Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the value of 7² − 4²?

9
33 (Correct answer)
21
11

Correct answer: 33

7² = 49 and 4² = 16, so 49 − 16 = 33.

Question 2: A passage compares two authors and lists their similarities and differences. This is an example of which structure?

Sequence
Compare and contrast (Correct answer)
Cause and effect
Description

Correct answer: Compare and contrast

Discussing similarities and differences is a compare-and-contrast structure.

Question 3: BENEVOLENT most nearly means —

ambitious
charitable (Correct answer)
strict
cautious

Correct answer: charitable

Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly, which is closest in meaning to charitable.

Question 4: If a number is increased by 25% and the result is 50, what was the original number?

45
40 (Correct answer)
37.5
35

Correct answer: 40

The original times 1.25 equals 50, so the original is 50 ÷ 1.25 = 40.

Question 5: VERBOSE most nearly means —

wordy (Correct answer)
silent
accurate
concise

Correct answer: wordy

Verbose means using more words than needed, directly synonymous with wordy.

Question 6: PRAGMATIC is most nearly the same in meaning as:

Idealistic
Emotional
Theoretical
Practical (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Practical

Pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Question 7: What is the most critical compliance requirement in standardized testing?

Following all applicable federal and state regulations while maintaining detailed documentation (Correct answer)
Only following regulations when audited
Ignoring regulations to save time
Compliance is optional for certified professionals

Correct answer: Following all applicable federal and state regulations while maintaining detailed documentation

Compliance with applicable regulations is fundamental to professional practice, requiring knowledge of current requirements and meticulous documentation.

Question 8: A store offers a 20% discount on a $45 item. What is the sale price?

$25
$40
$9
$36 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $36

20% of $45 = 0.20 × $45 = $9 discount. Sale price = $45 - $9 = $36.

Question 9: Select the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to TENACIOUS.

Determined
Yielding (Correct answer)
Strong
Persistent

Correct answer: Yielding

Tenacious means holding firmly to something, persistent and determined. Its opposite is yielding, meaning giving way under pressure.

Question 10: What is the value of 2³ + 3²?

13
12
17 (Correct answer)
15

Correct answer: 17

2³ = 8 and 3² = 9, so the sum is 8 + 9 = 17.

Question 11: What is the mean of the numbers 4, 8, 10, and 14?

12
10
8
9 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 9

Sum is 36 and 36 ÷ 4 = 9.

Question 12: If a passage about ocean currents is followed by the heading 'Effects on Climate,' the next section most likely explains:

How to swim in currents
How currents influence weather and temperature (Correct answer)
How fish migrate
The history of ship navigation

Correct answer: How currents influence weather and temperature

The heading signals a discussion of how currents affect climate.

Question 13: A recipe uses 2 cups of flour for every 3 cups of sugar. How many cups of flour are needed for 12 cups of sugar?

18
6
9
8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 8

Since 12 is 4 times 3, multiply the flour by 4 to get 2 × 4 = 8 cups.

Question 14: A passage ends: 'And so, the experiment proved what no one had believed possible.' The phrase suggests the result was:

Surprising and significant (Correct answer)
A complete failure
Expected by all
Unimportant

Correct answer: Surprising and significant

Proving the unbelievable indicates a surprising, important outcome.

Question 15: What is 3/4 expressed as a percent?

34%
60%
75% (Correct answer)
80%

Correct answer: 75%

3 ÷ 4 = 0.75, which equals 75%.

Question 16: What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

To list the author's sources
To provide a counterargument
To state the main idea of the paragraph (Correct answer)
To conclude the passage

Correct answer: To state the main idea of the paragraph

A topic sentence introduces the central idea of its paragraph.

Question 17: TENACIOUS most nearly means —

generous
clumsy
persistent (Correct answer)
indifferent

Correct answer: persistent

Tenacious means holding firmly to something, synonymous with persistent.

Question 18: A car travels 150 miles in 3 hours. What is its average speed?

45 mph
60 mph
75 mph
50 mph (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 50 mph

Speed = distance ÷ time = 150 ÷ 3 = 50 mph.

Question 19: Which question would BEST help a reader identify the main idea of a passage?

Who is the author?
What color is mentioned?
How many sentences are there?
What is this passage mostly about? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: What is this passage mostly about?

Asking what the passage is mostly about targets the central idea.

Question 20: Select the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as BENEVOLENT.

Hostile
Indifferent
Cautious
Kind (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Kind

Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly, characterized by or expressing goodwill and charitable feelings toward others.

Question 21: How can you avoid careless mistakes on math word problems?

Underline what the question actually asks for (Correct answer)
Solve in your head only
Pick the largest number given
Ignore units

Correct answer: Underline what the question actually asks for

Identifying exactly what is asked prevents solving for the wrong quantity.

Question 22: Angela has a 6-mile-per-hour running speed. How many miles can she run in 90 minutes if she keeps the same pace?

9 (Correct answer)
4
12
2

Correct answer: 9

To find the distance Angela can run, first convert the time from minutes to hours: 90 minutes is equal to 1.5 hours. Then, use the formula Distance = Speed × Time. With a speed of 6 miles per hour and a time of 1.5 hours, the distance covered is 6 × 1.5 = 9 miles.

Question 23: Which five sections appear on the Upper and Middle Level ISEE?

Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Math, Science
Verbal, Logic, History, Math, Essay
Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Math Achievement, Essay (Correct answer)
Reading, Writing, Listening, Math, Science

Correct answer: Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, Math Achievement, Essay

The ISEE includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and an Essay.

Question 24: A number increased by 8 equals 23. What is the number?

14
16
31
15 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15

23 - 8 = 15.

Question 25: The night before the ISEE, what is the most effective preparation?

Get a full night of sleep and review lightly (Correct answer)
Skip breakfast to stay alert
Cram new material until midnight
Take a full practice test

Correct answer: Get a full night of sleep and review lightly

Rest improves focus and memory far more than last-minute cramming.

Question 26: EPHEMERAL is most nearly the same in meaning as:

Temporary (Correct answer)
Beautiful
Dangerous
Permanent

Correct answer: Temporary

Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time, transient. Examples include ephemeral pleasures or the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms.

Question 27: In 'The negotiations reached an impasse,' the word 'impasse' most nearly means:

A deadlock (Correct answer)
A new beginning
Quick agreement
A celebration

Correct answer: A deadlock

An impasse is a situation where no progress can be made.

Question 28: Which sentence states an opinion rather than a fact?

The book has twelve chapters
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
Autumn is the most beautiful season (Correct answer)
The river is 200 miles long

Correct answer: Autumn is the most beautiful season

Calling a season 'most beautiful' is a personal judgment, not a fact.

Question 29: If x : y = 4 : 5 and y = 20, what is x?

25
12
18
16 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 16

Since y = 20 is 4 times 5, x = 4 × 4 = 16.

Question 30: Which question format is unique to the Verbal Reasoning section of the ISEE?

Geometry diagrams
Reading passages
Synonyms and single-word/sentence completions (Correct answer)
Quantitative comparisons

Correct answer: Synonyms and single-word/sentence completions

Verbal Reasoning uses synonyms and sentence-completion items to test vocabulary and reasoning.

Question 31: VERBOSE is most nearly opposite in meaning to:

Loud
Eloquent
Concise (Correct answer)
Wordy

Correct answer: Concise

Verbose means using or expressed in more words than are needed; wordy. Its opposite is concise, meaning giving a lot of information clearly in a few words.

Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE)

The ISEE is a standardized admissions test used by independent and private schools to evaluate applicants in grades 2–12, measuring verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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