Private school admission · 2026-27

SSAT vs ISEE: which test?

The two private school admission tests side by side: who takes which level, what is on each, how they are scored, and how to choose.

SSAT sample questions →ISEE sample questions

Quick answer

What is the difference between the SSAT and the ISEE?

Both are private school admission tests run by E3n. The SSAT has analogies and, on the Middle and Upper Levels, a ¼-point penalty for wrong answers. The ISEE has no guessing penalty, no analogies, and two math sections (reasoning and achievement). SSAT levels follow your child's current grade; ISEE levels follow the grade they are applying to.

Source: E3n: About the SSAT and E3n: About the ISEE · Updated

Try both: SSAT and ISEE questions

Question 1 of 6Verbal · Synonym

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SSAT and ISEE side by side

SSATISEE
GradesStudents now in grades 3 to 11Students applying to grades 2 to 12
LevelsElementary (grades 3-4), Middle (5-7), Upper (8-11), by current gradePrimary 2, 3, 4, Lower (applying to 5-6), Middle (7-8), Upper (9-12), by grade applying to
Scored sectionsQuantitative (math), Verbal, ReadingVerbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement (Primary: reading and math)
Verbal questionsSynonyms and analogiesSynonyms and sentence completions, no analogies
MathTwo 25-question math sections (Middle/Upper)Quantitative Reasoning (little calculating, comparisons on Middle/Upper) plus Mathematics Achievement
LengthElementary 2 h 5 min, Middle/Upper 3 h 10 min, breaks includedLower 2 h 20 min, Middle/Upper 2 h 40 min, plus two breaks
Wrong answersMiddle/Upper: lose ¼ point. Elementary: no penaltyNo penalty at any level
WritingWriting sample, not scored, sent to schoolsEssay, not scored, sent to schools (none at Primary)
ScoresSection scales: 300-600, 440-710 or 500-800 by level, plus percentiles760-940 per section, plus percentile and stanine
RetakesSeveral per testing year (up to 3 at Elementary)Once per season, up to 3 a school year
FormatPaper; Middle/Upper also at home or at a Prometric centerOnline or paper, also at home or at a Prometric center

Source: E3n's SSAT Candidate Handbook 2026-27, About the SSAT, About the ISEE and the score report guides for both tests.

How to choose

1. Check the schools

Some schools ask for one test, others accept either. That settles it before anything else.

2. Try both formats

Do a few SSAT and ISEE sample questions. Analogies and the guessing penalty suit some children more than others.

3. Look at dates

The SSAT can be retaken several times a year; the ISEE once per season. Pick the one that fits your timeline.

Our app has full practice tests for both, every SSAT and ISEE level, with each answer explained. See the SSAT practice test and ISEE practice test pages.

Questions parents ask

What is the difference between the SSAT and the ISEE?
Both are private school admission tests run by E3n. The SSAT has analogies and a ¼-point penalty for wrong answers on the Middle and Upper Levels. The ISEE has no analogies, uses sentence completions and quantitative comparisons instead, splits math into reasoning and achievement sections, and never penalizes a wrong answer. The SSAT level goes by your child's current grade; the ISEE level goes by the grade they are applying to.
Is the SSAT or ISEE easier?
Neither is easier overall, because each compares your child only with other students taking the same test in the same grade. What differs is the fit: a child who is strong with word relationships may like SSAT analogies, and a child who rushes and guesses may do better on the ISEE, where a wrong answer costs nothing.
Which test should my child take?
First check what each school on your list requires: some ask for one test, others accept either. If they accept either, try sample questions from both and see which feels more natural, then look at the dates and formats near you.
Can my child take both the SSAT and the ISEE?
Yes. They are separate tests with separate registrations and separate parent accounts, and with both you choose which schools receive the scores. Preparing for two different formats takes more time, so pick one unless a school asks for the other.
Who makes the SSAT and the ISEE?
Both are now run by E3n, the non-profit behind admission.org. The ISEE was developed by ERB and the SSAT by the Enrollment Management Association, which combined as E3n. They are still two separate tests with separate parent accounts.

SSAT and ISEE are trademarks of E3n, which is not affiliated with iMasterly and has not reviewed or endorsed our practice.