ISEE Preparation — Lower & Primary Levels
A no-fluff study plan for ISEE preparation — the curriculum, resources, and sequencing that matter most, built around the two sections that determine most of a student's composite score.
The single highest-leverage adjustment a family can make is to shift practice material from the student's current grade to the grade they are applying to enter. A rising second grader applying for second-grade admission should be working second-grade reading and math standards, not first-grade material. This positions the student to sit for the ISEE as though the target grade were already complete — which is precisely the standard the exam is measuring against — and produces a measurable lift in composite scores. The same principle applies to grade-level assessments outside the ISEE, including MAP testing.
In our experience, reading comprehension is frequently the limiting factor on the quantitative side of the exam as well. A large share of ISEE math questions are word problems, which means a reading bottleneck quietly caps math performance even when computational skills are solid. Where study time is limited, we recommend weighting it toward reading first.
Target the standards of the grade applied to, one full year ahead of current coursework.
Treat reading comprehension as the foundation skill — it directly affects math scores too.
This track receives the largest share of preparation time. Rather than assigning volume, we recommend drilling a short set of transferable strategies against short, leveled passages until each becomes automatic.
A free account provides leveled articles with paired question sets formatted in a manner consistent with ISEE reading passages — well suited to isolating and drilling a single skill at a time rather than a full timed section.
readworks.org →We recommend pairing two free platforms, each serving a distinct function: instruction for new or unstable concepts, and repetition for concepts that are understood but not yet automatic.
Free, grade-level video lessons with guided practice. Use this resource first whenever a concept is unfamiliar or inconsistently applied.
khanacademy.org →Skill-specific problem sets with immediate feedback. Use this resource once a concept has been introduced, to build speed and eliminate careless errors before test day.
ixl.com →A free, game-based math platform that wraps grade-level problems inside an RPG-style adventure. Well suited to lower-stakes, self-directed practice on days when a worksheet would meet resistance.
prodigygame.com →Once foundational skills are in place, layer in test-format practice: a print workbook for low-stakes repetition at home, followed by official ERB materials in the final stretch before the exam.
A dedicated prep title covering both reading and math in ISEE-formatted question sets — useful for building familiarity with the exam's layout, question types, and pacing.
View on Amazon →Sample tests, format guides, and preparation resources published directly by the test maker.
erblearn.org →