Anonymous wrote:SSAT is better if your kid is a good test taker but it does penalize for wrong answers
Really best to have them take both

It is true that the SSAT penalizes for wrong answers while the ISEE does not. Respectfully, however, I do not recommend taking both tests. My approach would be to consult with a test prep outfit to get some data on which test might suit your child well. (You could do that in a fairly brief one or two sessions, irrespective of whether you want to go through with more full-scale tutoring.) Even trying samples online is likely to be instructive, without the investment of time and headaches of actually taking both tests.

It takes a lot of time for kids to have to prepare for two tests, and most test-prep folks I know concur that it's not a great use of resources. I'd sooner spend the time spent on the second test preparing for the first, whichever one that turns out to be.

I recognize that others' experiences may be different. It's not my intention to say, "YOU'RE WRONG!" — merely to provide another perspective.

Peter

Anonymous wrote:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53c5807ce4b0d6926564f82d/t/5b2d0e530e2e72e10f323f1a/1529679444967/SSAT+vs+ISEE+chart+2.jpg

Hey, that's my chart! Thanks for linking to it! I've actually just updated it, so I don't think that link works anymore. If you're interested, please visit this part of my site:

https://peterbraverman.com/diy

and click "What Are the Differences Between the SSAT and ISEE?" (Duh.)

I put a ton of time into that chart so I added a credit. All I ask is that you retain the top portion if you pass it along.

In addition, on that Web page I've also listed a wide range of information about applying to independent schools that I've learned over the last 15 years or so. There are always nuances, but if you want to undertake this process, I think it provides a pretty good starting point, and, information, so they say, wants to be free.

Good luck!

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's too easy to write uninformed, personal, or mean-spirited posts if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. I have read hundreds of admission files, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools in the DC area. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> peterbraverman <dotcom>

ISEE Lower level is for students applying for 5th or 6th who are currently in 4th or 5th. SSAT is one year up - applying for 6th or 7th. No matter which test, students take the same test, and scores are compared only against other 4th graders/6th graders etc. If both tests are accepted some admission pros will recommend that 5th graders take the ISEE because there may be more material on the test that is familiar, as 4th graders also take the same test. A nervous test-taker (or any test-taker!) can find this reassuring. However, a 6th grader applying for 7th might prefer the SSAT for the same reasons because that test is for current 5th and 6th graders. Just know that the SSAT has that 1/4 deduction for wrong answers. We have counseled our ISEE-taking DCs to be take advantage of the 5-min warning to scan remaining questions and eliminate obvious wrong answers and guess at the others - every once in awhile they hit a right answer. (However, schools see the answer sheet and, if it matters, can sorta tell when that happens.)

PP here (posted that ISEE reading is non-fiction, informational text). My son took both tests, within ten days of each other in November 2017. Here are how his percentiles looked.

SSAT
Verbal: 79%
Quantitative: 99%
Reading: 66%

ISEE
Verbal Reasoning: 76%
Quantitative Reasoning: 95%
Mathematics Achievement: 93%
Reading Comprehension: 78%

Generally, the percentiles are consistent for math and verbal. It's the reading comprehension where the difference came through. ISEE reading does not have the literary/fiction/poetry reading comprehension that SSAT does. I'll also note that my son did the HSPT as well. HSPT reading includes both informational and literary text reading comprehension, with the scores broken out separately for both. Same story: he did much better on the informational text section vs. the literary text section.

SSAT is better if your kid is a good test taker but it does penalize for wrong answers
Really best to have them take both

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53c5807ce4b0d6926564f82d/t/5b2d0e530e2e72e10f323f1a/1529679444967/SSAT+vs+ISEE+chart+2.jpg

Some schools require one or the other, so you may not have a choice.

If you do have a choice, both tests’ web sites offer practice tests or questions. Have your kid try them out and see which goes better. I think it’s hard to predict.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for writing but you've got this the wrong way around. when no one replied I did a lot of searching and found out the ISEE penalizes for incorrect answers with 1/4 point deduction, but the SSAT does not.

The SSAT is over 2 hours long, the ISEE is shorter. The SSAT has more quantitative questions.

Hi. It can be a bit confusing as some of the sites don't really word it very well, but I think you have it flipped around as the SSAT is the one that punishes with a 1/4 point deduction, not the ISEE.

I just double-checked a few sites myself and they confirm it is the SSAT that penalizes 1/4 point.



https://www.kaptest.com/study/ssat/the-isee-versus-the-ssat/

Scoring on the ISEE and SSAT
The biggest scoring difference between the ISEE and SSAT is that while it’s beneficial for you to guess when you don’t know the answer on the ISEE, the SSAT takes 1/4 point off for every incorrect answer. That means that not only does an incorrect answer not add to your overall score, but it also subtracts. This doesn’t have to be scary– it just means your tactic for answering questions you’re not sure about has to be a little different. Check out more information about scoring on the SSAT.

The ISEE doesn’t subtract points for incorrect answers; they simply don’t add to your overall score.


https://www.studypoint.com/ed/isee-test/


Penalty for Wrong Answers?

SSAT -- yes, you lose 1/4 of a point for incorrect answers
ISEE -- no, you do not lose points for incorrect answers

ISEE doesn't NOT penalize for incorrect answers. From their website:

Directions for a Student Taking the ISEE
• Listen very carefully to instructions that are given to you by the test administrator.
• For paper-pencil testing, answers are to be recorded on the ISEE answer sheet and not in the test booklet.
• Unprinted space in the test booklet may be used as scratch paper.
• You will not be penalized on the test for wrong answers; your
score is based only on the number of correct answers.

Then why does every test prep site out there say the ISEE has no guessing penalty?

Anonymous wrote:What we were told was that basically, the ISEE is tougher math and easier English while the SSAT is the opposite. The ISEE (I think) is multiple choice 1 of 4 answers where SSAT is 1 of 5 answers (not sure on that). The SSAT punishes wrong answers with a 1/4 point deduction and the ISEE does not punish you for wrong answers, aka guessing is ok on the ISEE and a risk on the SSAT.

OP here. Thanks for writing but you've got this the wrong way around. when no one replied I did a lot of searching and found out the ISEE penalizes for incorrect answers with 1/4 point deduction, but the SSAT does not.

The SSAT is over 2 hours long, the ISEE is shorter. The SSAT has more quantitative questions.

Anonymous wrote:What we were told was that basically, the ISEE is tougher math and easier English while the SSAT is the opposite. The ISEE (I think) is multiple choice 1 of 4 answers where SSAT is 1 of 5 answers (not sure on that). The SSAT punishes wrong answers with a 1/4 point deduction and the ISEE does not punish you for wrong answers, aka guessing is ok on the ISEE and a risk on the SSAT.

What makes the reading different for ISEE is that it only uses non-fiction passages. SSAT has literary passages, even poetry. Analysis of ISEE's informational text is more straightforward.

Ditto — testing strategy is different as pp mentioned. Also can only take ISEE once very six months. Can take ssat multiple times.

What we were told was that basically, the ISEE is tougher math and easier English while the SSAT is the opposite. The ISEE (I think) is multiple choice 1 of 4 answers where SSAT is 1 of 5 answers (not sure on that). The SSAT punishes wrong answers with a 1/4 point deduction and the ISEE does not punish you for wrong answers, aka guessing is ok on the ISEE and a risk on the SSAT.

Are there significant differences between these two tests, for admissions?

Thanks.