100+ Free ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions
Pass your Independent School Entrance Exam — Verbal Reasoning Section exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
CAPRICIOUS The word above most nearly means:
Explore More ISEE
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: ISEE Verbal Reasoning Exam
40 questions
ISEE Verbal Reasoning section length (Upper and Middle Level)
ERB erblearn.org
20 minutes
Time allowed for the ISEE Verbal Reasoning section
ERB erblearn.org
760–940
Scaled score range for each ISEE section
ERB ISEE Score Report Guide
$155–$215
ISEE registration fee range (2025–2026, grades 5–12)
ERB erblearn.org registration page
~19 synonyms + ~21 sentence completions
Question type breakdown on ISEE Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
ERB and Test Innovators
No penalty
ISEE has no guessing penalty — all questions should be answered
ERB official scoring policy
The ISEE Verbal Reasoning section tests two skills: direct vocabulary recall via synonyms and contextual language reasoning via sentence completions. The Upper Level exam presents approximately 19 synonym questions and 21 sentence completion questions, including double-blank items unique to this level, all within a 20-minute window. Scores are reported on a 760–940 scale plus a stanine and percentile rank, which schools use to compare applicants. Because no partial credit is awarded and there is no guessing penalty, answering every question is recommended. (Source: ERB erblearn.org, 2025)
Sample ISEE Verbal Reasoning Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your ISEE Verbal Reasoning exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1ARDUOUS The word above most nearly means:
2LOQUACIOUS The word above most nearly means:
3TENACIOUS The word above most nearly means:
4EPHEMERAL The word above most nearly means:
5PRAGMATIC The word above most nearly means:
6ELOQUENT The word above most nearly means:
7FUTILE The word above most nearly means:
8VINDICATE The word above most nearly means:
9AMBIGUOUS The word above most nearly means:
10SERENE The word above most nearly means:
About the ISEE Verbal Reasoning Exam
The ISEE Verbal Reasoning section is the first section of the Upper and Middle Level ISEE exams, consisting of 40 questions in 20 minutes. It tests vocabulary knowledge through synonym questions and logical language skills through sentence completion questions with one or two blanks. Upper Level (grades 9–11) includes double-blank sentence completions not found on lower levels.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
20 minutes (actual exam section)
Passing Score
Scaled score 760–940; percentile rank and stanine (1–9) reported; schools set their own admissions benchmarks
Exam Fee
$155–$215 depending on testing location; $155 at ERB member schools, $205 for remote ERB-administered, $215 for in-office small group (2025–2026) (Educational Records Bureau (ERB))
ISEE Verbal Reasoning Exam Content Outline
Synonyms
A capitalized word is shown; select the answer choice that most closely matches its meaning. Questions are pure vocabulary — no sentence context is provided. Expect advanced vocabulary at the grades 6–11 level.
Single-Blank Sentence Completion
A sentence with one blank is presented. Students must identify the word that best completes the sentence's meaning and logic, using context clues such as contrast signals (although, despite), cause-and-effect cues (because, therefore), and definition clues.
Double-Blank Sentence Completion (Upper Level)
Unique to the Upper Level, these questions have two blanks in one sentence. The answer choices are word pairs, and both words must logically fit the entire sentence. The relationship between the two blanks (similar, contrasting, cause-effect) must be identified.
How to Pass the ISEE Verbal Reasoning Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled score 760–940; percentile rank and stanine (1–9) reported; schools set their own admissions benchmarks
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 20 minutes (actual exam section)
- Exam fee: $155–$215 depending on testing location; $155 at ERB member schools, $205 for remote ERB-administered, $215 for in-office small group (2025–2026)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ISEE Verbal Reasoning Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of the ISEE Verbal Reasoning section?
The ISEE Verbal Reasoning section contains 40 questions to be completed in 20 minutes. It consists of approximately 19 synonym questions and 21 sentence completion questions. The Upper Level also includes double-blank sentence completions, where students choose a pair of words to fill two blanks in a single sentence.
Is there a guessing penalty on the ISEE Verbal section?
No. The ISEE does not penalize wrong answers, so you should answer every question. If you don't know an answer, eliminate any obviously wrong choices and make your best guess rather than leaving the question blank.
How is the ISEE Verbal Reasoning section scored?
Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score on a 760–940 scale. You also receive a stanine score (1–9) and a percentile rank that compares you to other students who tested in the same grade level over the past three years. Schools set their own benchmarks for admissions decisions.
What is the difference between the ISEE and SSAT Verbal sections?
The ISEE Verbal Reasoning section uses synonyms and sentence completions. The SSAT uses synonyms and analogies. If you have been studying analogies for the SSAT, that skill does NOT transfer to the ISEE — focus on sentence completion strategies instead.
How should I prepare for ISEE Verbal Reasoning?
The most effective preparation combines vocabulary building with strategy practice. Learn root words, prefixes, and suffixes to decode unfamiliar words. For sentence completion, practice identifying signal words (although, because, despite) that reveal the logic of each sentence. Take timed practice tests to build speed.
What grade levels take the ISEE Upper and Middle Level?
The ISEE Middle Level is designed for students currently in grades 5–6 applying to grades 7–8. The ISEE Upper Level is for students in grades 8–11 applying to grades 9–12. Both levels include the same Verbal Reasoning format, though the Upper Level adds double-blank sentence completions and uses more advanced vocabulary.