The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is a three-hour admission test for entrance into grades five through twelve. The ISEE has three levels: a Lower Level for students currently in grades four and five who are candidates for admission to grades five and six, a Middle Level for students in grades six and seven who are candidates for admission to grades seven and eight, and an Upper Level for students in grades eight to eleven who are candidates for admission to grades nine through twelve.

Q: How much is the test?
A: The online or mail-in registration fee for the ISEE is $78. There is an additional charge of $20 for phone or fax registration.

Q: Are walk-in tests available?
A: Yes, walk-in registration is available at a limited number of test sites and dates. Walk-in registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be assured due to limitations on test materials and staff. There is an additional $30 fee for this service. If you are a candidate for walk-in registration, you must call the test site directly to see if you can be accommodated. If so, you must bring the following to the test site:
• a completed Registration Form. • the test fee plus the additional $30 (check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express).

Note: Test site supervisors will not accept cash and scoring will be delayed if your Registration Form has not been properly completed. Allow two extra working days for score reports and telephone reports.

Q: Can I make changes to my registration?
A: Yes, contact the Operations Office at 1-800-446-0320 immediately to make any changes to your submitted form. Some changes, such as rescheduling a test date, may result in additional fees. Check the ISEE Student Guide for more complete information.

Q: Where is the test offered?
A: The test is offered in over thirty metropolitan areas across the country. The list of testing dates and locations is found in the ISEE Student Guide available through the school to which the student is applying or online.

Q: How long is the test?
A: The test is approximately three hours in length, not including time for reading directions and the two scheduled breaks.

Q: How often may I test?
A: You may test only once within a six-month period, and the exam may not be taken for practice.

Q: Are sample questions available?
A: Yes, sample questions are available in the ISEE publication, What to Expect on the ISEE. You can order this book online here, or on the order form that you can download here. Call (800) 446-0320 or (919) 956-8524 for more information.

Q: Do parents receive a copy of the score report?
A: Yes, parents automatically receive a copy of the child’s score report. Optional telephone reporting service is available to you for an additional $30 fee per recipient.

Q: How long does it take to receive the score report?
A: Schools and parents receive a copy of the score report approximately 7-10 business days after testing.

To view the complete reference, please click here.

Q. When do I apply?
A. Applications completed by February 15 will receive priority consideration. If you miss the deadline, you may still apply. We will evaluate applications on a rolling basis after our first round of acceptances. We may still have openings available in late spring or early summer.

Q. How is the application process different for international students?
A. Because Dunn School does not offer ESL, all international students must submit a TOEFL score of 500 or above. We do offer vocabulary and grammatical support for international students in our Non-Native English class. If you need a student visa, we will issue an I-20 form only after a student has been accepted and enrolled. International students that are accepted to Dunn must have a guardian residing in the United States.

Q. When is the application process complete?
A. The Admission committee will only review an application when we have received the following:

>> Your formal application
>> Teacher and personal recommendations
>> Transcript of current and past grades
>> Tour and personal interview
>> Score results from the SSAT or ISEE

Q. What are the SSAT and the ISEE?
A. The SSAT and the ISEE are tests that are widely used by independent schools to assess a candidate’s academic potential. When you take these tests, you will have the opportunity to have the results sent directly to Dunn School. Our school code is 2914 for the SSAT and 051 863 for the ISEE. You can find testing websites for dates and locations in the Admission Resource section.

Q. What is your Learning Skills program?
A. The Learning Skills program accommodates a select group of applicants with minimal, diagnosed language and learning difficulties. Students who qualify for this program meet individually with an LS teacher for fifty minutes four times per week. Instruction includes strategies and skills for coping with and compensating for a learning difference.

Q. How does divorce or separation affect the financial aid application process?
A. The Financial Aid Committee considers the financial resources of both parents and any stepparents. Both the custodial and non-custodial parents are required to complete financial aid applications.

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