Free ISEE Lower Level Vocabulary Flashcards
The 500 words that matter most for the Lower Level ISEE Verbal Reasoning section, turned into 1,500 flashcards that practice the questions the way the real test asks them. Made by Dr. Stuart Donnelly for his own students, and free for every family.
- 500 words
- 1,500 cards
- Audio for every word
- Anki + Quizlet
Three Cards for Every Word
Each word builds from “I know what it means” to “I can answer it on test day.”
See the word and hear it spoken aloud, then flip for a kid-friendly meaning, a synonym, an example sentence and any “close cousin” words to keep straight.
A capitalized word with four choices, just like Part One of Verbal Reasoning. Tap an answer, flip, and see right away whether it was correct.
A sentence with a blank and four choices, like Part Two of Verbal Reasoning. The answer side names the context clue, so your child learns how to find the answer, not just the answer.
Why Vocabulary Matters on the Lower Level ISEE
The Lower Level Verbal Reasoning section has 34 questions in 20 minutes: synonyms and sentence completions. That is about 35 seconds per question, so there is no time to puzzle out a word your child has never seen. Knowing the word is usually the whole battle.
Vocabulary also helps on Reading Comprehension, where passages and answer choices use the same kind of words. It is one of the most reliable ways for a 4th or 5th grader to raise their score.
- Every word was checked. Each of the 1,500 questions was answered independently and checked against the answer key. Choices that could be argued as a second right answer were replaced.
- Built for 9- to 11-year-olds. Plain-English meanings and everyday example sentences, with no dictionary jargon.
- Spaced repetition in Anki. Each word comes back just before it would be forgotten, so 10–15 minutes a day goes a long way.
How to Use the Flashcards
Anki (recommended)
- Install Anki: free on Mac and PC from apps.ankiweb.net, free AnkiDroid on Android, or AnkiMobile on iPhone and iPad.
- Download the deck and double-click the file (or use File → Import).
- Start with 1 · Core 200. Ten new words a day is plenty.
- Do the day’s reviews every day. That is the habit that makes words stick.
Quizlet
- Download the Quizlet sets and unzip them.
- In Quizlet, choose Create → Flashcard set → Import.
- Paste one file and set the separators to Tab and New line.
- Repeat for each set. Use Learn mode on the Core 200 first.
A Simple 10-Week Plan
50 new words a week (about 10 a day, five days a week). In Anki every card is tagged by week (ISEE::Week::01–10), so it’s easy to see where your child should be.
| Week | Deck | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Core 200 | Words 1–50 |
| Week 2 | Core 200 | Words 51–100 |
| Week 3 | Core 200 | Words 101–150 |
| Week 4 | Core 200 | Words 151–200 |
| Week 5 | Extension 300 | Words 201–250 |
| Week 6 | Extension 300 | Words 251–300 |
| Week 7 | Extension 300 | Words 301–350 |
| Week 8 | Extension 300 | Words 351–400 |
| Week 9 | Extension 300 | Words 401–450 |
| Week 10 | Extension 300 | Words 451–500 |
Short on time? Finish just the Core 200 (weeks 1–4). These are the words most likely to show up on test day.
Vocabulary Flashcards — Questions
Yes. Both downloads are free, with no sign-up and no email required. Share them with any family preparing for the ISEE.
The words are chosen for the Lower Level ISEE, which students in grades 4 and 5 take when applying to grades 5 and 6. The Core 200 is also a good starting point for younger Middle Level students.
Install the free Anki app on a Mac or PC (ankiweb.net), or AnkiDroid on Android, or AnkiMobile on iPhone and iPad. Then double-click the .apkg file, or use File → Import in Anki. Everything (audio, fonts, styling) is built in.
Unzip the download. It contains six text files and a short how-to. In Quizlet choose Create → Flashcard set → Import, paste one file, set the separators to Tab and New line, and click Import.
About 10 new words a day, five days a week, finishes the Core 200 in four weeks and all 500 in ten. Anki brings each word back just before it would be forgotten, so short daily sessions of 10–15 minutes work best.
ISEE is a registered trademark of ERB, which does not sponsor or endorse this resource.