT?
Students can take the test up to 9 times. It is common for students to take the SSAT 2 to 3 times .
How many questions are in the ISEE verbal section?
The ISEE verbal section contains a synonyms section (19 questions) similar to the SSAT, but the second part of the verbal section consists of sentence completions (21 questions) on which students can use context clues to find a missing word or words in a sentence. Vocabulary for half the verbal section is, therefore, tested in context on the ISEE unlike on the SSAT.
How many questions are there on the SSAT?
Math on the SSAT consists of two multiple-choice sections with a total of 50 questions. These questions test students on algebra, geometry and measurement, coordinate geometry, and data analysis and probability.
Is the SSAT better than the ISEE?
The SSAT may be better for students with strong language skills, as the SSAT requires students to know words with no context provided. Preparation for the SSAT must include daily vocabulary practice and memorizing many new words. Additionally, the reading and verbal sections of the test comprise 2/3 of the overall score whereas the reading and verbal sections of the ISEE comprise ½ of the overall score.
Is ISEE better for math?
Students stronger in math may be better taking the ISEE .
Is the ISEE easier than the SSAT?
Overall, most of our clients, opt take the ISEE. Most children are more comfortable taking the ISEE and it is probably slightly easier - unless youre very strong in maths.
Is the SSAT the same as the ISEE?
The ISEE and SSAT are very similar and we're often asked what the difference is and what is the best exam for our students to take. The only definitive answer is you need to take the test the school you're applying to requires; you should double check this with the admission departments of your schools. There is no hard and fast rule for which schools require which exam, as they are free to choose whichever exam they choose. New York private day schools and boarding schools often prefer the SSAT; whilst other private schools often only accept ISEE; nonetheless many schools accept both.
What is the difference between ISEE and SSAT?
The biggest scoring difference between the ISEE and SSAT is that while it’s beneficial for you to guess when you don’t know the answer on the ISEE, the SSAT takes 1/4 point off for every incorrect answer. That means that not only does an incorrect answer not add to your overall score, but it also subtracts.
How many levels are there in the SSAT?
The SSAT has 3 levels: Elementary (for students currently in grades 3-4), Middle (for students currently in grades 5-7), and Upper (for students currently in grades 8-11). The ISEE follows a very similar level breakdown, including an additional level: Primary (for students currently in grades 1-3). The other levels are Lower (for students currently in grades 4-5), Middle (for students currently in grades 6-7) and Upper (for students currently in grades 8-11).
What is the Isee section?
The ISEE has a Verbal Reasoning section that is composed of of two different kinds of questions: synonyms and sentence completions. Synonym questions focus on word recognition, since the correct answer choices are those that have the same meaning, or are the closest in meaning, to the word in the question.
What is the verbal section of the SSAT?
The Verbal section of the upper level SSAT asks you to identify synonyms and to interpret analogies. The synonym questions test the strength of your vocabulary. The analogy questions measure your ability to relate ideas to each other logically.
Does the ISEE subtract points?
The ISEE doesn’t subtract points for incorrect answers; they simply don’t add to your overall score.
Is the SSAT similar to ISEE?
The structures of the SSAT and ISEE are also similar.
What is the SSAT test?
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is a standardized test that evaluates applicants (those to attend private schools) abilities. SSAT measures your math, verbal, and reading abilities.
What is the importance of preparation for ISEE?
Preparation is fundamental to performing well in both the ISEE and SSAT. The higher your score performance, the higher your chances of gaining admission into the independent school you so desire to attend.
What are the two standardized tests that the admissions committee uses?
The admissions committee uses two standardized examinations at private high, middle, and elementary schools: the ISEE and the SSAT.
How many independent schools accept ISEE scores?
As part of their admission processes, ISEE scores would be accepted in more than 1,200 independent schools worldwide.
How many points do you lose on the SSAT?
Students taking the SSAT have the guessing penalty to face; for every correct answer, they get one point, for questions left blank, no points at all, and for each wrong answer, they lose 1/4 point.
What level do you have to be to write creative writing for the SSAT?
For the SSAT, students must decide between creative and expository prompts at the upper level, and creative writing prompts at the middle level.
Does the ISEE have a score?
The ISEE and SSAT writing sample or essay has no score. The admissions committee receives the writing samples from both tests as one of the factors in their admissions decision.
About the ISEE and SSAT
The ISEE and SSAT are run by separate companies (and the SSAT is NOT affiliated with the company that runs the SAT), but test fairly similar skills. They also both offer a lower, middle and upper level test for students in different grades. However, there are some key differences between them.
How to Choose
As you can see, the biggest differences are that on the verbal, the SSAT has analogies while the ISEE has sentence completion, and on the math the ISEE has an additional section testing math reasoning.
What is the difference between ISEE and SSAT?
The ISEE has a quantitative reasoning section, which focuses on problem solving and critical thinking questions, and a mathematics achievement section, which has primarily knowledge-based questions. The SSAT has two quantitative sections that are composed of a mix of critical thinking and knowledge-based questions.
What is the purpose of ISEE and SSAT?
The Role of the ISEE and SSAT. The purpose of the ISEE and SSAT is clear: to provide a standardized metric by which to compare students. Other possible metrics, such as grades or teacher evaluations, can vary significantly between schools, making them less suitable for comparison.
Why is the SSAT important?
While certainly not the only criteria for admission, the SSAT and ISEE play an important role in creating a more complete picture for school admissions staff, helping to choose between potential students.
How to prepare for the ISEE?
How should students prepare for the test? 1 Start early – even six months before the test date. Begin by taking a full-length practice test, which will serve as a diagnostic. (Here’s where to find one for the ISEE and SSAT .) This will give your student exposure to the test’s style, difficulty, and content. Don’t expect your child to know everything right off the bat: the exams are challenging and will often delve into above-grade-level content. 2 Pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. Use full-length practice tests to identify areas that need work and focus study on those areas. Learn the relevant concepts and skills, and then apply those through targeted practice. 3 Learn test-taking strategies and skills. Being able to manage time efficiently and quickly eliminate wrong answer choices will maximize your child’s performance on test day. 4 Read! Reading is the best way to improve reading comprehension and build vocabulary, which are important for the ISEE and SSAT. Reading is a great indirect test preparation activity, and, of course, it benefits students beyond the test itself.
How many sections are there in the SSAT?
The SSAT and ISEE are similar in many ways: they are both composed of 5 sections that test students’ verbal, reading, quantitative, and writing skills. However, there are a few key differences between the ISEE and SSAT, so if you do have the option of taking either test, it’s helpful to know the differences between the two.
What is the test innovator?
Test Innovators is the official test prep partner of ERB, publisher of the ISEE. As the only endorsed test prep for the ISEE, Test Innovators provides students with the most accurate test preparation materials to help students gain familiarity with the test, decrease test-related anxiety, and improve in areas of weakness.
How many times can you take the ISEE?
The ISEE can be taken up to three times: once during each testing season. The ISEE seasons are fall (August–November), winter (December–March), and spring/summer (April–July). The SSAT can be taken up to eight times. The SSAT at Home, offered every Saturday and one Sunday each month, can be taken up to five times.
Format
- Both the ISEE and SSAT are designed to assess a student’s academic ability, therefore there is a lot of commonality between the two exams—for example, they’re approximately the same length and contain roughly the same number of questions. The format of the Upper- and Middle-level IS…
Quantitative Reasoning
- The primary difference that becomes apparent when comparing the ISEE vs. SSAT format is that the ISEE has just one quantitative reasoning section while the SSAT has two. Conversely, the SSAT does not have a mathematics section, while the ISEE does. The ISEE’s quantitative reasoning section is designed to test a student’s ability to apply math skills to problem solve an…
Writing/Essay Section
- Both the ISEE and the SSAT feature an unscored writing sample that is sent to the admissions committees of the schools a student applies to. The ISEE requires that the test-taker write an expository essay, while takers of the SSAT are given a choice between expository and creative writing prompts.
Experimental Section
- Another difference between the ISEE and SSAT is that the SSAT contains an “experimental section” that they use to try out questions for future exams. The experimental section is unscored, but it does add questions and time to test day.
Guessing
- The test-taking strategy for the ISEE is extremely straightforward: answer every question. This is because the ISEE does not penalize for wrong answers. Alternatively, the SSAT awards students with a point for correct answers, penalizes them a quarter of a point for wrong answers, and awards zero points for questions left blank, which makes for a more complex game plan.
Score Report
- The ISEE tests four competencies (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement) while the SSAT tests just three (Quantitive Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Verbal Reasoning); consequently, the ISEE score has a dedicated math score, while the SSAT score rolls math into quantitative reasoning.
Stanine
- Another difference when comparing the ISEE vs. SSAT scoring is how the scores are presented. The SSAT uses traditional percentiles, showing how a student compares against other test-takers who are the same age and have taken the exam within the last three years. The ISEE converts percentiles into stanines (a nine-point scaled score). Below are the ISEE percentiles transferred i…
Dates and Availability
- The ISEE has three testing periods a year—Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer—and students can only take the exam one time per period. The SSAT is administered monthly between October and April (and has a June date as well) and unlike the ISEE, students can sit for the test as many times as they like.