The SSAT and ISEE are both widely accepted for boarding school admissions, but they differ in key ways. The SSAT uses percentile-based scoring and includes an unscored writing sample, while the ISEE uses stanine scores and includes a scored essay. The SSAT can be retaken multiple times; the ISEE can only be taken once per testing season. Choose based on your student’s test-taking style and which format plays to their strengths.
Here is what you need to know to make the right choice.
Who accepts which test
The majority of boarding schools accept both. According to the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB), over 1,000 independent schools worldwide use the SSAT as part of their admissions process. The Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which administers the ISEE, reports similar broad acceptance. Before making any other decision, check the admissions requirements for every school on your list (see our guide on how to choose the right boarding school for building that list). A small number of schools have a preference or requirement. If one of your target schools only accepts the SSAT, the decision is made for you.
For most families, however, both tests will be accepted at all of their target schools – so the choice comes down to your student’s profile and test-taking style.
Structure at a glance
| SSAT | ISEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Verbal, Quantitative (×2), Reading | Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Math Achievement, Essay |
| Verbal | Synonyms + analogies | Synonyms + sentence completion |
| Math | Two quantitative sections | Quantitative reasoning + math achievement |
| Essay | Not scored, sent to schools | Not scored, sent to schools |
| Wrong answer penalty | Yes (−¼ point) | No |
| Score scale | 440–710 per section | 760–940 per section |
| Percentile reporting | Compared to all students who took the test in the past 3 years | Compared only to students in the same grade level |
The key differences
1. Wrong answer penalty
The SSAT deducts a quarter point for incorrect answers. The ISEE does not penalize wrong answers.
This has real strategic implications. On the ISEE, guessing on an unknown question is always the right move. On the SSAT, strategic skipping – leaving questions blank when you have no idea – is often the better approach. The SSAT’s official scoring guide confirms that raw scores are calculated by awarding one point per correct answer and deducting one-quarter point per incorrect answer, with omitted questions having no effect. Students who struggle with test-taking strategy tend to do better on the ISEE for this reason alone.
2. Analogies
The SSAT includes analogy questions in the verbal section. The ISEE does not. Analogies require strong vocabulary and the ability to identify relationships between words, a specific skill that some students have naturally and others find very challenging to develop quickly.
If your student has a strong vocabulary and enjoys pattern-based thinking, SSAT analogies may actually be a strength. If vocabulary is a weak point, the ISEE’s sentence completion format tends to be more forgiving.
3. Percentile comparison group
This is one of the most misunderstood differences. SSAT percentiles compare your student against everyone who has taken the SSAT in the past three years, a group that skews toward very high-achieving students, since most SSAT takers are applying to selective schools. A 75th percentile SSAT score is very competitive.
ISEE percentiles compare your student only to others in the same grade level who took the ISEE in the same year. This produces a wider range of scores at the top end, but the comparison group is slightly broader.
Neither scoring system is inherently more advantageous. What matters is how your student performs relative to the admitted students at your target schools.
4. How often you can retake
- SSAT: Can be taken once per test date, with multiple test dates per year
- ISEE: Can only be taken once per testing season (fall, winter, spring, summer)
If your student needs multiple attempts to reach their target score, the SSAT offers more flexibility. This is a meaningful consideration for families starting later in the cycle.
Which test is right for your student?
Choose the SSAT if:
- Your student has a strong vocabulary and handles analogies well
- They are good at strategic test-taking (knowing when to skip)
- You want flexibility for multiple sittings
- Target schools have a preference for the SSAT
Choose the ISEE if:
- Your student tends to guess when uncertain (no penalty rewards this)
- Vocabulary is a relative weakness
- They find the SSAT analogy format particularly challenging
- You are applying to schools that lean toward the ISEE
When in doubt: Take a free practice test for both. The SSAT and ISEE both offer official practice materials. Most students have a clear preference after seeing both – and that preference is usually the right answer.
When to start testing
For a fall 9th grade start, students typically take their first test in the spring of 7th grade for a baseline score, then sit again in October or November of 8th grade – when applications are due in January. This timeline gives you room to improve scores without pressure. International students should plan even earlier, since they’ll also need to prepare for an English proficiency test.
Do not wait until the fall of application year to take your first sitting. By then, you have one or two attempts before deadlines and no real room to adjust strategy.
What we’ve seen work
We’ve had students who scored in the 50th percentile on an initial SSAT practice test and, after switching to the ISEE, landed in the 80th percentile on their first real sitting. The difference wasn’t ability; it was format. The ISEE’s no-penalty structure removed the anxiety that was holding them back on the SSAT.
We’ve also had the reverse: students whose strong vocabulary made SSAT analogies a genuine advantage, and their SSAT score ended up being the highlight of their application.
The takeaway is simple. Don’t assume one test is universally better. Take a practice test for both, compare the results, and let the data decide.
What to do next
Download official practice tests from SSAT.org and ERBlearn.org and have your student take both under timed conditions. Compare the scores. If you want help interpreting the results or building a test prep timeline, book a free consultation with a CleverEd advisor.