The ISEE and the SSAT are both admission tests for independent schools, and many schools accept either one. The biggest differences are guessing (the ISEE has no penalty for wrong answers, the SSAT takes off a quarter point) and the verbal questions (the ISEE uses sentence completions, the SSAT uses analogies).
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Both are admission tests for independent schools, and many schools accept either one. Check each school's requirements first.
The ISEE has no penalty for wrong answers. The SSAT takes off a quarter point for each wrong answer.
ISEE Verbal is synonyms and sentence completions. SSAT Verbal is synonyms and analogies.
ISEE questions have four answer choices. SSAT questions have five.
Since March 2026, both tests are run by the same nonprofit, E3n, formed when ERB (the ISEE's publisher) and EMA (the SSAT's publisher) merged. The two tests have not changed for the 2026 to 2027 admission year.
| ISEE | SSAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | E3n (formerly ERB) | E3n (formerly EMA) |
| Answer choices | 4 (A to D) | 5 (A to E) |
| Wrong answers | No penalty | Lose 1/4 point |
| Verbal | 40 questions in 20 min: synonyms and sentence completions | 60 questions in 30 min: synonyms and analogies |
| Math | Quantitative Reasoning (37 in 35 min) and Mathematics Achievement (47 in 40 min) | Two Quantitative sections, 25 questions in 30 min each |
| Reading | 36 questions in 35 min | 40 questions in 40 min |
| Writing | 30 minutes, not scored, sent to schools | 25 minutes, not scored, sent to schools |
| Total time | About 3 hours with breaks | About 3 hours with breaks |
| Scores | Scaled score, percentile, and stanine (1 to 9) | Scaled score and percentile |
| Retakes | Once per testing season, up to three times a year | Several chances a year across test dates and formats |
Both tests have lower levels too. The ISEE Lower Level is for students applying to grades 5 and 6 (34 Verbal, 38 Quantitative Reasoning, 25 Reading, and 30 Mathematics Achievement questions), and the ISEE also has a Primary Level for younger students. The SSAT Elementary Level is for students in grades 3 and 4.
On the ISEE, a blank and a wrong answer both score zero, so students should answer every question. On the SSAT, a wrong answer costs a quarter point, so students need a plan for when to guess. The habits are opposite, which is why it helps to practice for the specific test. Try this: on the ISEE, save the last minute of each section to fill in an answer for every question left blank.
Both tests use synonyms. The ISEE adds sentence completions, which ask for the word or phrase that best fits a sentence. At the Upper Level, some have two blanks. The SSAT adds analogies, which ask how two words are related and which pair of words shares that relationship. Students who read a lot often find sentence completions natural. Students who like word puzzles often enjoy analogies.
The ISEE splits math into Quantitative Reasoning, which at the Middle and Upper Levels includes quantitative comparison questions (which of two quantities is greater), and Mathematics Achievement, which is closer to school math. The SSAT's two Quantitative sections mix math reasoning and computation. Neither test allows a calculator.
ISEE Verbal gives about 30 seconds per question, the same pace as SSAT Verbal. ISEE Reading and math sections give a little less time per question than the SSAT: about 58 seconds per Reading question and 51 to 57 seconds per math question, compared with 60 and 72 seconds on the SSAT.
ISEE Coach is built for the ISEE format: four answer choices, synonyms and sentence completions, quantitative comparisons, Mathematics Achievement, the ISEE's time limits, and no guessing penalty. The free practice test is a full-length, timed diagnostic at your child's level, and its report shows accuracy by section and subskill, so you can see how the ISEE feels before you decide. If your child is taking the SSAT, our sister site SSAT Coach works the same way for the SSAT.
Neither is harder overall. They test similar skills in different formats. The ISEE has sentence completions and a separate math achievement section; the SSAT has a guessing penalty and analogies. Many students find one format suits them better.
Many independent schools accept either one and do not prefer one over the other. Some require a specific test, so check each school's admission page.
Yes. Some families do, especially when applying to schools with different requirements. Preparing for one at a time works best, because the guessing strategies are opposite.
No. The ISEE has no penalty for wrong answers, so students should answer every question. The SSAT takes off a quarter point for each wrong answer.
ISEE questions have four answer choices, A to D. SSAT questions have five, A to E.
Start with a free 15-minute starter set, no sign-up needed. Then take a full-length, timed ISEE diagnostic at the Lower, Middle, or Upper Level and get a report on which subskills need work.
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More ISEE guides: ISEE scores · ISEE timing and pacing · ISEE essay · Quantitative comparisons · ISEE study plan · Sentence completions · ISEE synonyms · Free ISEE practice test · Lower Level guide · Middle Level guide · Upper Level guide