How the ISEE Essay Works
The essay is the last section of the ISEE, given after the four multiple-choice sections. Students receive one prompt and have 30 minutes to write a response.
Key facts:
- The essay is not scored by ERB — it's sent directly to schools as a writing sample
- Schools receive a copy of the essay (handwritten for paper tests, typed for online tests)
- There is no "correct" answer — the prompt is open-ended
- Prompts are typically personal or opinion-based
What Do Prompts Look Like?
ISEE Upper Level essay prompts usually ask students to reflect on a personal experience, take a position on an issue, or describe something meaningful. Examples of the style:
- "Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. What did you learn from the experience?"
- "Do you think students learn more from success or failure? Explain your reasoning."
- "If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be and why?"
The prompt is designed to be accessible to all students regardless of background.
What Schools Look For
Admissions committees reading your child's essay are evaluating:
- Clarity of thought — Can the student organize ideas logically?
- Writing mechanics — Spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence variety
- Voice and personality — Does the student sound genuine and engaged?
- Maturity — Does the response show age-appropriate self-reflection?
- Effort — Did the student take the essay seriously and fill the page?
Schools are not expecting polished literary essays. They want to see that a student can communicate clearly and thoughtfully under time pressure.
How Much Does It Matter?
The essay's weight varies by school, but it is generally a secondary factor — less important than stanine scores and grades, but more important than many families assume.
The essay matters most when:
- A student's scores are borderline for admission
- The school emphasizes writing in its curriculum
- The rest of the application doesn't show much personality (generic recommendations, limited extracurriculars)
A strong essay won't overcome weak scores, but a weak essay can raise concerns about a student who otherwise looks good on paper.
How to Prepare
Structure Practice
Teach your child a simple essay structure that works under time pressure:
- Introduction (2–3 sentences) — State the main point clearly
- Body paragraph 1 (4–6 sentences) — First supporting reason or example with details
- Body paragraph 2 (4–6 sentences) — Second supporting reason or example
- Conclusion (2–3 sentences) — Restate the main point and add a final thought
This structure takes about 5 minutes to plan and 20 minutes to write, leaving 5 minutes for review.
Time Management
Practice the 30-minute window:
- Minutes 1–3: Read the prompt, brainstorm, choose a position
- Minutes 3–5: Outline the structure (just a few bullet points)
- Minutes 5–25: Write the essay
- Minutes 25–30: Read through, fix errors, add details if time allows
Handwriting Matters
Since schools receive a photocopy of the handwritten essay:
- Write legibly — if admissions can't read it, it can't help your child
- Use paragraph indentation so the structure is visually clear
- Write on every line (don't skip lines unless the test booklet says to)
- Practice writing by hand regularly if your child primarily types
Content Tips
- Be specific. "I learned to work harder" is vague. "I started waking up 30 minutes earlier to practice piano before school" is concrete.
- Be genuine. Admissions officers read hundreds of essays — they can spot generic responses.
- Answer the prompt directly. Don't go off-topic or try to shoehorn in a prepared essay.
- It's okay to be simple. A clearly written essay about a small moment beats a rambling essay about a big topic.
Practice Routine
In the weeks before the test:
- Write one timed essay per week using practice prompts
- Have a parent or teacher read it and give feedback on clarity and organization
- Focus on one improvement per week (e.g., week 1: structure, week 2: specific details, week 3: time management)
- Practice handwriting speed and legibility
The essay is the one section where preparation is straightforward — write regularly, get feedback, and the quality will improve.
For a complete preparation timeline that includes essay practice alongside other sections, see our ISEE preparation guide. When you're ready to work on the scored sections, take a free diagnostic test to identify where to focus.