ISEE vs. SSAT: Key Differences Every Private School Applicant Should Know

What Are the ISEE and SSAT?

The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) and SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) are two of the most widely accepted private school admissions tests in the U.S. Both assess a student's verbal, reading, math, and writing abilities, but they differ in structure, scoring, question styles, and school preferences.

ISEE vs. SSAT: At a Glance Comparison

Feature	ISEE	SSAT
Full Name	Independent School Entrance Exam	Secondary School Admission Test
Grade Levels	Grades 2–12	Grades 3–11
Sections	5: Verbal, Quant 1, Reading, Quant 2, Essay	6: Writing, Quant 1, Reading, Verbal, Quant 2, Experimental
Scoring	760–940 per section (Lower levels: 300–440)	500–800 per section (Upper/Middle); raw scores used
Guessing Penalty	No penalty for wrong answers	¼-point deduction for wrong answers
Test Frequency	Up to 3 times/year	Up to 8 times/year (with Flex, Prometric, at-home options)
Writing Sample	Required but unscored	Required but unscored
Math Emphasis	More traditional math	More logic-based reasoning
Verbal Style	Synonyms + Sentence Completion	Synonyms + Analogies
Popular With	Many independent day schools	Many boarding & private schools

Which Test Should You Take?

Check the schools you're applying to. Some accept only the ISEE or only the SSAT, while others accept both. Choosing the test that fits your strengths (e.g., logic vs. computation, reading vs. math) can also help boost your score.

• Choose SSAT if: you’re applying to boarding schools, are stronger with analogies, or want multiple retake opportunities.

• Choose ISEE if: you're applying to independent day schools, prefer no guessing penalty, or are better with traditional math questions.

Content Breakdown by Section

Section	SSAT	ISEE
Verbal	Synonyms + Analogies (logic-heavy)	Synonyms + Sentence Completion (vocab)
Reading	Fiction & Nonfiction Passages	More Nonfiction; inference-based
Math	Two sections, reasoning style	Two sections, computation style
Writing	Creative or essay (1 prompt)	Expository essay (1 prompt)
Experimental	Unscored (to test future questions)	None

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