Independent school admissions, step by step
Most independent day and boarding schools ask for one of two admission tests, the ISEE or the SSAT, and some Catholic schools ask for the HSPT. Here they are side by side, with the free practice that builds the skills and the full practice tests for the last weeks.
Updated October 31, 2026
ISEE or SSAT: what is different
The ISEE (from ERB) has four choices a question and no penalty for a wrong answer; its Middle Level is for students applying to grades 7 and 8 and its Upper Level to grades 9 to 12. The SSAT (from The Enrollment Management Association) has five choices and takes away a quarter point for a wrong answer, so knowing when to guess matters; its Middle Level covers grades 5 to 7 and its Upper Level grades 8 to 11. Both send an unscored writing sample to the schools.
- ISEE: 4 choices, no penalty
- SSAT: 5 choices, quarter-point penalty
- Writing sample
- No calculator
- SSAT Elementary for grades 3 and 4
Find your test
Each school says which test it takes; some take either. If your list mixes independent and Catholic schools, you may need two.
- ISEEIndependent school admissionFor families applying to independent schools that ask for the ISEE.
- SSATIndependent school admissionFor schools that ask for the SSAT instead.
- SSAT ElementaryGrades 3 and 4For private schools that ask younger applicants for it.
- HSPT, for Catholic high schoolsGrade 8The entrance test many Catholic high schools use. Practice by skill, lessons and full practice tests.Schools that use it
Build the skills
Both tests lean on vocabulary, reading and math without a calculator. These free tools build exactly that.
- VocabularyGrades 5 and upSynonyms, word parts and analogies, the heart of both verbal sections.
- Reading libraryGrades 5 and upClassic readings in literature, science, history and the humanities, each with questions explained in full.
- Math Facts: mental math and fractionsGrades 5 to 8Two-digit sums, doubling and halving, fractions, decimals and percents.
- Daily Grammar FixGrade 4 and upOne sentence a day: tap the mistake, pick the fix, learn the rule.All the rules
Practice tests and test day
A full timed practice test shows the pacing. Take one, review every miss, rest the day before.
Comparing private high schools?
Private School Compass lists every private high school in the federal survey by state, and compares them by academics and results, cost after aid and each school's own story. Free to use.
Questions people ask
Should we take the ISEE or the SSAT?
Whichever your schools ask for. Many accept either; then pick the one that suits your child. The SSAT's guessing penalty rewards a careful test taker, and the ISEE has no penalty, so every question should get an answer.
How are the scores reported?
Both report scores against other students applying to the same grades. The ISEE adds a stanine from 1 to 9 for each section; the SSAT gives a scaled score and a percentile. Schools read them next to grades, recommendations and the interview.
When should we start?
Most families start a few months before the test date. Vocabulary and reading take the longest to grow, so begin there.
Where can we compare schools?
Private School Compass, our sister site, lists every private high school in the federal survey by state, with its academics and cost after aid.
Is Owl connected with any test maker?
No. Owl Test Prep is independent and every question is original. The tests named here are trademarks of their makers, which do not endorse this site.
Sources
Read on October 31, 2026. If something here is out of date, write to hello@owltestprep.com and we will fix it.
Owl Test Prep is independent and is not connected with the makers of any test named here. Every Owl question is original.