Molly Green, Author at 91ÁÔĆć /blog/author/mollygreen/ Prep for Success Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:54:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://assets.testinnovators.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/favicon-85x85.png Molly Green, Author at 91ÁÔĆć /blog/author/mollygreen/ 32 32 The ISEE Essay Isn’t Scored, so How Is It Used? /blog/how-is-the-isee-essay-used/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:25:08 +0000 /?p=18003 Since the Writing Sample is the only unscored portion of the ISEE, it can be tough to know what to expect and how to approach it. Learn the facts about the ISEE Writing Sample so you can enter test day with confidence!

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The ISEE writing sample is one of the most valuable parts of the ISEE test for admission teams. While it is NOT scored at all by ERB (publisher of the ISEE), the writing sample gives students a chance to show schools not only how well they can write, but also provides a window into what makes them unique. 

As the final section of the ISEE test for students applying to grades 5-12, the student is given a specific scenario and question to answer within a 30-minute timed period. It is not acceptable for the student to answer any other question. This is an opportunity for students to:

  • Show how well they can organize their thoughts.
  • Write a concise and well-thought-out answer to a thought-provoking question. 
  • Share something about themselves that is reflected in their answer.

Students will have an opportunity to take notes and create an outline, rough draft, and final copy. These notes/outlines will not be submitted to schools; only the final draft will be. 

It’s important for students to manage their time wisely. One recommendation is to spend 2-5 minutes planning, 15-20 minutes writing, and 2-5 minutes revising.

There are no rules about how long the essay should be or how many words or paragraphs should be included. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer to any of the essay questions.

Here are some sample ISEE prompts by level:

  • Lower Level: If you were a skilled photographer, what would you take a picture of and why?
  • Middle Level: If you could improve your school in one way, what would that be? Describe the improvement you would make and explain how it would benefit students.
  • Upper Level: Your school requires you to perform forty hours of community service in order to graduate. Describe which type of community service you would choose and explain your choice.

It is a good idea for students to answer the question based on their own experiences and/or passions. For instance, if the question is: “A new student has come to your school from another country. What can you do to help this student feel accepted and comfortable in their new school?” the student could consider how they would feel as a new student in this situation and explain that in their writing. They should also think about a time when they have been “new’’ to a particular scenario and use that experience as a frame of reference for their answer. 

If students are taking the ISEE on paper, they will handwrite their answer on the provided answer sheet. It is important that they write clearly and legibly so the essay can be easily read. If the ISEE is taken online, the student will be typing the essay. 

Overall, creativity is an important aspect of the writing sample. Thoughtful, creative answers are terrific and will help differentiate the student from others in the applicant pool. Students should remember to have fun and write from the heart! 

To help every student feel confident and ready on test day, 91ÁÔĆć and ERB have partnered to provide access to high-quality practice for all. Students can take a free sample test (including the writing sample!) on the .

Start preparing for the ISEE today!

Molly Green

Molly Moore Green is the Senior Director, Admission Programs for ERB. Previously, she worked for 32 years at Severn School in Maryland with responsibilities in all aspects of independent school management. Her roles at the school included Director of Alumni/Annual Giving, middle school English teacher, Director of Admissions/Financial Aid, Director of Summer Programs, Director of External Relations, Director of Advancement, and Director of Enrollment and Outreach, with many years of overall responsibility for the public relations, communication, admission/enrollment, and other revenue generating departments of the school. She believes in the power of data to help schools make better decisions on behalf of students.

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]]> Equitable Use of ISEE Scores /blog/equitable-use-of-isee-scores/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 21:58:07 +0000 /?p=14926 Assessing students for admission into independent and private schools can be a challenge. The ISEE is just one component used when reviewing applicants. Find out if you're using the ISEE in a fair and unbiased way!

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As schools continue to evaluate the role of assessment in the admission process, it is more important than ever to focus on best practices for the equitable use of ISEE. 

The events of the past few years have caused a seismic shift in many schools’ use of admission testing. For some schools, the limited access to admission testing during the pandemic led to test-blind or test-optional policies. For others, the concerns raised about fairness and equity in admission testing (informed by trends in higher education) led to the elimination of the use of admission testing in their process. 

My experience as an admission professional of 30+ years informed my belief that admission assessment is critical in the independent school admission process; however, the assessment must be used carefully, thoughtfully, and within a comprehensive process that includes both objective and subjective measures. 

Admission assessment is the one objective measure in an inherently subjective process that is difficult, if not impossible, to replace. If schools employ a “gateway” philosophy (i.e., look for reasons to admit a student) as opposed to a “gatekeeper” philosophy (i.e., look for reasons to deny admission to a student), admission assessment is a critical tool that enables them to enroll a diverse group of mission-appropriate students who will succeed in their school.

It is fair for admission professionals to ask “How can we ensure that our use of ISEE in our admission process is fair and unbiased? How can we actually look for reasons to admit a student and employ a gateway approach?”

Below are some key points of focus for any school’s admission committee on the equitable use of ISEE scores in your process:

  1. As we have already said, admission assessment is an objective measure in an inherently subjective process.. However, an ISEE test score should not be used as the sole determinant of an admission decision. Admission officials should consider ISEE scores along with multiple sources of information, including students’ coursework and grades, letters of recommendation from teachers, personal statements, interviews, and observations during school visits. These are important sources of insight for determining an applicant’s fit for a school. 

  2. ISEE scores should also be considered within the overall context of the student’s application. How strong is the student’s current school? What opportunities for learning has the student had outside of their school community? Does the student have adults who support them in their educational journey? Questions such as these can bring important information to the forefront of an admission decision. 

  3. Students applying to independent schools are often high achieving. Therefore,  ISEE norm groups are generally made up of competitive students.  Admission teams must understand the overall range of ISEE scores. In addition, admission professionals and committee members should be familiar with the skills measured by the ISEE test. This allows them to weigh section scores as they consider a student’s fit with their school’s curriculum. 

  4. The ISEE is designed to showcase a student’s strengths in different areas; each subscore measures a unique aspect of a student’s readiness for an independent school. A composite score, consisting of each subscore added together, lacks this information and should not be used. ERB advises that schools consider each subscore when evaluating a candidate’s fit for a school, rather than creating a less-illuminating composite score. Over time, attention to ISEE subscores allows admission officials to track how well those scores align with academic performance at their own school.

  5. Students may take the ISEE once per testing season (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Research on college admission supports the efficacy of “super scoring,” or using the best score from each section across multiple testing events. These higher subscores reflect that retaking the test is a predictor of successful outcomes. This practice can be applied to ISEE test scores and we recommend using the best subscores from each ISEE test taken.

ERB is embracing the future of admission assessment as part of an overall admission process focused on equity for all. Following these best practices regarding the use of ISEE in your process can help center equity in the admission committee discussions at your school.

For more information on how you can equitably use the ISEE as a part of your school’s admission process, read about ERB’s initiative.

Start preparing today!

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Molly Green

Molly Moore Green is the Senior Director, Admission Programs for ERB. Previously, she worked for 32 years at Severn School in Maryland with responsibilities in all aspects of independent school management. Her roles at the school included Director of Alumni/Annual Giving, middle school English teacher, Director of Admissions/Financial Aid, Director of Summer Programs, Director of External Relations, Director of Advancement, and Director of Enrollment and Outreach, with many years of overall responsibility for the public relations, communication, admission/enrollment, and other revenue generating departments of the school. She believes in the power of data to help schools make better decisions on behalf of students.

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