Private and Boarding School Admissions 2026-2027
SSAT vs ISEE: Which Test Should Your Child Take in 2026-2027?
The SSAT and ISEE are accepted by most independent and boarding schools, and since March 2026 both are run by the same organization, E3n. The main differences: the SSAT has a quarter point guessing penalty at the Middle and Upper levels and tests analogies, while the ISEE has no guessing penalty and adds a Math Achievement section. The best test is the one your child scores higher on, so start with a free diagnostic of each.
Free SSAT vs ISEE diagnostics
Full length, both formats, scored side by side, so you can see which test fits.
Free · Grades 5 to 7 applicants
Middle Level SSAT vs ISEE diagnostic
Compares the Middle Level SSAT with the ISEE.
Free · Grades 8 to 11 applicants
Upper Level SSAT vs ISEE diagnostic
Compares the Upper Level SSAT with the Upper Level ISEE.
SSAT vs ISEE at a Glance
| SSAT | ISEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | E3n (formerly EMA) | E3n (formerly ERB) |
| Levels | Elementary (grades 3 to 4), Middle (5 to 7), Upper (8 to 11) | Primary (2 to 4), Lower (5 to 6), Middle (7 to 8), Upper (9 to 12) |
| Scored sections | Quantitative (two sections), Reading, Verbal | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement |
| Testing time | 3 hours 10 minutes including breaks | 2 hours 40 minutes plus two 10 minute breaks (Middle and Upper) |
| Guessing penalty | Yes: minus 1/4 point per wrong answer | No |
| Verbal question types | Synonyms and analogies | Synonyms and sentence completion |
| Writing | 25 minute unscored sample, sent to schools | 30 minute unscored essay, sent to schools |
| Calculator | No | No (except approved accommodations) |
| Score scale | Upper 500 to 800, Middle 440 to 710 | 760 to 940 per section, plus stanines 1 to 9 |
| Score choice | Yes, families choose which test dates to send | No, scores go to the schools listed at registration |
| How often | Up to 6 Standard tests plus 1 Flex per year | Once per season, up to 3 times per year |
Sections and Timing
SSAT Middle and Upper Level
| Section | Questions | Time | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing Sample | 1 prompt | 25 min | No |
| Quantitative 1 | 25 | 30 min | Yes |
| Reading | 40 | 40 min | Yes |
| Verbal (30 synonyms, 30 analogies) | 60 | 30 min | Yes |
| Quantitative 2 | 25 | 30 min | Yes |
| Experimental | 16 | 15 min | No |
Two 10 minute breaks. Total 3 hours 10 minutes. The Elementary SSAT runs 2 hours 5 minutes with no guessing penalty.
ISEE Lower, Middle and Upper Level
| Section | Lower | Middle and Upper |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 34 q, 20 min | 40 q, 20 min |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 38 q, 35 min | 37 q, 35 min |
| Reading Comprehension | 25 q, 25 min | 36 q, 35 min |
| Mathematics Achievement | 30 q, 30 min | 47 q, 40 min |
| Essay (unscored) | 30 min | 30 min |
| Total testing time | 2 hr 20 min | 2 hr 40 min |
Plus two 10 minute breaks. ISEE Primary levels run 53 to 60 minutes with no essay.
How Scoring Differs
The SSAT penalizes wrong answers at the Middle and Upper levels and the ISEE does not. On the SSAT, a correct answer earns one point, a wrong answer costs a quarter point and a blank scores zero, so educated guessing only pays when you can eliminate choices. On the ISEE, every question should be answered.
SSAT percentiles compare a student with first time test takers in the same grade over the last three years in the US and Canada. ISEE percentiles compare a student with everyone in the same grade who tested in the past three years, and the ISEE also reports stanines from 1 to 9, which many schools use as a quick read. Because the norm groups are highly selective, a 50th percentile on either test is a solid score.
Formats and 2026-2027 Test Fees
SSAT (US, Middle and Upper)
Standard paper test or school Flex: $177
Prometric test center: $250
SSAT at Home: $263
Flex with an educational consultant: $272
Late fee $59, rush fee $100
ISEE (Lower to Upper)
At a school: $170
Prometric test center: $250
ISEE at home: $185 to $250
In an ERB office: $185 to $255
Late registration $45
These are official test fees set by E3n, not ConnectPrep fees.
Retakes and Score Reporting
The ISEE can be taken once in each testing season: fall (August to November), winter (December to March) and spring or summer (April to July). The Middle and Upper SSAT allows up to six Standard tests plus one Flex test per testing year, one SSAT at Home test, and a limited number of Prometric tests. SSAT families decide which test dates to send and schools do not see how many times a student tested. ISEE scores are shared with the schools chosen at registration, and those schools cannot be removed after testing.
SSAT Standard Paper Dates 2026-2027
| Date | Levels |
|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2026 | Middle and Upper |
| Nov 14, 2026 | All levels |
| Dec 12, 2026 | All levels |
| Jan 9, 2027 | Middle and Upper |
| Jan 30, 2027 | Middle and Upper |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Middle and Upper |
The ISEE has no national dates. Families book a seat at a school, an office or Prometric, or schedule an at home test, within each testing season.
What the E3n Merger Changed
The companies merged. The tests did not. EMA and ERB announced their intent to merge in September 2024 and completed it in March 2026, creating E3n. Both tests continue with separate formats and scoring, and E3n has announced no changes for 2026-2027.
For the full timeline, read ISEE vs SSAT after the E3n merger.
Which Test Should Your Child Take?
Lean SSAT if
Your child is a strong, careful test taker who reads quickly and likes analogies, you want control over which scores schools see, or you want more test dates to retake.
Lean ISEE if
Your child is strong in school math, tends to rush and guess, or is applying to a school that prefers the ISEE.
Decide with data
Take both free diagnostics a week apart and compare percentiles, not raw scores. Then prepare for one test only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SSAT or ISEE easier?
Neither is easier overall. E3n, which now runs both tests, describes them as remarkably similar in content, difficulty and length. The real differences are format: the SSAT has a quarter point guessing penalty at the Middle and Upper levels and includes analogies, while the ISEE has no guessing penalty and includes a Math Achievement section. Most students score noticeably better on one, so take a diagnostic of each.
Do schools prefer the SSAT or the ISEE?
Most independent and boarding schools accept both. Some New York City schools historically preferred the ISEE, but schools such as Spence and Grace Church now accept either for 2027-2028 admission. Always check each school’s admissions page.
Did the SSAT and ISEE merge?
The organizations merged, not the tests. EMA (which owned the SSAT) and ERB (which owned the ISEE) completed their merger in March 2026, creating E3n. E3n says both tests continue, and it has not announced changes to either test’s format or scoring for 2026-2027.
Does the SSAT have a guessing penalty?
Yes, at the Middle and Upper levels. Each correct answer earns one point, each wrong answer loses one quarter point, and omitted questions score zero. The Elementary SSAT has no penalty. The ISEE has no guessing penalty at any level.
How many times can you take the SSAT or ISEE?
The ISEE can be taken once per testing season (fall, winter and spring or summer), up to three times a year. The Middle and Upper SSAT allows up to six Standard paper tests plus one Flex test per testing year, with separate limits for at home and Prometric testing.
How are SSAT and ISEE scores reported?
SSAT Upper Level scores range from 500 to 800 and Middle Level from 440 to 710, with percentiles against first time test takers in the same grade over three years. ISEE sections are scored from 760 to 940, with percentiles and stanines from 1 to 9. SSAT families choose which test dates to send. ISEE scores go automatically to the schools you list.
How much do the SSAT and ISEE cost?
For 2026-2027 the Middle and Upper SSAT costs $177 for a Standard paper test, $250 at Prometric and $263 at home. The ISEE costs $170 at a school for Lower through Upper levels, $250 at Prometric and $185 to $250 at home.
When should my child take the SSAT or ISEE?
For fall 2027 entry, most students test between October 2026 and January 2027, because most boarding school applications are due January 15 to February 1, 2027. Leave room for a second attempt. See our boarding school deadlines table for each school’s date.
About This Guide
Written by Jeremy Fine, who founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and has more than 20 years in education. Facts are checked against E3n’s official SSAT and ISEE pages. Related: Boarding school deadlines 2026-2027 · Private and boarding school advising · SSAT and ISEE tutoring · Free ISEE, SSAT, HSPT and TACHS practice tests · HSPT vs TACHS · Private school admissions requirements