Reading
Although only one of the five ISEE testing sections is based on reading comprehension, taking a multiple-choice style test uses a modicum of reading comprehension skills. For instance, your child may be testing in the quantitative reasoning section, but if he cannot understand the meaning of the question he will not have the resources to choose the best answer. Set aside a time each day for your son or daughter to read quietly to themselves. Like any other skill, reading comprehension will be built through practice, practice and practice.

Essay
Although the topics constantly change, you can help your child study for the essay portion of the ISEE. This section involves a topic usually in the format of a question with two lined-pages for a response. There is a 30-minute time limit on the essay, so familiarity with writing essays is vital to success. Give your child practice essay topics, such as asking, "Who was your most influential teacher and why?". The actual ISEE essay topic will most likely stimulate a paper on opinion. Review the basics of essay writing with your child such as taking a stance, writing an outline and fleshing out the topic with interesting details when possible. Remind them that this is not a 'graded' portion of the exam, however the essay will go directly to the school administration.

Remember, there is no 're-take' for the ISEE and there are no failing grades. The test can be taken every 6 months or during admissions season for schools. Your child's results will stay with them for that time period. The test is scored against your child's peers taking the same test. It is a competitive way to rank your child's aptitude and current knowledge. Make sure they eat, sleep and relax before test day.

ISEE Scores
The Independent School Entrance Examination, or ISEE, tests your child's knowledge and ability to learn. Used as a tool for acceptance into independent school systems, the ISEE is required to ascertain your child's educational ability in comparison to their peers. Due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, your child's test results represent more than just a raw score. The ISEE scoring system covers many aspects of grading from analysis to percentile placement.

Individual Student Report
Within 7 to 10 days of completing the ISEE you will receive the Individual Student Report, or ISR for short. This includes a detailed analysis of the child's performance on the exam and is valid for six-months. The Educational Records Bureau, or ESB, will forward up to six ISR to schools of your choosing. However, there is a fee associated with requesting extra reports. The student's essay portion of the exam is not included in the parent's report - it is only released to the schools.

Additional Scoring Fees
The ERB requires additional fees for hand scoring, rescoring and for telephonic or online score reporting. However, online score reporting may only be obtained if you registered your child online for the test. Additionally, admissions counselors at your chosen schools will only accept scores from the ERB; no test reports are accepted from parents. If you discover an additional school after the ISEE you may request the ERB to release test results to that school.

Scaled Score
The four ISEE sections are lumped together for the scaled score at the top of your child's ISR. Although a raw score is available, it is not valid due to the fact that there are so many different versions of the same ISEE test administered. Scaling your child's score makes it relevant in comparison with other students and test versions. Scaled score values range from 940 at the highest to 760 at the lowest. Your child's number is a representation of the number of questions they answered correctly.

Percentile Ranking
Many children will receive similar or even the same scaled score on the ISEE. However, this number does not represent their areas of expertise nor does it tell you where your child ranks amongst all ISEE test takers. The percentile ranking system uses overall scores compiled from the prior three years of test-takers, placing your child somewhere in that percentage based on their performance in each section. For instance, your son may be placed in the 75th percentile for reading comprehension, meaning that he performed better than 74 percent of the children who took the ISEE. However, he may score in the 50th percentile for mathematics, which means he did better than half the students who took the exam.

Stanine
A further breakdown of percentiles found on your ISR is called a stanine. The stanines are a categorical representation of percentiles. There are nine stanines with 1 being the lowest possible, representing children who scored in the 1 to 3rd percentiles on a section. The highest stanine available is 9, which represents children who scored in the 96 to 99th percentile, the highest score available. If a school admissions counselor is trying to choose between admitting two children, then the stanine might make or break their acceptance.

Analysis
The final section in the ISR is the student analysis, where the four content sections are broken down by question. The analysis lists exactly how the child scored on each question, using a + for answering correctly, a - for an incorrect answer and a S for a skipped question. The answers are listed graduating from the easiest questions to the hardest. If the child's report states three minuses followed by three pluses it means that he missed the first three easy questions but answered the three hardest questions correctly. Admissions counselors use this information when competition is keen.

Choosing an Independent School
There are a plethora of non-public schools available to choose from, however few parents may actually know the differences between them. Independent schools, although private, are not the same as Montessori or parochial schools. Independent School Entrance Exams (ISEE) are just that - independent. There is no governing body or subsidizing institution. The government funds public schools whereas parochial schools are funded by a church or synagogue. Educational institutions are further subdivided into the categories of for and not-for profit. Independent schools are not-for-profit, generating only their sustaining trust through tuition and a board of trustees for fiduciary decisions. Independent schools may include boarding schools or traditional day-school facilities. Choosing an independent school is a very personal decision to be made amongst a student and their parents.

Considerations
Every taxpayer with children has the option to place their kids in a public school. Your residence location indicates which school zone your child is in, with the county telling you where to attend. Some parents choose independent schools over the public system, as they believe their child will receive a better, safer or more competitive education.

There are many considerations involved in choosing an independent school for your child. Ask questions to learn about that school's national testing averages, the educational level of their faculty, teacher to student ratio, number of students in the school, their diversity and the school's accreditation status.

Your questions and considerations may vary by the age and interests of your children. Independent schools provide education from kindergarten through high school depending on the school you choose. Whereas the presence of a drama program may be the main focus for your adolescent, it probably wouldn't affect the decision for the parent of a kindergartener. Likewise, if you have a child with special needs you must consider the school's options for your child and their ability to advocate for him.

Drawbacks
As with any decision you make for your child you will need to weigh the cons of sending your child to an independent school. For one, you will be altering their social interactions, perhaps by removing them from their current school or removing them from a large, public environment to a smaller private one. Unlike public schools, independent school education is not free - there is an annual tuition fee and possibly laboratory and learning material fees as well depending on the school.

Entrance into some independent schools is competitive. Many schools may have waiting lists or will not guarantee all siblings entrance into their school. This can be challenging for families with multiple children with different educational abilities. Another consideration is the location, which will be vitally important if you are driving children to different schools every morning. Inquire about transportation, as independent schools are not mandated to provide this.

Admission Requirements
Each independent school sets their own specific admission requirements. For the most part, the school will require an application, interview with your child, transcripts, and their standardized testing results. For Pre-K through 4th grade the admissions test most frequently used is the Early Childhood Admissions Assessment, or the ECAA. Fifth graders and up use the Independent School Entrance Exam, or the ISEE. Both of these tests are offered through the Educational Records Bureau computerized or in a pencil and paper exam format. The results of your child's ECAA or ISEE may determine the number of independent school options they have, especially for those schools with keen admission competition.