Which ISEE level should my child take?
Short answer
The ISEE level depends on the grade your child is applying to: Primary 2, 3 or 4 for grades 2–4, Lower for grades 5–6, Middle for grades 7–8 and Upper for grades 9–12.
The ISEE level is based on the grade your child is applying to, not their current grade. The SSAT works the other way, by current grade.
ISEE levels by grade
| Grade applying to | ISEE level |
|---|---|
| 2 | Primary 2 |
| 3 | Primary 3 |
| 4 | Primary 4 |
| 5–6 | Lower |
| 7–8 | Middle |
| 9–12 | Upper |
What each level’s test contains
| Primary 2–4 | Lower | Middle and Upper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sections | Reading and Math only | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement | The same four sections |
| Questions | 24 + 24 (Primary 2 and 3); 28 + 28 (Primary 4) | 127 multiple-choice | 160 multiple-choice |
| Essay | None | 30 minutes, not scored | 30 minutes, not scored |
An example of how the rule plays out
A 4th grader applying to 5th grade takes the ISEE Lower Level, because Lower covers grades 5–6. On the SSAT, the same child would take the Elementary Level, because the SSAT goes by current grade. See SSAT vs ISEE for the other differences.