isee practice essay

• Jan 17, 2023

The ISEE Essay: Tips and Practice Prompts

Essay overview.

The ISEE essay is the last section of the ISEE. Students are given 30 minutes to respond to a prompt. The essay is not scored, but a copy of the writing sample is sent to the schools to which the ISEE score report is sent.

The essay has two purposes: it shows schools how well you can write, and it also gives the admissions officers another opportunity to learn about you. Keep this in mind when writing your essay, and make sure to focus your essay on yourself. For example, if the essay asks you to write about your role model, write about the person you choose, but make sure to also write about yourself. How does this person inspire you? How has this person changed your life? Has this person taught you anything that you use in your everyday life?

Read the Directions: On the official ISEE, you’re asked to write in a blue or black pen. You’re also asked to rewrite the essay prompt at the top of the first page of your essay. Make sure to carefully read the directions before starting your essay.

Manage your Time: Make sure you manage your time effectively. Give yourself time to organize and plan your essay, time to write your essay, and time to revise and edit your essay.

Structure your Essay: While there are no rules for how to structure your essay, it is recommended to have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. We recommend the body of your essay be two to four paragraphs long.

Write Neatly: You are not graded on how neatly you write your essay, but make sure to write neatly enough so someone can read your writing.

Choose a Subject That Appeals to You: While you will be asked to respond to a specific prompt, the prompts often involve broad subjects. For example, a prompt may ask you to write about your role model. When choosing a specific topic to write about, choose something that interests you and shows you in a positive light. Use specific details and examples; after you choose your topic, be sure to think of two to three specific supporting details or examples. If you are asked to write about your role model, and you choose your dad, a supporting example could be the following: “My dad is my role model because he taught me the importance of hard work. He started working at the age of 16 and now runs his own business.”

Essay Practice Prompts

Below you’ll find five practice prompts for each level of the ISEE. For each prompt, set a timer for 30 minutes, and make sure to go somewhere quiet to write your essay. Write your essay on a sheet of lined paper (you can use the front and back of the sheet, but no more). Once you’ve finished, have an adult read over your essay and give you feedback.

Lower Level Practice Prompts

What is your favorite subject in school and why?

If you could go on your dream vacation, where would you go and why?

What is one of your favorite books?

What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?

What qualities do you think are important in a friend?

Middle Level Practice Prompts

What is a problem facing your community and how would you help fix this problem?

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you travel to and why?

Describe a time where you overcame a challenge. What did you learn from this experience?

Who is someone who has had a significant impact on your life? Describe the impact this person had and why it was so important to you.

What is a career you are interested in? What skills do you have that would make you succeed in this career?

Upper Level Practice Prompts

What does “being successful” mean to you? What are some ways that people can achieve success?

Who is one person, living or dead, that inspires you?

Write about a value that is important to you (examples: honestly, loyalty, dedication, open-mindedness). Why is this value so important to you?

What is your greatest skill? How do you use this skill in your everyday life?

What is something you are passionate about? How do you incorporate this passion into your life?

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FREE ISEE Practice Tests

Test your knowledge, improve your scores and leverage our free testing system., free isee diagnostic tests, free isee practice tests.

The ISEE, or Independent School Entrance Exam, is a standardized test that is given to students in the fourth through the twelfth grades in order to provide a quantitative measurement of various academic skills that they can submit when applying to independent schools. The ISEE comes in three forms: the Lower Level ISEE, which is given to students in fifth and sixth grades; the Middle Level ISEE, which is given to students in seventh and eighth grades; and the Upper Level ISEE, which is given to students in ninth through twelfth grades. While the number of problems in each section of the ISEE differs slightly by level, each test contains a Verbal section, a Quantitative Reasoning section, a Mathematical Achievement section, and a Reading section, as well as an Essay. All of the problems on the ISEE, excepting the Essay prompt, are multiple-choice. The Verbal section consists entirely of Synonym and Fill-in-the-Blank questions; the Quantitative Reasoning section tests computation-light mathematical reasoning; the Mathematical Achievement tests computation-heavy math skills taught in math classes students have previously taken, and the Reading section asks students reading-comprehension questions about short provided passages. Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools also include Full-Length ISEE Practice Tests for each section. Try beginning your test preparation by taking a free online Practice Test to help you create a unique study plan. The comprehensive makeup of these exams gives you the chance to work on your endurance, pace, and focus. Just like on the shorter Practice Tests, the results page includes thorough explanations and relevant information on each question’s concepts. However, the complete Practice Tests provide the additional benefit of helping you target your review by showing you which concepts you have already mastered, and the concepts on which you may want to spend more time. Once you have reviewed using the other Learning Tools, you can take another Full-Length ISEE Practice Test to gauge your progress. Many students may find themselves concerned about one section in particular on the ISEE, or both of the mathematics-related sections. If the Verbal Reasoning section is causing you trouble, you can use Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Verbal Practice Tests to familiarize yourself with the format of Synonym questions and word-based and phrase-based Fill-in-the-Blank questions. Practicing ahead of time with the unique format of these questions can ease your mind, and you can learn new vocabulary words from any questions that you happen to miss by reading the complete answers, which often include definitions of not only the word in question, but the words you had to choose from as incorrect answer choices. If one or both of the ISEE”s math sections leaves you feeling lost, we recommend practicing problems of the types featured on each section. Having to face two mathematics sections can feel very daunting, but when you mentally separate them into two different tasks, they can appear much more approachable. Reading about what separates the ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section from its Quantitative Reasoning section is a good first step, but actually practicing problems from each part of the test by using Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests and free ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Tests can help this division sink in so you don’t find yourself expecting one section’s problems but faced with the others on test day. If it’s the Reading Comprehension section is your personal nightmare, you’re not alone—many students find this section to be more challenging than they initially expected, because of how well students are expected to manage their time in order to be able to answer all the questions, much less answer them correctly. Varsity Tutors’ free ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Tests not only provide full explanations to help you reduce the number of mistakes you make over time, but they also can help you track how long it takes you to read a passage and answer a number of questions about it, a vital statistic to be aware of as you study for the ISEE. If you need to speed up your reading or slow it down so that you don’t miss important information, or worse, misunderstand it, you can figure this out by completing ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Tests, which present you with detailed statistics after you complete them, including how long it took you to answer each question. Many students find themselves feeling a bit apprehensive about one or another of the ISEE’s sections, or perhaps they worry about all of them. By reviewing in an efficient but comprehensive manner and taking advantage of Varsity Tutors’ variety of free ISEE resources, you can identify the gaps or weak spots in your ISEE knowledge and work to fill them; for every section of the ISEE, you can choose to take free Practice Tests organized by concept. So, Varsity Tutors’ resources make identifying and remedying knowledge gaps a breeze, leaving you nothing to worry about when getting ready to take an ISEE of any level!

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Our goal is to provide reliable and representative ISEE sample papers to students, parents and teachers. All of our tests have been screened and tested by our students. Through this process we have honed and refined them to provide you with, what we believe, are the best representative samples to prepare you for these competitive examinations. 

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Essay prompts to practice for the isee.

Posted on December 8th, 2021 by Allison . Posted in ISEE ESSAY , ISEE TEST PREP , ISEE TUTORING - 0 Comments

The ISEE essay requires students to write a descriptive essay in thirty minutes. The essay is not scored, but a copy of the writing sample is sent to the admissions officers of the schools to which the ISEE score report is sent. Essay prompts are a great way to practice for the exam. Read on for our best essay prompts and tips.

ISEE Essay Tips:

• Follow directions! Make sure you rewrite the prompt on the top of the first page of your answer sheet.
• Budget your time! Make sure to save time at the end to edit for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• ISEE Essays tend to be descriptive essays. A descriptive essay requires you to write about a person, place, thing, idea, or event in a way that makes it possible for your reader to properly visualize or understand it. You might be asked to offer your own definitions or explanations.
• Make sure your essay has a clear introductory paragraph, two or three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
• While you will be asked to write about a specific topic, the topics themselves tend to involve broad subjects: books, school, community service, role models.
• Choose a subject that appeals to you.
• Choose subjects about which you know a great deal.
• Identify two or three important qualities about the subject you choose. Example: Two qualities of a good teacher are expertise and organization.
• Write about two or three reasons why you chose the subject you chose. My favorite author is William Shakespeare because he vividly recreates history and he writes humorously.

Here’s a list of essay prompts with which to practice:

Lower Level (grades 5 and 6): Topic: Describe your favorite subject in school and explain why this subject is your favorite. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: Think about some of the books you have read. What is one character you admire and why? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Middle Level (grades 7 and 8): Topic: Describe one important lesson you learned in the last year. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: What is your favorite thing to do when you have free time? Why is this important to you? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Upper Level (grades 9 and up): Topic: Schools offer many extracurricular opportunities. Describe one extracurricular opportunity you would like to pursue. Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

Topic: What three words would you use to describe yourself and why? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

For all students: Topic: What is the most important problem facing the world today and what is one thing you can do to help solve it? Assignment: You have thirty minutes to plan and write an essay on the assigned topic. Do not write on another topic. An essay on another topic is unacceptable. Please write this essay topic on the first few lines of your answer sheet.

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ISEE Upper Level Practice Test

Prepare for your test with realistic questions.

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Upper Level is administered by the Educational Records Bureau for children applying to grades 9-12. Over 1,200 private middle schools and high schools use this exam to ensure new students are being admitted to a grade level that best fits their knowledge and abilities.

Click “Start Test” above to take a free ISEE Upper Level practice test, and check out our premium-quality ISEE test prep resources by clicking the links below!

ISEE Upper Level Exam Outline

The ISEE Upper Level exam contains 160 multiple-choice questions and one unscored essay assignment, and you will be given a time limit of 160 minutes.

The exam is split into five sections.

1. Verbal Reasoning (40 questions)

You will be given 20 minutes to answer the 40 Verbal Reasoning questions. The questions are split into two types: sentence completion and vocabulary.

2. Quantitative Reasoning (37 questions)

You will be given 35 minutes to answer the 37 Quantitative Reasoning questions. The questions in this section consist of word problems, and you will be asked to use quantitative reasoning to analyze and extrapolate information from each word problem.

3. Reading Comprehension (36 questions)

You will be given 35 minutes to answer the 36 Reading Comprehension questions. The questions in this section consist of five passages covering various topics such as history, science, and the arts, and you will be asked to answer specific questions about each passage.

4. Mathematics Achievement (47 questions)

You will be given 40 minutes to answer the 47 Mathematics Achievement questions. The questions in this section require that you identify problems and find solutions to problems. The problems will always take multiple steps to solve.

You will be given 30 minutes to write 300-400 words in response to a given prompt. This essay is not scored, but it will be sent to your school of choice along with the scores for the rest of the exam.

ISEE Upper Level Study Guide

Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons

Registration and Fees

There are a variety of options for registration and for in-person and at-home testing, each of which have a different set of fees and requirements.

In-Person Testing

There are many testing locations available across the country at which you can take the ISEE.

At-Home Testing

There are currently two at-home testing options available.

Registration

You should register as early as possible to ensure you secure a testing day that works best for you. There are two ways you can register for the exam.

After you register for the exam, you will receive an email that contains a verification letter and more information about your registration.

How to Study for the ISEE Upper Level Exam

Think you aren’t a good test-taker? Maybe on a study-time crunch? Or just don’t know how to begin studying? Mometrix has designed a new Study Secrets course to help every student, no matter what study scenario you are in. Here’s what you’ll find in the Study Secrets Course:

• Techniques to Conquer Procrastination
• Steps to building a Study Plan custom to your learning style
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• Test-Taking Tips
• Memory Techniques and Mnemonics
• And much more!

Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored our Study Secrets Course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for their upcoming exam or semester. Click below to check it out!

You should arrive at the testing location or log into your online testing portal 15-30 minutes early. You will be asked to provide the verification letter or a form of identification.

You are not allowed to have any electronic devices, calculators, watches, or scratch paper during the exam. At least two #2 pencils and/or two black-ink pens should be brought if you are taking a paper-and-pencil version of the exam.

There will be two scheduled breaks during the exam, each being 5-10 minutes long. The first break occurs after the Quantitative Reasoning section, while the second break follows the Math Achievement section.

How the ISEE Upper Level Exam is Scored

The ISEE Upper Level exam is score using a scaled scoring system. This system takes the number of questions answered correctly in each section, known as the “raw score,” and converts it to a numerical score on a scale from 760 to 940.

Your score report will show your scaled score for each section, as well as your percentile rank and stanine score for each section. For reference, a good stanine score for the ISEE Upper Level is 7-9, while the average ranges between 4 and 6.

ISEE Upper Level Flashcards

Get complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts

How many questions are on the ISEE Upper Level exam?

There are 160 questions and one unscored essay on the exam.

How long is the ISEE Upper Level exam?

The time limit for the exam is 160 minutes.

What is the passing score for the ISEE Upper Level exam?

Because this is an admissions test, there is no set passing score. Each school decides their own minimum scoring requirements.

How much does the ISEE Upper Level exam cost?

The cost of this test depends on which testing and registration methods you choose. The fee ranges from $155 to $245.

By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

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ISEE Essay Practice & Information

The last part of the ISEE Test is the essay section. This is an important component that allows your child to demonstrate their writing skills to prospective schools. Preparing for the ISEE Essay is crucial, so read on to find out how to prepare for the essay writing section. Free ISEE Sample Questions

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About the ISEE Essay

• How To Write An ISEE Essay

ISEE Essay Prompts

Isee sample essay, isee essay practice tips.

The ISEE essay gives admissions officers a sample of the applicant's writing, helping them assess their writing skills, personality, and potential for success in the school's academic setting. While it is a crucial part of the overall ISEE evaluation , the essay itself is not scored by the ERB.

Writing Prompt: Your child will receive a writing prompt, which is a short passage or quote related to a specific topic. Prompts cover topics of interest to students at their grade level.

Test Instructions: During the 30-minute Essay Section , your child will be given a sheet of paper to take notes on. They must write the essay in ink on two pre-lined pages, rewriting the prompt at the top of the first page. The essay must be written in print or cursive with black or blue ink. Erasable ink is allowed.

Preparation: Encourage your child to practice writing essays on a variety of topics. Help them develop skills in analyzing prompts, organizing their thoughts, and presenting a well-rounded perspective supported by relevant examples or evidence.

How to Write an Essay for the ISEE Test 

This is a sample prompt: Write an essay about your favorite season. Describe what makes this season special to you, including any specific memories, activities, or traditions that you associate with it. Explain why this season stands out above the others and how it influences your mood and daily life. Use vivid details and examples to support your points.

✍️Introduction✍️ 

Begin with a clear, focused topic sentence that answers the essay prompt directly.  

Introduce your main idea or thesis statement in the first paragraph . Clearly state your position: The introduction should clearly state your position or stance on the topic. For example, if the prompt asks about your favorite season, your introduction should state which season is your favorite.  

Keep it concise: While the introduction should be engaging, it should also be relatively brief, taking up only 2-3 sentences. The goal is to hook the reader and set up the rest of the essay, not to provide extensive details.  

💡Avoid clichés : Avoid overused introductory phrases such as: "In my opinion..." or "I believe that..." 💡 .

For example:  

Clichés of Origin:  

• Time-based openers: "Since the beginning of time..." or "Throughout history..." These are vague and lack a specific focus. 
• Quoting a dictionary: "Webster's defines..." Essays should showcase your own analysis, not dictionary definitions. 
• Famous person quotes: Unless the quote is incredibly relevant and insightful, it can feel unoriginal. 

Clichés of Content:  

• Personal anecdotes (when not specific): "The first time I realized..." can be effective, but only if the anecdote directly connects to the essay's theme. 
• Hypothetical questions: "Have you ever wondered...?" This is a weak way to engage the reader. 
• Exaggerated claims: "This is the most important issue of our time..." Such statements are subjective and hard to support. 

Clichés of Wording:  

• Overused phrases: "A cloud has a silver lining," "Every rose has its thorn," etc. These are trite and predictable. 
• Vague adjectives: "Amazing," "Wonderful," etc. Use more specific and descriptive language. 

💡B egin your essay with a unique attention grabbing statement💡

✍️Alternatives to Clichés✍️

Start with a surprising fact or statistic.

Pose a thought-provoking question relevant to your topic.

Open with a vivid description that sets the scene.

Introduce a relevant historical event or anecdote.

Start with a powerful quote that you can analyze.

✍️Body paragraphs✍️

• Aim for 2-4 body paragraphs that support your main idea with specific examples and details.
• Use each body paragraph to explore one of the main reasons or supporting evidence for your thesis. In each body paragraph, include specific examples, anecdotes, and details to support your key points . This helps bring your essay to life and makes it more engaging for the reader.
• Organize your body paragraphs in a logical way, with each one building upon the previous one. Use transition words and phrases strategically to seamlessly guide the reader through the progression of your essay.
• Don't just list facts or examples - take the time to analyze and explain how they support your main argument or thesis . This demonstrates your critical thinking skills.
• Use a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex) to make your writing more engaging and sophisticated. Avoid repetitive or overly simple sentences.

💡Here's a breakdown of some powerful transitions categorized by their function💡

✍️These are just a few examples, and the best transition words will depend on the specific relationship you want to show between your ideas. Remember, the key is to choose words that create a smooth flow, logical progression, and clear connections within your writing✍️

For Emphasis:

Indeed: Strengthens a point you just made.

Undoubtedly: Conveys strong certainty.

More importantly: Highlights the significance of a point.

In fact: Introduces additional evidence or clarifies a point.

For Logical Flow:

Therefore: Shows a conclusion based on previous information.

Consequently: Indicates a result of something previously mentioned.

Hence: Shows a logical connection between ideas.

Accordingly: Shows ideas are in agreement or follow from each other.

For Contrast:

However: Shows a difference or opposing viewpoint.

Conversely: Presents an alternative idea.

On the other hand: Introduces a contrasting viewpoint.

Despite this: Acknowledges an opposing idea but reaffirms your main point.

For Similarity:

Similarly: Shows a connection between similar ideas.

In the same way: Highlights a parallel between ideas.

Likewise: Indicates agreement or similarity with a previous point.

By the same token: Shows a related idea based on the previous one.

For Addition:

Furthermore: Adds additional information to support your point.

Moreover: Introduces another point that strengthens your argument.

In addition: Adds another element to your list of ideas.

What's more: Introduces an even more significant point.

For Examples:

For example: Introduces a specific instance to illustrate your point.

For instance: Similar to "for example" but can sound slightly less formal.

Specifically: Narrows down the focus and provides a concrete example.

To illustrate: Introduces an example to clarify your point.

✍️Conclusion✍️ 

Here's how to craft a powerful conclusion in just 2-4 sentences:  

• Restate Your Thesis with a Twist: Don't simply repeat your thesis word-for-word. Rephrase it using different words or emphasizing a key aspect.  
• Connect to the Bigger Picture: Briefly show how your essay's argument relates to a broader concept or implication.  
• End on a Strong Note: Leave a thought-provoking question, a powerful image, or a memorable statement that lingers with the reader. 

By following this structured approach and incorporating these strategies, you can create a strong, well-organized ISEE essay that effectively communicates your ideas and showcases your writing skills. Proper preparation and practice with suggested writing prompts can help your child approach this section with confidence and do their best.

Your child will respond to a grade-appropriate writing prompt that may relate to their personal experiences, their community, or global issues. The prompts are designed to encourage your child to express their ideas and perspectives in a written format.

ISEE Middle Level Essay Prompts

• Is it important for students to participate in extracurricular activities? Why or why not? Provide examples to support your argument.
• Describe a person who has had a significant influence on your life. What specific qualities do they possess that you admire, and how have they influenced you?
• Do you think it's better to have a few close friends or many acquaintances? Explain your preference and provide reasons.
• Imagine you could change one thing about your school. What would it be, and how would it improve the learning environment?

Use one of these prompts to write an essay when you take one of our ISEE Middle Level Practice Tests to get a complete simulation of the test experience.

   Full ISEE Middle Level Prep

ISEE Upper Level Essay Prompts

• Discuss the impact of technology on society. Do you think technology has more positive or negative effects? Support your stance with examples.
• A Book That Changed My View: Write about a book that significantly changed your perspective on a particular subject. What was the subject, how did the book change your view, and why was it impactful?
• The Future of Education: How do you envision the future of education? What changes do you predict or hope will occur in the next 20 years?
• Historical Event: Choose a historical event that interests you. Explain why it is significant, how it has impacted the world, and what lessons can be learned from it.

For a complete test simulation experience, use one of these prompts to write an essay when you take one of our ISEE Upper Level Practice Tests.

Full ISEE Upper Level Prep  

Remember that the ISEE essay is an opportunity for your child to demonstrate his or her writing skills and intellectual curiosity , both of which are highly valued by independent schools. Proper preparation and practice can help your child approach this section with confidence and do his or her best.

ISEE Essay Plan

ISEE Essay Prompt: What is your favorite season? Why is it important to you?

Follow the guidelines set out above and work to a tight schedule.

State your position -My favorite season is Fall.

Then ask yourself why do you like Fall. Here are some brief notes :

• It's a beautiful time of the year- we start a new school year
• I like the traditions-Harvest, Halloween (pumpkins, Thanksgiving) Classic American
• The falling leaves inspire reflection, and we think of change as the trees change

Many of these traditions involve spending time outdoors, gathering with family and friends, enjoying seasonal foods, and celebrating the fall harvest and Thanksgiving.

Here is an example of a well-crafted ISEE essay written using the guidelines provided by our in house educational consultant.

Of the four seasons, Fall is definitely my favorite time of year. I look forward to its arrival every September when the summer heat begins to fade and the crisp, cool air starts to bring a burst of color to the trees. There are so many reasons why I love the Fall season.  

First and foremost, Fall marks the start of a new school year. Although the end of summer vacation is bittersweet, there is an exciting feeling of getting new teachers, classes, school supplies, and reuniting with friends after a long break. The start of the academic year brings a sense of energy and possibility.  

Another big reason I cherish Fall is the holiday traditions that come along with it. Classic American traditions like Halloween and Thanksgiving make Fall feel extra special. I love carving pumpkins, going trick-or-treating, and dressing up in costumes. Then Thanksgiving brings get-togethers with extended family to enjoy amazing seasonal foods like turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. These celebrations strengthen my connection to family, friends, and the year's natural rhythms   

Speaking of the rhythms of nature, the changes happening across the landscape in the Fall are breathtaking. The trees put on a dazzling display as their green leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow before falling to the ground. Raking the fallen leaves into piles is a favorite activity from my childhood. The stunning Autumn colors and shedding of leaves inspire a sense of transition and reflection on the cycle of life. I recall the line in Emily Bronte’s poem that says, “Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree,” which perfectly captures the joyous feeling of witnessing the vibrant colors and gentle descent of falling leaves during the autumn season.  

Fall makes me want to spend as much time outdoors as possible before winter's chill drives everyone back inside. Going for crisp morning walks, sipping apple cider, picking apples or pumpkins from the local farm, and simply admiring the beautiful foliage are all reasons I cherish this season. The outdoors simply feels more alive and invigorating in the Fall air.  

Fall makes me want to spend as much time outdoors as possible before winter's chill drives everyone back inside. I cherish this season for taking crisp morning walks, sipping apple cider, picking apples or pumpkins from the local farm, and simply admiring the beautiful foliage. The outdoors feels more alive and invigorating in the Fall air.  

With the change of seasons, the gathering of families, the celebration of traditions, and nature's grand finale before winter, Fall is undoubtedly my favorite time of year. From the start of the school calendar to the holiday festivities, Fall is a season to be embraced and celebrated.  

• Read the essay prompt carefully. During the test, you may be tempted to answer a question as quickly as possible. While keeping an eye on the clock is a good tactic, rushing through questions is not. Make sure you fully understand the essay prompt before attempting to answer it. An essay whose content is off topic is an immediate zero, no matter how well-written or insightful it may be.
• Practice with sample prompts regularly. While you might not encounter the exact same prompt on the test, you'll likely face a similar one. This practice will help you understand the typical format, familiarize yourself with the appropriate writing style, and give you practical insight into the writing process required.
• Spend 2-5 minutes outlining your essay before you begin writing.
• Allow 15-20 minutes for actual writing.
• Allow 2-5 minutes at the end to review and edit your work.

Now that you've enjoyed and benefited from our expert teacher guidelines on how to write an essay, why not take your skills to the next level? Check out our TestPrep online ISEE practice tests and start preparing for your test today!

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The Independent School Entrance Exam (“The ISEE”) is an admission assessment utilized by admission specialists at over 1,200 independent schools around the world. It is available both online and in paper form, and measures basic math, reading, and verbal reasoning skills.

The ISEE provides administrators with a fair and reliable test in order to assess applicants in an unbiased way.

An applicant’s performance on the ISEE can often be an important factor in that applicant’s admission to an independent school.

ISEE practice tests as well as other resources are available for students who may be required to take it. Utilization of these resources can be vital for those who want to perform well on the ISEE.

ISEE Verbal Reasoning (Upper Level)

• ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test 1
• ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test 2

ISEE Quantitative Reasoning (Upper Level)

• ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test 1
• ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test 2

ISEE Reading Comprehension (Upper Level)

• ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Test 1
• ISEE Reading Comprehension Practice Test 2

ISEE Mathematics Achievement (Upper Level)

• ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test 1
• ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test 2

Recommended ISEE Prep

If you are serious about doing well on your ISEE, check out our recommended ISEE prep course.

ISEE Middle Level Prep ISEE Upper Level Prep

Other ISEE Study Resources

ISEE Content Description

The Independent School Entrance Exam consists of three levels of testing: the Lower Level, the Middle Level, and the Upper Level. These levels are based on whatever level of schooling the student has achieved upon applying to a particular independent school.

• Students entering grades 5 or 6 will take the Lower Level ISEE
• Students entering grades 7-8 will take the Middle Level ISEE
• Students grades 9-12 will take the Upper Level ISEE

Be sure you are using the appropriate ISEE practice tests for your particular level.

Each test is split up into five sections:

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning section includes a section for synonyms and a section for sentence completion These sections are intended to measure an applicant’s vocabulary level and reading ability.

• Each vocabulary question includes an appropriately abstract grade-level word which is followed by four answer choices.
• Each sentence completion question includes a sentence with a missing word or phrase, followed by four ways the applicant may choose to complete the missing part. The student must determine which selection best completes the sentence based on context.

Lower Level:

• This section consists of 34 questions to be answered in 20 minutes

Middle and Upper Levels:

• This section consists of 40 questions to be answered in 20 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section measures the applicant’s reasoning abilities as they relate to various mathematical disciplines.

This section is intended to measure an applicant’s ability to think mathematically in order to solve a problem. Despite the mathematical content in this section, it requires very little or no actual calculations, as the emphasis of this section is on mathematical thinking and reasoning ability.

Questions are derived from the applicant’s grade-level appropriate National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards in the following skillsets:

• Numbers and Operations
• Measurement
• Data Analysis and Probability
• Problem Solving
• This section consists of 37 word problems to be completed within 35 minutes
• This section consists of 37 questions to be completed within 35 minutes
• Questions are a mixture of word problems as well as quantitative comparisons

Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension section utilizes several reading passages related to science, history, literature, and the modern world in order to assess an applicant’s reading comprehension in six specific categories:

• Main Idea – measures the applicant’s ability to identify the general message, theme, or central idea in the passage
• Supporting Ideas – measures the applicant’s ability to identify which concepts in the passage support the main idea of the text.
• Analysis and interpretation of text
• Comparing and contrasting ideas
• Making predictions of events and outcomes
• Vocabulary – measures the applicant’s ability to use context clues in order to define words
• Organization and Logic – measures the applicant’s ability to identify the structure, pattern, or sequence present in a particular genre
• Point of view
• This section consists of 25 questions to be answered in 25 minutes
• This section contains five reading passages with five questions each
• This section consists of 36 questions to be answered in 35 minutes
• This section contains six reading passages with six questions each

Mathematics Achievement

The Mathematics Achievement section measures an applicant’s skills at basic mathematical operations and computations, according to the applicant’s grade-level appropriate National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards.

• This section consists of 30 questions to be answered in 30 minutes
• This section consists of 47 questions to be answered in 40 minutes

Applicants taking any of the three Independent Schools Entrance Exam will be required to prepare and write an essay on a random topic distributed on the day of the test.

• Upon receiving the topic, students are given 30 minutes to prepare and write their essay
• Students may use a blue or black pen
• Essay will not be graded, however the school to which the applicant has applied will receive a photocopy of the essay to assess in any way they wish
• Prompt will usually be relevant to the student and offer them an opportunity to tell about themselves

ISEE Administration

Independent Schools Entrance Exam test locations and dates can fluctuate, and are determined by the particular school administering the ISEE. Some states include:

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• Pennsylvania

As well as international locations including:

• Seoul, Korea

Applicants may also take their test through the use of a test consortium consisting of several area schools within a central location collaborating to test those applying to many different local independent schools. These consortiums can be found in most major US cities.

Registration for the ISEE Test

Students registering for the Independent Schools Entrance Exam can do so through the mail or at www.ISEEtest.org . Registering over the phone or via fax may include additional fees. It is important to register for your ISEE at least three weeks before your test date.

ISEE Test Fees

Registration for the Independent Schools Entrance Exam begins at $89, but can range up to $180 depending on location and accommodations needed. Registering over the phone or via fax will incur an additional $20 fee.

ISEE Requirements

The Independent School Entrance Exam can be taken by any student in grades 5-12 who is applying to enter an independent school. Requirement of completion of the ISEE is determined by the independent school being applied to.

ISEE Scores

Throughout all sections in all three versions of the ISEE, all questions are equal in value. The ISEE does not penalize for incorrect answers, so the raw score is solely determined by the number of correct answers given by the applicant. Test takers are encouraged to guess if they are not sure.

The ISEE score report includes both scaled scores and percentile scores:

Scaled Score

A conversion of the raw score, scaled between 760 and 940.

Percentile Score

The percentile score takes the scaled score achieved by the applicant, and ranks it from 1-99, based on the student’s performance compared to other test takers of the examination.

For example, if a student scored better than 90% of the students who took the same test, then that student’s Percentile Score would be 90.

• Shows how an applicant scored in comparison to other applicants of similar demographics.
• This is based on the norm pool of applicants which share the same grade as the applicant
• Schools receiving the ISEE score report and see how the applicant compares to the rest of the applicant pool

What is on the ISEE test?

The  ISEE  is split up into five different sections – verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, and an essay.

How much does it cost to take the ISEE?

The cost to take the  ISEE  varies, depending on location and different accommodations needed. The cost can range from $89 to $180. If you choose to register over the phone, it will cost you an extra $20.

Who takes the ISEE test?

Students who are in grades 5 and 6 will take the lower level  ISEE . Students who are in grades 7 and 8 will take the middle level ISEE. Students who are in grades 9-12 will take the upper level ISEE.

Performance on the Independent Schools Entrance Exam is vital for admission to an independent school. To register for your ISEE, please visit  erblearn.org  to learn more.

• Authored By: Dave Evangelisti
• Last Updated June 25, 2023

ISEE by ERB

Accepted by over 1,200 independent schools around the world, the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the most trusted admissions assessment tool available for students in Grades 2-12. And with the most testing options of any private school entrance exam, including online, paper-based, and at-home administrations, ISEE is also the most flexible assessment option for select families.

The ISEE isn’t like every other admissions test, because it not only measures what students know, it also measures how they think. This means that students have multiple opportunities to shine and show their application schools what they are capable of. And because the ISEE is secure and reliable, your student can test confidently knowing that they’re being assessed fairly in critical areas.

Registering online is the fastest and easiest way to secure a testing date. Creating an account online allows you to manage testing for multiple students including their profile information, accommodations, testing dates, and score reports.

Get the guide, download the isee quick facts guide for details on how to register, the types of questions students will encounter on the exam, and preparing for test day..

Most available testing options.

No matter where your family lives, you can get access to an isee test when and how works best for you, including in-person and remote testing., multiple testing opportunities., we know that students don’t always get their desired score their first time out. that’s why we let students take the isee once per testing season for a total of three times per school year., no penalties for incorrect answers., when other tests penalize students for incorrect answers, they encourage students to skip questions rather than use their intuition, tap into contextual clues, and make educated guesses. by not penalizing students, the isee enables students to present their best self on test day, helping them secure admission to schools that are a good academic fit., dedicated support team., the isee is backed by a dedicated support team. we’re here every day to ensure that test administrations run smoothly, and help families with registration and whatever isee questions you encounter. with isee from erb, help is just a click or call away., already have an isee parent account online  log in to register for a test, change a test, or access score reports., prepare for success.

Test Innovators provides engaging, interactive preparation tools to help every ISEE registrant fully demonstrate their academic abilities on the test. With multiple program tiers to choose from, including a free trial version, every student can prepare for success with Test Innovators—no matter where they live. Use the link below to learn more about why more than 130,000 students have prepared with Test Innovators.

Testing Seasons

Spring/Summer

Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov

Dec | jan | feb | mar, apr | may | jun | jul.

Students may take the ISEE once per testing season—Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer—for a total of up to three times a school year. So if a student takes the exam in September during the Fall Testing Season, they’d need to wait at least until December, the Winter Testing Season, to take the ISEE again.

Levels, Test Sections, and Timing

A student's testing level is determined by the grade to which the student is applying for admission—not a student's current grade. The ISEE has four levels. The test sections, number of questions, and test timing vary by level. The Upper Level is a high school entrance exam.

Primary Level 2 (applying to Grade 2)

Primary level 3 (applying to grade 3), primary level 4 (applying to grade 4), lower level (applying to grades 5 or 6), middle and upper levels (applying to grades 7 to 12).

The ISEE is available in both online and paper testing formats. Format availability varies by location. Both modalities have the same number of questions, the same timing, and the same opportunity for students to change their answers within a test section.

Online Test Format

For all levels, test questions are presented on a testing device and multiple-choice responses are marked on a testing device. the essay portion for the lower, middle, and upper levels is typed. scratch paper and pencils are provided by the test site., paper test format, for lower, middle, and upper levels, test questions are presented in a test booklet and multiple-choice responses are bubbled on a separate answer document using a #2 or hb pencil. blank space in the test booklet may be used as scratch paper. students handwrite the essay in the space provided on the answer sheet, using a black or blue ballpoint pen. erasable pens are permitted., for primary 2, 3, and 4, test questions are presented in a consumable test booklet and multiple-choice responses are marked in the test booklet using a #2 or hb pencil.  blank space in the test booklet may be used as scratch paper.  there is no writing sample for the isee primary levels., want more information about isee by erb, 1 (800) 446-0320, monday - friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm est.

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Enter your email to receive updates about new learning tools and resources, special offers, and other ERB news. 

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ISEE Essay Overview

How schools use the isee essay.

• Topic choice
• Organization and structure
• Use of examples and details
• Writing mechanics (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

Tip: Some schools will compare student application essays with the ISEE essay. If the application essays are written differently from the ISEE essay, school may disregard the application essays entirely based on an assumption that these may have been written by someone else (a parent, a tutor, etc.).

Make sure that you write your own application essays! Parents, guardians, and others can help with the editing process, but the writing should be your own!

 ISEE Prep Guide Home

 Mathematics Achievement Overview

Essay Strategies 

• Organizations
• Admissions Coaching
• Academic Tutoring
• Online Essay
• Test Anxiety Resources
• Scholarships

Preparing for the ISEE Essay

The last section of the ISEE is the Essay. Students are given 30 minutes to write an essay in response to a prompt. The Essay section is not scored. Instead, a copy of the essay is sent to schools along with the ISEE score report. As you prepare for the essay section of the ISEE, make sure you know what to expect.

The ISEE writing sample provides valuable information to admissions staff, who use it to gain further insight into the character, personality, and writing ability of prospective students. One common practice is to compare application essays with the ISEE writing sample. This allows admissions staff to see how students express themselves when there are no external influences impacting their writing or ideas. Many students, parents, and guardians are unaware of the importance of the writing sample and tend to under-prepare for this critical section.

Writing a Persuasive, Winning Essay

The most important thing to remember as you write your essay is that this is your opportunity to let schools know who you are and what you care about. Use this opportunity to highlight your passions and personality. It’s a good idea to spend some time thinking of some people, events, or activities that you could incorporate into different essay prompts. Since you only have limited time on the actual test, doing this brainstorming beforehand will help you a great deal!

Three ISEE Essay Tips

• Use your time effectively. Take the first 2 to 5 minutes to create an outline that includes your main point, 2-3 supporting points, and any key details and examples you’ll incorporate into your essay.
• Next, spend 20 to 25 minutes writing. Your essay should have an introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the body paragraphs, be sure to add supporting details and specific examples. Try to be as personal and descriptive as you can to make your writing come alive for readers.
• Finally, spend 2 to 5 minutes revising and editing. You don’t want grammatical or punctuation errors to detract from readers’ appreciation of your ideas! Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization.

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For the Upper Level, Middle Level, and Lower Level

Ultimate ISEE Prep Guide

The Essay is not scored but sent directly to schools for their review. Students will have 30 minutes to plan and write their essay in response to a single prompt. There are technically no right or wrong answers, but students do want to make a good impression on school admissions counselors.

Your essay is not scored, but a copy of your essay is sent to every school you designate to receive your ISEE results.  The schools may then use your essay as a separate weight in determining whether or not to offer you admission to their school.

Schools might compare your ISEE essay to your application responses to evaluate how you write under time constraints versus no time constraints.  They may also compare your ISEE essay to your application responses to see if you actually wrote your application responses (or if someone else wrote them!).

You will have 30 minutes to prepare and write your essay in response to a prompt that will be appropriate to your grade level and experiences.  So, do not worry that you will not be able to respond to the prompt.  Technically, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, but be sure that you write on the assigned topic.  You will not be taken seriously if you write about your favorite singer or TV show when the prompt asks you about a community service project you performed.

Brainstorming 

Though 30 minutes may or may not seem like a good amount of time to write a two page essay, you should use every minute available to create an excellent essay.  To save time, you can actually prepare for your essay before you even sit down for the ISEE through brainstorming.

Brainstorming ideas will greatly lessen the time you spend thinking about how you’re going to answer the prompt and what evidence you’ll use to support your thesis, or main idea.  Ultimately, these ideas should pull from your experiences, interests, habits, hobbies, and aspirations as a student and as a person:

• Anything that you’ve learned in school (historical figures, social concepts, etc.)
• Favorite school subject (don’t pick lunch or recess)
• Books that you’ve read for school
• Books that you’ve read for fun
• Vacations or trips you’ve taken
• Community service that you’ve performed
• Relationships that you’ve made (family, friends, etc.)
• Interesting people that you’ve met (famous or not)
• Anything from movies, television shows, and the internet that you’ve seen
• Someone to whom you look up (famous or not)
• Hobbies or interests (cars, video games, books, sports, etc.)
• Life aspirations (career, education, family, etc.)

After you’ve brainstormed your ideas, spend some time answering the following questions for each idea:

• Why did you pick this idea?
• How does this idea influence you?
• Why is this influence important?

The answers to these questions will provide supporting evidence to back up whatever claim you make in response to the ISEE prompt.

Brainstorming Example and Practice 

Click here to download a blank essay brainstorming and outlining worksheet in PDF.

Brainstorming Example – “Something You’ve Learned in School”

Choose something you learned from any and all subjects (math, English, history, science, etc.). However, it would be prudent to focus on concepts that can be used to address social issues or concepts that have developed you as a student and/or person. For example, you can choose Abraham Lincoln or George Washington, popular choices for influential historical figures, or the lesson on marine biology that inspired you to focus your education in the sciences.

Brainstorming Example – “Favorite School Subject”

First and foremost, do not pick Lunch or Recess as your favorite school subjects. Remember, these ideas are supposed to help you create an essay that will be read by all the schools you select to receive your ISEE results. You won’t be taken seriously as a candidate for admission, so avoid “subjects” like Lunch, Recess, or possibly even Physical Education. Stick with the tried and true subjects: Math, Science, English, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Fine Arts, etc.

Brainstorming Example – “Books You’ve read for School”

There are students who love to read and those who do not, but don’t worry too much about being the latter. Even if you have hated every book you’ve read for school, you can still have something to say (good or bad) that addresses an ISEE essay prompt about something you’ve read. However, do not fill your essay with negativity. Instead, make the essay a positive, yet critical, explanation of why you disliked portions, if not all, of the book. Whatever you choose, make sure you remember the storyline, the characters, and the general purpose of the book.

Brainstorming Example – “Books You’ve Read for Fun”

While this topic will be easier for those who like to read, those who do not will have read something at some point in their life. You can even use the same books you used for the previous worksheet, but focus more on the parts that you enjoyed. Think about how the book and its characters relate to your life or to real life scenarios. Many books are meant to be social commentaries on today’s world and its events.

Brainstorming Example – “Vacations or Trips That You’ve Taken”

There are some students who have traveled the world and some students who have barely traveled outside of their home city. However, like the book exercises, it doesn’t matter if you’re the former or the latter. Any vacation or trip (think school or church trips) is fair game! You can choose that whirlwind vacation to Europe you took last summer, or you can choose that church mission trip you took to build homes in a nearby town for those in need.

Brainstorming Example – “Community Service”

Official or not, you have probably done something in the past that benefitted the community in some way. You may have volunteered at the local homeless shelter to serve food for the homeless. You may have volunteered at a nursing home to help the residents with their daily activities. You may have helped your neighbors with their lawn or other housework. Anything you have done to help someone else can be considered community service, as long as you were not paid to do it.

Brainstorming Example – “Relationships that You’ve Made”

These are not the “romantic” relationships. These are friendships you have made with various people throughout your life that have made some sort of impact on you. Perhaps someone you met while performing your community service projects or on a vacation you took. These relationships are also those you have made with your family. Perhaps you have a strong bond with your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, or cousins that have matured you in some way.

Brainstorming Example – “Interesting People That You’ve Met”

Famous or not, these are the people that you’ve met throughout your life that have made an impact on you. These people might be the same people you mentioned in the previous worksheet. What makes a person interesting is not necessarily how famous or popular they are. There is a reason they are famous or popular, such as their accomplishments or charity work. Be sure you pick someone about which you’ll have plenty to say.

Brainstorming Example – “Favorite Movie”

While you may not have a specific favorite movie (or three), you probably have some movies that you loved or liked. Focus on movies that show aspects of your personality (action, drama, comedy, etc.). Avoid movies that would be inappropriate to write about, such as comedies with vulgar humor or horror movies with extreme gore.

Brainstorming Example – “Favorite TV Shows”

Like the “Favorite Movies” worksheet, focus on television shows that are appropriate to write about and show aspects of your personality. Avoid reality television shows as they are often perceived as “poor quality” television, which can reflect poorly on your personality and character. You can even choose television shows that have not been on the air for a very long time.

Brainstorming Example – “Hobbies or Interests”

This is probably the most “fun” brainstorming worksheet you’ll complete in these exercises. Your hobbies and interests, no matter how silly they seem, demonstrate who you are as a person and as a student. You might spend some of your weekends playing video games or watching television. You might play sports or participate in clubs/organizations. You might be a walking encyclopedia on cars, trains, planes, animals, sports, games, or random fun facts. Pretty much anything goes!

Brainstorming Example – “Life Aspirations”

Though you may not have figured out where you want to attend college or what career you want to pursue, you have probably done some thinking about what you want out of life. Think about what matters to you, such as building a family, obtaining a lucrative job, or completing a college education. These ambitions will demonstrate to the schools what you plan on using your education to achieve.

Planning Your Essay: An Outline 

Before you begin writing your essay, spend between 2 to 3 minutes planning your essay. You may need to spend more time planning, but keep in mind that the more time you spend planning your essay the less time you have to actually write it. Perhaps the best way to plan an essay is by creating an outline. The outline keeps your thoughts organized and directed, as it is easy to fall into generalities that greatly weaken the strength of your essay. You may design your outline however you want, but a visually simple outline works well.

Write your main idea, or thesis, inside of a circle and branch two to three examples off from the circle that support your main idea. You might want to make notes under each supporting idea that detail what you would like to say. However, you do not have to write out complete sentences. Shorthand will make your outline easier to follow. It would also be prudent to number your supporting ideas in the order you want to talk about them.

Example Prompt: If you were given the power to change one thing about the way in which we choose a president of the United States, what would you change and why?

Thought Process: “Last year, my school’s Student Government tried out online voting, since the normal route wasn’t getting many votes. I remember it working really well! I think online voting should be the main way we vote for a president. I think I’ll first use the History lesson I learned on voter turnout for presidential elections. Then I’ll give an example of why voter turnout is low because of people’s busy schedules. Lastly, I’ll discuss what my Student Government did to fix voter turnout for issues involving our student body.”

Structure of the Essay 

You’ve determined what you want to write about and you’ve drafted your quick outline. Now, you can spend the remaining 27 or so minutes writing and proofreading your essay. Remember, although the essay is not scored, schools look at your essay to see how effective and creative you are at expressing your ideas. You should vary your sentences in structure and length and include intelligent vocabulary, all of which demonstrates your command and knowledge of English.

The format of the essay is not as important as how effectively you present your ideas. You can choose to write a formal essay with an introduction paragraph, 2‐3 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph or you can choose to write a narrative essay, which plays out more like a story of an event you’ve experienced or learned about. Either way, choose the format that is easiest for you to write and that most effectively presents your argument or point.

Example Format of a Formal Essay 

• Introduction Paragraph – clearly states which position you are taking regarding the prompt o Intro Sentence – restatement of the prompt in a way that draws the reader in
• Supporting Sentence 1 (SS1) – discusses some aspect of your stance
• Supporting Sentence 2 (SS2) – discusses another aspect of your stance
• Thesis Statement – embodies the entirety of your stance and the essay

Body Paragraph(s) – details each specific example that supports your thesis

• Intro Sentence – describes what the paragraph will discuss (lead‐in to the example) o SS1 – presents the example (event, literature, history, experience, movie, etc.)
• SS2 – further details the example and how it supports the thesis
• SS3 – further details the example and how it supports the thesis
• Concluding Sentence – final statement regarding your thesis vs. the example

Concluding Paragraph – brings your arguments together

• Intro Sentence – restatement of your thesis in a different way
• SS1 – restatement of your first example
• SS2 – restatement of your second example
• SS3 – restatement of your third example
• Concluding Sentence – final statement regarding the entire essay and your thesis

Some Essays Dos and Don’ts 

Essay Un-Scoring 

Though Section 5’s essay is not scored, copies of your essay will be sent to the schools you designate to receive your ISEE results. The essay is a demonstration of your ability to communicate your ideas intelligently and effectively. Have one or more readers review your essay using the following chart’s guidelines to determine your level of mastery of the English language.

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