The top score on the ISEE is a stanine of 9. Naturally, most students and families would love to achieve the prestigious 9. But, can aiming for perfection be counter-productive? I think so. Here’s why.
Extreme pressure
Scoring a 9 on the ISEE requires near-flawless performance. Missing merely a few questions puts this goal out of reach. This level of accuracy creates unnecessary pressure on students, inevitably leading to test anxiety.
Only 4% of students achieve a 9 on the ISEE. That means for 96% of students, scoring a 9 is unrealistic. Setting such a goal can lead to discouragement and feelings of failure, even for well-prepared students.
Can you imagine if only the top 4% of the world’s athletes were considered good at their sport? In reality success in athletics and academics goes far beyond the top 4%.
Timing issues
Shooting for that perfect score means aiming to ace every question. But guess what? This can backfire because timing is critical.
Each question holds the same value—just 1 point! So, it’s easy to waste time on a few tough ones that aren’t worth the effort. Students fixated on those 9s spend way too much time trying to answer the hardest questions, leaving them racing against the clock and missing out on easier ones. Trying to answer every single question correctly usually doesn’t work out.
In the math sections, students can afford to miss 1 or 2 questions and still score a 9. I encourage my students to be strategic about those tricky questions that might drain their time, allowing them to be accurate with the rest.
The suspiciously simple questions can easily be missed when in a hurry, while super challenging questions might take up 2-3 minutes and still be out of reach for many students.
Students should focus on nailing those easy and medium questions without getting hung up on the toughest ones.
9 isn’t the only way
7s and 8s are excellent scores placing students in a highly competitive position. They show strong academic foundations and readiness for the challenges of an independent school. And they’re attainable. Don’t be fooled into thinking a 9 is the only way to get into a choice school.
One major goal of ISEE test prep is to maximize a student’s potential, not chase an elusive top score. That’s why I love celebrating my students’ improvement and progress throughout the preparation journey.
It’s too easy for students to focus on how they’re missing the mark when fixated on that perfect score. Instead, celebrating victories along the way raises confidence, a much-needed component of success.
So what’s the secret to ISEE success?
Well, it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the test prep journey. Students should have a strong ISEE test prep plan that allows plenty of time to build the skills and confidence needed to succeed. When the right strategies are in place, there’s no need to fret about scoring a 9.
Not sure where to start? My diagnostic service is the best way to discover a student’s starting point. From there, I create an individualised program for making the test prep journey as low-stress, and successful as possible.
