It’s ISEE, Not ICEE, But The Experience Can Still be Pretty Sweet
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is the testing tool most commonly used by Nashville schools for students entering grades 5-12. It is also what many applicants feel the most nervous about in their application process. However, with a little forethought and planning, you can come to see the ISEE as your child’s advocate instead of something to fear.
PLAN AHEAD
Grades 5, 7 and 9 are general entry points in Nashville independent schools and common times for students from public schools to make a switch to a private school. It is also when students who attend Kindergarten-6th grade and Kindergarten-8th grade independent schools apply to middle schools and high schools across the city. A year prior to applying to an independent school at these grade levels is a great time to think about options with ISEE and alleviate anxiety about it.
So, for example, if you are a parent of a third grade student at Julia Green or a fifth grade student at Oak Hill, and are even thinking about a possibility of independent school for middle school, your child will take the ISEE in the next year.
TIMING
The ISEE is given in three windows and students may only test once within each window:
By planning ahead, the anxiety of only having one chance to take the exam can be eliminated. In the traditional Nashville Independent School applicant window, where first round admission decisions are sent at the end of February/first of March, the fall and winter options are the most applicable. Students can take the ISEE between August and November to experience the exam and see their scores and then have the option to take it again December - February if they feel their first scores don’t represent their best work. Since parents control when schools receive ISEE scores, they have the ability to review two sets of scores and only send the set that best represents their child.
FORMAT
The ISEE is administered both in the traditional test format of paper booklet/bubble sheet and online. In general, school settings give the paper version, a Prometric site offers online, and a testing office can offer either.
SETTING
Large Group Testing at School: Nashville area schools offer the ISEE on Saturdays December - February. These dates are available on the ISEE website under the registration tab as well as through the schools themselves. These are large group test sites where parents and applicants can expect 100+ total fellow testers, but test rooms are typically limited to 18 students per room and are always divided by grade level.
Small Group Testing at Testing Office: Nashville Education Consultants is an official ISEE test site and offers small group (maximum of 10) testing. Testing is available in every ISEE testing window with wide flexibility in availability. Initial test dates are set around the MNPS and ISNA school calendars, but requests for additional specific dates are welcome.
Prometric Testing Center: Prometric sites offer a wide variety of testing across the world. This can be a great fit for relocating students who currently live in an area where ISEE testing is not available. When testing at a prometric site, families should be aware of the following: all testing is online and essays will be typed, there will be other students and adults taking other types of tests at those centers, and a parent is required to stay on-site for the duration of testing.
By planning ahead on these three main concepts, you have the opportunity to make the ISEE your child’s friend instead of their foe.
Thinking ahead on timing in order to have the option to take a fall and winter exam.
Thoughtfully choosing online or paper testing based on your child’s learning style.
Choosing a setting that will best promote your child feeling confident and showing their abilities
And after a successful and low stress ISEE, you take them to get that ICEE.
