Understanding ISEE Scores — Scaled Scores, Percentiles & Stanines
A comprehensive guide to how the ISEE is scored, what each number on the score report means, how stanines work, and what admissions offices are really looking for.
How Is the ISEE Scored?
The ISEE produces three types of scores for each of the four tested sections. Understanding what each score means is essential for evaluating your child's performance.
Scaled Score
Each section receives a scaled score on a range of approximately 760 to 940. The scaled score adjusts for slight differences in test difficulty across administrations, ensuring fair comparison. However, scaled scores alone do not tell you how your child compares to other test-takers.
Percentile Rank
The percentile rank (1–99) tells you what percentage of students at the same grade level scored lower than your child. A percentile of 85 means your child scored higher than 85% of test-takers. Percentile ranks are calculated by comparing your child's performance to a norm group of students who took the same ISEE level.
Stanine Score
The stanine (1–9) groups percentile ranks into nine bands. Stanines are the most important number on the ISEE score report because they are the primary metric that admissions offices use to evaluate test performance. A stanine of 5 is average; stanines of 7–9 are what competitive schools look for.
ISEE Stanine Score Chart
The stanine system divides the percentile distribution into nine bands. Here is exactly how stanines map to percentiles and what each level means.
| Stanine | Percentile Range | % of Test-Takers | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 96th – 99th | 4% | Very high — top tier performance |
| 8 | 89th – 95th | 7% | High — well above average |
| 7 | 77th – 88th | 12% | Above average — strong performance |
| 6 | 60th – 76th | 17% | High average |
| 5 | 40th – 59th | 20% | Average — middle of the distribution |
| 4 | 23rd – 39th | 17% | Low average |
| 3 | 11th – 22nd | 12% | Below average |
| 2 | 4th – 10th | 7% | Low |
| 1 | 1st – 3rd | 4% | Very low |
Key takeaway: Stanines 7, 8, and 9 represent the top 23% of all test-takers. These are the stanine levels that competitive independent schools typically look for. A stanine of 5 is exactly average — not a poor score, but not typically strong enough for the most selective schools.
What Schools Look for in ISEE Scores
Different schools have different expectations. Here is what you need to know about how admissions offices evaluate ISEE results.
Independent schools do not publish minimum ISEE score requirements, but experienced admissions consultants and tutors understand the general expectations for different tiers of schools.
Most Competitive Schools (Stanines 8–9)
The most selective independent schools — such as Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, The Dalton School, Trinity School, Horace Mann, and Collegiate School — generally expect stanine scores of 8 or 9 in most or all sections. These schools receive applications from highly prepared students, so the ISEE score bar is correspondingly high.
Competitive Schools (Stanines 7–8)
Many well-regarded independent schools look for stanines of 7 or above. These include schools like The Bishop's School, Francis Parker School, La Jolla Country Day School, Cate School, and comparable institutions. A stanine of 7 (77th–88th percentile) demonstrates strong academic ability and readiness.
Moderately Selective Schools (Stanines 5–7)
Some independent schools have a broader admissions profile and may consider students with stanines of 5 or 6, particularly if other aspects of the application — grades, recommendations, interview, and essay — are strong. Even at these schools, higher ISEE scores strengthen the application.
The Essay Matters Too
While the ISEE essay is not scored by ERB, it is sent directly to every school that receives your child's score report. A well-organized, thoughtful essay demonstrates maturity and communication skills. Dr. Donnelly works with every student on essay preparation to ensure they present their best writing on test day.
How to Interpret Your Child's ISEE Score Report
When you receive the score report, here is what each component means and where to focus your attention.
What the Report Includes
- Scaled scores for each of the four sections (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement)
- Percentile ranks comparing your child to other students at the same grade level who took the same ISEE level
- Stanine scores for each section — this is the number admissions offices look at most closely
- The essay — a copy of your child's written response, sent to all designated schools
What the Report Does Not Include
- No composite or total score — the ISEE does not combine section scores into a single number like the SAT
- No pass/fail designation — there is no cutoff score; schools evaluate each application holistically
- No question-level detail — the report shows section-level performance but not individual question results
- No essay score — the essay is unscored and sent as-is to schools
Understanding the Norm Group
A critical detail that many parents miss: ISEE percentile ranks compare your child only to other students who took the same ISEE level in the same grade. This means the comparison group is already self-selected — these are students who are applying to independent schools, which is typically a higher-achieving group than the general student population. A 50th-percentile ISEE score does not mean your child is average overall; it means they scored in the middle of a group of students who are generally above-average academically.
What Is a Good ISEE Score?
The answer depends on your target school, but here are general guidelines based on Dr. Donnelly's experience with hundreds of ISEE students.
| School Tier | Target Stanine | Target Percentile | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Competitive | 8 – 9 | 89th – 99th | Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, Dalton, Trinity |
| Highly Competitive | 7 – 9 | 77th – 99th | Bishop's, Francis Parker, Cate, Thacher |
| Competitive | 6 – 8 | 60th – 95th | Many well-regarded day and boarding schools |
| Moderately Selective | 5 – 7 | 40th – 88th | Schools with broader admissions profiles |
Remember: ISEE scores are just one component of the admissions process. Schools also evaluate grades, teacher recommendations, the student interview, extracurricular activities, and the essay. A strong application can compensate for scores that are slightly below a school's typical range, and vice versa. Dr. Donnelly can help you set realistic score goals based on your specific target schools.
ISEE Scoring — Frequently Asked Questions
A good ISEE score depends on your target school's competitiveness. Most selective independent schools look for stanine scores of 7 to 9 (77th percentile and above). A stanine of 5 is average, meaning your child scored in the middle 20% of test-takers. Stanines of 8 and 9 place students in the top 11% and top 4% respectively, which is what the most competitive schools typically expect.
A stanine (short for "standard nine") is a scoring scale from 1 to 9 that groups percentile ranks into nine categories. Stanine 1 represents the lowest 4% of scores, stanine 5 represents the middle 20%, and stanine 9 represents the top 4%. Schools use stanines because they provide a simple, easy-to-understand measure of how a student performed relative to other test-takers at the same grade level.
Your child's ISEE score report includes: scaled scores (760–940 range) for each of the four sections, percentile ranks (1–99) showing how your child compared to other test-takers, and stanine scores (1–9) which group percentiles into nine bands. The report also includes the unscored essay, which is sent directly to schools. Focus primarily on the stanine scores, as these are what admissions offices typically evaluate. Contact Dr. Donnelly for a free score report analysis.