The Educational Records Bureau (ERB) makes only one near full-length practice test available for the ISEE Upper Level. Available as a free PDF download on its website, this is the only official practice test.

However there at least two major downsides to this test.

First, it is only 140 questions in length whereas the actual test contains 160 questions. The disparity is a result of the practice test omitting 20 experimental questions. On the actual ISEE test, students have no way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are experimental and therefore not scored.

Secondly, and probably the biggest issue, is that there are no answer explanations! While ERB does provide an answer key to tell you what your student got right and wrong, it doesn’t provide any assistance in explaining how to get a question right.

We’re fixing that problem starting with the Quantitative Reasoning section, which is what most students consider the most difficult portion of the test. Working with master ISEE tutor Stephen Hayes, we’ve created 32 videos to show students step-by-step how to tackle all of the questions.

View all of the videos on Youtube 

Sample Video – Question 3 from the Quantitative Reasoning Section from ERB’s “What To Expect on the ISEE Upper Level.”

If the sum of all integers from 1 to 1,000, inclusive, is x, then which expression represents the sum of all integers from 1 to 998, inclusive?

(A) x – 1,999

(B) x – 999

(C) x + 999

(D) x +1,999

Sample Video – Question 4 from the Quantitative Reasoning Section from ERB’s “What To Expect on the ISEE Upper Level.”

If the length of the base of a triangle is increased by 10 percent and the height is decreased by 20 percent, what is the percent decrease in the area of the triangle?

(A) 6%

(B) 8%

(C) 10%

(D) 12%

Sample Video – Question 6 from the Quantitative Reasoning Section from ERB’s “What To Expect on the ISEE Upper Level.”

Joshua was trying to calculate the mean of his test scores. He did not know what he had scored on each of the first 4 tests but knew that the sum of his scores was 370. If Joshua scored an 85 on his fifth test, then what was the mean of all 5 scores?

(A) 85.0

(B) 88.75

(C) 91.00

(D) 92.50

Sample Video – Question 13 from the Quantitative Reasoning Section from ERB’s “What To Expect on the ISEE Upper Level.”

Jim and Maud are playing a game using number cubes. Each player rolls two number cubes, numbered 1 through 6, and the sum of the numbers is recorded.

  • Jim receives a point if his sum is a 6.
  • Maud receives a point if her sum is either 6 or 4.

Who has a greater probability of receiving a point?

(A) Jim

(B) Maud

(C) Jim and Maud have the same probability of receiving a point.

(D) There is not enough information given to determine the answer.

Sample Video – Question 32 from the Quantitative Reasoning Section from ERB’s “What To Expect on the ISEE Upper Level.”

In February, apples were selling for $1.50 a pound. In March, the price of apples was 10% higher than the February price. In April, the price of apples was 10% lower than the March price.

  • Column A – The Price of apples in April
  • Column B – $1.50

(A) The quantity in Column A is greater.

(B) The quantity in Column B is greater.

(C) The two quantities are equal.

(D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

View all of the videos on Youtube