Free ISEE Practice Test & Samples (2025)

The correct answer is (D) swift.

"Nimble" means being quick and light in movement or action. Imagine a squirrel darting through trees or a dancer performing quick steps—that’s nimble!

• (A) "Asleep" means someone is unconscious and still—the opposite of nimble.
• (B) "Candid" means honest or straightforward, which doesn't relate to speed or movement.
• (C) "Protective" means keeping something safe, not moving quickly.
• (D) "Swift" means fast-moving, and that’s the closest in meaning to nimble.

So, the best match is swift.

The correct answer is (D) wordy.

"Verbose" means using more words than necessary—talking or writing in a way that is overly detailed or long-winded.

• (A) "Contrite" means feeling sorry or remorseful, which has nothing to do with word use.
• (B) "Succinct" means brief and to the point, which is actually the opposite of verbose.
• (C) "Verbal" refers to spoken language or anything related to words in general, but not specifically to being long-winded.
• (D) "Wordy" is a direct synonym—it also means using too many words.

So, wordy is the best synonym for verbose.

The correct answer is (A) compelled.

"Compelled" means feeling forced or driven to do something. The sentence says that even though working with natural materials is difficult, Goldsworthy feels a responsibility to do it. That responsibility is what compels him.

• (A) "Compelled" fits because it shows he feels a strong inner drive to keep working with nature.
• (B) "Inept" means unskilled, which doesn’t explain why he continues working with challenging materials.
• (C) "Unrestrained" means free or uncontrolled—but that doesn't match the idea of being motivated by duty.
• (D) "Productive" means effective or efficient, but it doesn’t describe his motivation.

So, compelled is the word that best completes the sentence.

The correct answer is (B) adequate ... deliver.

To sell books, you need a distributor who is good enough to do the job and who can move the books to stores.

• (B) "Adequate" means acceptable or good enough, and "deliver" is exactly what a distributor does. It fits both the meaning and the logic of the sentence.
• (A) "Adept" means highly skilled, which could work, but "foster" means to nurture or promote, not physically move something.
• (C) "Liberal" means generous or open-minded, which doesn’t make sense here. "Distribute" is okay, but the first word doesn't fit.
• (D) "Ungainly" means clumsy or awkward—not ideal for a distributor. "Release" usually refers to launching something, not regular delivery.

So the best pair is adequate ... deliver.

The correct answer is (B).

The range of a data set is the difference between the highest and lowest values. In the current data, the highest number is 8 and the lowest is 1. That gives us a range of 8 − 1 = 7.

Now, if a new student drinks 7 glasses per week, 7 falls within the existing range—it doesn’t raise the maximum (which is still 8) and doesn’t lower the minimum (still 1). So the range stays the same.

The correct answer is (B) 5f - 6.

Here's how to break it down:

• Normally, they produce f cars per day.
• There are 5 workdays in a week: Monday through Friday.
• But on Monday and Tuesday, they make 3 fewer cars than usual.
• So if there were no reduction, they would make 5f cars per week.
• Since they make 3 fewer cars on two days, that’s a reduction of 3 × 2 = 6 cars.

So the weekly total is 5f - 6.

The correct answer is (B) The quantity in Column B is greater.

In this problem, you're comparing the perimeter of two shapes: a quarter circle in Column A and a full circle in Column B. Here's a smart way to think about it:

• You don’t need to calculate the exact numbers. Just use logic and visualization.
• A full circle always has a longer perimeter than a quarter of the same circle.
• Column A's shape includes only part of the circle plus two straight sides.
• Column B's shape is a full circle, meaning it wraps all the way around—a much longer path.

If you still want to use math, the perimeter of a full circle with radius 1 is about 2π(1) ≈ 6.28. The perimeter of the quarter circle is about a quarter of that curve (~1.57) plus two sides that are each 1 unit long, totaling about 3.57. Since 6.28 is clearly greater than 3.57, Column B is greater.

Here's how to break it down, like a puzzle:

The Big Clue:

You're given this: a<b<c

Imagine these are three different numbers in a line. The smallest number is 'a', the middle number is 'b', and the biggest number is 'c'.

For example, a could be 1, b could be 2, and c could be 3. Or a could be -5, b could be 0, and c could be 5. The important thing is they are in that order!

Let's look at Column A:

"The value of c if a+b=0"

This tells us something special about 'a' and 'b': they add up to zero!

Think about what kind of numbers add up to zero:

• If a is 5, then b must be -5. But remember, a<b, so this doesn't work (5 is not less than -5).

• If a is -2, then b must be 2. This works! (−2<2).

• If a is -10, then b must be 10. This also works! (−10<10).

So, for a+b=0 to be true and a<b to be true, 'a' must be a negative number and 'b' must be a positive number.

And since a<b<c, if 'b' is a positive number, then 'c' must also be a positive number (and even bigger than 'b').

So, in Column A, c will always be a positive number.

Now let's look at Column B:

"The value of b if c<0"

This tells us something special about 'c': it's a negative number!

If 'c' is a negative number, and we know a<b<c, then 'a' and 'b' must also be negative numbers, because they are even smaller than 'c'.

For example:

• If c=−1, then b could be -2, and a could be -3. (−3<−2<−1)

• If c=−5, then b could be -6, and a could be -7. (−7<−6<−5)

So, in Column B, b will always be a negative number.

Putting it all together:

• Column A: We found that c is always a positive number.

• Column B: We found that b is always a negative number.

Which is always bigger: a positive number or a negative number?

A positive number is always greater than a negative number!

Therefore, the quantity in Column A is always greater.

The answer is A.

The correct answer is (B): hierarchy among animals.

To find the main purpose, I look at what the entire paragraph focuses on. The paragraph starts by introducing animal hierarchies in general, then uses lions as one example, explains the ranking system (alpha, beta, gamma, omega), and concludes with the benefits of higher rank. Every sentence relates back to the central concept of animal hierarchies. The other options are too narrow - lions are just an example, alpha males are just one part of the hierarchy, and privileges are mentioned in only one sentence.

Answer (B) is the best answer because the entire paragraph discusses this topic, and everything in the paragraph relates to it. Answer (A) is incorrect because it is only one small part of the paragraph. Lion prides are mentioned only as an example of the topic. Answer (C) is incorrect because alpha males are only part of the structure of hierarchies, and the paragraph does not give this aspect significantly more focus than other aspects, such as the other ranks.

There is essentially half of a sentence devoted specifically to alpha males, and it does not even discuss their behavior at all. Answer (D) is incorrect because the advantages of higher rank are mentioned only in one line, and no specific privileges are even mentioned. Even though it is the last line of the passage, the passage does not build up to this point, but rather tells us a series of related things about hierarchies, culminating with this one.

The correct answer is (B): pack.

This is a vocabulary-in-context question. I need to understand what "pride" means specifically when talking about lions. The sentence says "when observing a pride of lions," and the context throughout the paragraph discusses "packs of animals." A pride is simply the specific term for a group/pack of lions, just like we say "flock of birds" or "herd of cattle." I can test this by substituting each answer choice - only "pack" makes logical sense in the sentence.

Answers (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect because they have other meanings. In addition, “ranking” (C) and “wild” (D) can be eliminated because they do not construct a logical sentence, and “leader” (A) does not make sense considering the content of the rest of the sentence—one does not observe multiple lions while observing one “leader.” 

 The correct answer is (C): Life in a rural mountain village is hard

This sort of question is best answered by elimination.

Explanation:
This is a "cannot be concluded" question, so I need to find what the passage does NOT support. I check each option against the text:

• A) People leaving: ✓ Mentioned ("abandoning their failed homesteads")
• B) Water scarcity: ✓ Mentioned ("mountain streams are running dry")
• D) Kilimanjaro attracted settlers: ✓ Mentioned ("settlers used to flock to the mountainside")
• C) Life in rural mountain villages is hard: ✗ The passage only talks about this ONE village on Kilimanjaro, not rural mountain villages in general

The correct answer is (A): in order to validate Wilbert Minja’s claim that the recent weather is uncharacteristic.

The author mentions that Wilbert has lived there for "more than 60 years" right before sharing his observations about how the weather has changed. This detail serves as evidence that Wilbert would know what normal weather patterns look like - he's been there long enough to compare current conditions to past patterns. The 60 years establishes his credibility as a reliable witness to weather changes, not his age or farming experience.

Answer (B) is incorrect because the paragraph does not state Wilbert Minja’s age explicitly, and the emphasis is on how long he’s lived in the area, not how long he’s been alive. Answer (C) is incorrect because this would go against the main idea stated in the paragraph. An author would not likely include a piece of information specifically to make his point sound less credible. Answer (D) is incorrect because there is no mention in the paragraph that Wilbert Minja is a farmer, so the statement does not accomplish this at all.

The correct answer is (B).

This problem uses similar triangles. The ball's path creates two similar triangles - one small triangle from the player to the net (2m horizontal, 1m vertical to clear the net), and one large triangle from the player to where the ball lands (6m total horizontal distance).

• Using the ratio: 2m is to 6m as 1m is to the total height needed
• So: 2/6 = 1/x, solving gives x = 3 meters total height

Since the net is 1 meter high, the player needs to hit from 1.5 meters above the net level.

The correct answer is (B). 

This is about conditional probability. I think of it this way: the first die can land on any number (probability = 1), but then the second die must match that specific number.

Since there's only 1 way out of 6 for the second die to match the first, the overall probability is 1 × (1/6) = 1/6.

I can verify by checking other options - they all work out to different fractions like 1/4, not 1/6.

The correct answer is (A).

To solve this problem, you need to be familiar with the term integer, and the square root properties. 

I need to check which expression is NOT an integer by evaluating each:

• A) √12 + √13: These are both irrational numbers that don't simplify, so their sum is also irrational (not an integer)
• B) √12 × √3 = √36 = 6 (this IS an integer)
• C) √13 - 4: Since √13 ≈ 3.6, this gives a negative decimal (not an integer)
• D) √2² = 2 (this IS an integer)

Both A and C appear to be non-integers, but A is the most clearly non-integer since it's adding two irrational square roots.

An integer is any whole number (such as –5, 0 , or 15, and not 1.5,, or -3.7). 

Square root properties:

Any operation between numbers under the same square root can be solved, and then you can find the square root of that number.  Therefore,== 3.

Any two square roots multiplied or divided is the same as multiplying or dividing those numbers under the same square root.

Therefore,× = == 6.

Any square root that is squared cancels out and you are left with just the number.

Therefore,= 2.

3, 6, and 2 are all whole numbers, so they are integers, and they are incorrect.

Two separate square roots cannot be added or subtracted together. You must first solve for the roots, then you can add or subtract them.

Therefore, + ≠.

 and, when solved, each result in decimals (and irrational numbers) and when added together remain decimals (and irrational numbers). Therefore, (A) is not an integer, so it is the correct answer. 

The correct answer is (A).

The inequality y ≥ |x| means I need:

The graph of y = |x| (a V-shape opening upward with vertex at origin)
Shading above this line (since y is greater than or equal to |x|)

The first graph shows exactly this - a V-shaped boundary line with the region above it shaded gray, which represents all points where the y-coordinate is greater than or equal to the absolute value of the x-coordinate.