Full-Length ISEE & SSAT Practice Tests for Most Levels, Scored with Advanced Diagnostics
- Middle and Upper Level SSAT
- Lower, Middle, and Upper Level ISEE
- Digital or paper tests to match the official format
- Director guidance on which test to take when
- Self-proctored paper at home, digital on demand, or proctored in person testing options
- Detailed score diagnostics
“I was so impressed with our Compass tutor for our daughter’s ISEE prep… she raised her scores dramatically from her initial practice test, scoring in the top 98% in two sections.” –Parent of an 8th Grader at Walter Reed Middle School
Compass ISEE and SSAT Practice Testing
Compass Education Group administers full-length ISEE and SSAT practice tests for independent school admissions, matched to the level each student will take officially. Practice tests are available in digital and paper formats, taken at home or proctored in person, with paper tests mailed to students in advance. Scoring includes diagnostics consistent with official ISEE and SSAT reporting, and families can review their results with a Compass director to help decide between the ISEE and SSAT, determine level placement, and craft a test preparation timeline.
Learn about the ISEE, as well as the SSAT, how to choose between the two, whether to take them at home or in person, digitally or on paper, and how to turn your practice exams into a plan, or simply register for a practice test to get started.
“If you are daunted by all the choices out there for SSAT and ISEE prep, don’t be. Compass Education Group is the only place you need to know about. The staff takes a remarkably human approach to tutoring. Instructors and staff are warm and thoughtful, and test scores go way up.” –Parent of a student at the Salisbury School
Choose Your Practice Test Format
Director-Guided Practice Testing
New Students
At-Home Digital
At-Home Paper
In-Person Digital
In-Person Paper
- Full-length ISEE and SSAT practice tests
- Format matched to your student's official test
- Level-appropriate scoring with student analytics
- Section-level diagnostics
- Director sequencing of official practice forms
- Complimentary score review call after every test
Speak with a director about pricing, placements, and dates
Access Your Practice Tests
Current Clients
Testing Portal Access
Purchased Bundles
Tutoring Programs
Multiple Formats
- Login access to tutoring packages & testing bundles
- Full-length ISEE and SSAT practice tests
- Format matched to your student's official test
- Level-appropriate scoring with student analytics
- Section-level diagnostics
- Director support for questions
Trouble logging in? Email tests@compassprep.com.
Practice Tests Terms & Conditions
All practice test purchases are non-refundable. Compass reserves the right to limit or decline practice test requests. Students who are not enrolled in a tutoring program or small group instructional class are limited to one practice exam per test type. Students enrolled in a workshop are limited to one additional practice test for that test type. On-demand test purchases can take up to 24 hours to process. Please reach out to our team at tests@compassprep.com if you have any questions or need clarification.
As with official testing by the College Board or ACT, capacity constraints may limit our in-person ability to confirm students at their first-choice testing sessions. We may be able to accommodate impacted students by offering a different testing location (including digital options via our Online Testing Center or with an online proctor) or a different time and date. Compass reserves the right to enact, enforce, and alter test scheduling and reservation policies.
Registered users can Login for the current list of testing options. Please keep in mind that any in-person session may already be full. A practice test request made via any page on our website (www.compassprep.com or my.compassprep.com) does not constitute an in-person reservation. You will be notified by the Compass office about our ability to confirm your place on the in-person testing roster. Students with a past due balance may be asked to arrange payment before testing sessions are booked.
Students receiving testing accommodations from an official testing organization should discuss their needs with a Compass director. In-person extended time and other accommodations may only be available at certain testing locations and at certain times. Always reconfirm the specific accommodation when scheduling future in-person testing, as our proctoring staff cannot make last-minute changes.
Each test type has a limited number of available forms. Compass directors can advise you about the recommended scheduling to maximize the benefit from these forms.
Practice tests are best thought of as periodic performances that allow the student and a Compass instructor or tutor to assess progress. As such, we discourage practice testing that is not tied to Compass insight and instruction. Serial testing may prove detrimental by reinforcing bad habits and taking time away from thoughtful practice of skills and strategies. If instruction is being provided by a non-Compass tutor or company, we ask that you contact that tutor or tutoring company about their practice test offerings.
What is the ISEE?
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is the admission test published by the ERB and accepted by independent schools nationwide. It is offered at four levels matched to the grade a student is applying to: Primary for the earliest grades, Lower Level for students applying to grades 5 and 6, Middle Level for grades 7 and 8, and Upper Level for grades 9 through 12. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels contain four scored sections, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics Achievement, plus an unscored essay that is sent directly to schools. Scores include scaled section scores, percentile rankings, and stanines from 1 to 9, all compared against applicants from the past three years. The ISEE does not deduct points for wrong answers, and students may take it once per testing season, up to three times per year. A full-length ISEE Lower Level practice test, Middle Level practice test, or Upper Level practice test through Compass shows families exactly what their student will face at the level that applies to them. Compass ISEE Practice tests at the Primary Level are not available.
What is the SSAT?
The SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) is published by the Enrollment Management Association and is likewise accepted by independent schools nationwide. It is offered at three levels: Elementary for younger applicants, Middle Level for students applying to grades 6 through 8, and Upper Level for students applying to grades 9 through 12. Scored sections cover Quantitative, Reading, and Verbal reasoning, with the Verbal section testing synonyms and analogies, plus an unscored writing sample that is sent to schools. Scores are reported as scaled section scores and percentile rankings compared against test takers of the same grade and gender from the past three years. One rule families are often surprised by: the SSAT Middle and Upper Levels deduct a quarter point for each wrong answer. Establishing a guessing strategy is part of SSAT preparation. A Compass full-length SSAT Middle Level practice test or SSAT Upper Level practice test is the best way for a student to experience that scoring system, and the section pacing, before it counts. Compass SSAT practice tests at the Elementary Level are not available.
ISEE vs SSAT: Which Should Your Student Take?
The answer depends upon which test your school accepts and which test your student performs better on. Compass has compiled the current ISEE and SSAT testing policy and score range data for popular schools across the country to help you determine which tests are accepted where. The tests reward different strengths: the SSAT leans harder on verbal reasoning, including analogies that many students have never seen before, while the ISEE weights quantitative reasoning more heavily and includes a dedicated math achievement section. Scoring rules differ too. The ISEE never penalizes a wrong answer, while the SSAT Middle and Upper Levels deduct a quarter point for each one. Logistics can also decide it: the ISEE limits students to one attempt per season, while the SSAT allows more frequent testing.
For a complete breakdown, read our guide to choosing between the ISEE and SSAT.
Delivery Formats: Digital or Paper, At Home or In Person
Both the ISEE and SSAT are officially offered in digital and paper formats, and the guiding rule for practice is simple: practice in the format of the official test your student will take. Compass offers all four combinations. At-Home Digital suits students testing digitally who want realistic practice on their own schedule. At-Home Paper matches students taking the paper test at their target schools; paper tests are mailed in advance, so build in shipping time when scheduling. In-Person Digital adds a human proctor and official test-day conditions to the digital format. In-Person Paper is the full dress rehearsal for paper testers, proctored and timed exactly as the official administration will be. Once you confirm with the school which format they use, a Compass Director can set your student up with the best option.
“We decided very late to apply to private schools… Compass was quick to evaluate our son’s performance on a practice test and recommend just the right amount of one-on-one tutoring to help him know what to expect. On the day, even though he is only 9, he felt calm and prepared.” –Parent of a 4th Grader at Community Magnet Charter School.
Score Diagnostics That Turn a Number into a Plan
An official ISEE or SSAT score report tells you how your student did. Compass practice test diagnostics are built to show why, and what to do next. Every practice test is scored with level-appropriate reporting consistent with the official exams. Families testing more than once can track progress across tests as skills develop. After any practice test, families can schedule a complimentary call with a Compass director to review the results and decide whether one-on-one ISEE and SSAT tutoring is the best next step.
