What Is a Stanine?
"Stanine" is short for standard nine — a scoring scale that divides test results into nine groups. It's the primary score that private schools look at when evaluating ISEE results.
Each stanine corresponds to a specific percentile range:
| Stanine | Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 96–99 | Top 4% of test takers |
| 8 | 89–95 | Top 11% |
| 7 | 77–88 | Above average |
| 6 | 60–76 | Slightly above average |
| 5 | 40–59 | Average |
| 4 | 23–39 | Slightly below average |
| 3 | 11–22 | Below average |
| 2 | 4–10 | Well below average |
| 1 | 1–3 | Bottom 3% |
How Stanines Are Calculated
The ISEE first produces a scaled score (760–940) for each section. That scaled score is then compared to a norm group — other students in the same grade who took the ISEE over a rolling three-year period.
Your child's position within that norm group determines the percentile rank, and the percentile rank maps directly to a stanine.
This means stanines are relative, not absolute. They reflect how your child performed compared to a large pool of recent test takers at the same grade level.
The Four Scored Sections
The ISEE reports a stanine for each of four sections:
- Verbal Reasoning — synonyms and sentence completions
- Quantitative Reasoning — math problem-solving and comparisons
- Reading Comprehension — passage-based questions
- Mathematics Achievement — computation and applied math
The essay is not scored numerically — it's sent directly to schools as a writing sample.
What Schools Actually Look At
Different schools weight ISEE scores differently, but here's what most admissions offices consider:
- Individual section stanines — some schools care more about specific sections (e.g., a STEM-focused school may prioritize math)
- Consistency across sections — similar stanines across all four sections suggests overall readiness
- Comparison to the school's applicant pool — your child is being compared to other applicants to that specific school, not all ISEE takers
Schools rarely share their "minimum" stanine requirements. Instead, they evaluate the full application: grades, recommendations, interview, essay, and test scores together.
Common Misconceptions
"My child got an 8 — is that a B?" No. Stanines are not letter grades. A stanine of 8 means your child scored in the 89th–95th percentile — in the top 11% of test takers.
"A 5 is failing." A stanine of 5 is exactly average — your child performed as well as or better than 40–59% of students in the norm group. It's not a failing score.
"The stanine is based on all students nationwide." Not exactly. The norm group is students in the same grade applying to the same level of school entry. A 9th-grade applicant is compared to other 9th-grade applicants, not 7th graders.
What Is a Good ISEE Score?
A "good" score depends entirely on your target schools:
- Most competitive private schools look for stanines of 7 or above across sections
- The most selective schools (acceptance rates under 20%) typically see admitted students with stanines of 8–9
- A stanine of 6 is competitive for many solid private schools
- A stanine of 5 is exactly average — not a failing score, but may not stand out at highly selective schools
However, ISEE scores are just one part of the application. Schools also weigh grades and transcripts, teacher recommendations, the essay, the interview, and extracurriculars. A strong ISEE score opens doors, but it rarely makes or breaks an application on its own.
Stanines Are Comparative, Not Absolute
An important detail many parents miss: stanines compare your child only to students in the same grade applying to the same level. A stanine of 7 means your child scored better than roughly 77–88% of other applicants at that level — not 77–88% of all students.
ERB uses a rolling three-year norm group, so stanines are relatively stable. The same raw score could produce slightly different stanines depending on overall trends in the applicant pool over time.
How to Improve Stanines
Since stanines reflect relative performance, improvement means outperforming more of the comparison group. Focus on:
- Weak sections first — a diagnostic test reveals which sections have the most room for growth
- Vocabulary depth — the Verbal Reasoning section rewards broad, deep vocabulary built over weeks
- Math fundamentals — review the complete list of math topics tested and practice systematically
- Reading speed and accuracy — practice active reading with passages slightly above grade level
- Test-taking strategy — learn when to guess, when to skip, and how to pace each section
The Bottom Line
A "good" ISEE score depends on your target schools. For most private schools, stanines of 6–7 are competitive. For the most selective schools, aim for 8–9. But remember that the ISEE is one component of a holistic application — no single stanine defines your child's chances.
If you're not sure where your child stands, start with our free diagnostic test to get a baseline. Use the score calculator to understand how raw scores translate to stanines and set realistic targets for test day.