When should we start preparing for the ISEE Lower Level?

Fix the dates first

• Each school's application deadline and its deadline for receiving scores.
• Which testing season your test falls in: fall (August–November), winter (December–March) or spring/summer (April–July).
• If a second test is possible, the first one needs to be early enough to leave another season before the deadline — one test per season.
• Score reports usually post three to five days after an online test and five to ten days after a paper test.
• Registration is first-come, first-served, so book once the date is clear.

Why steady practice beats the last week

The test provider's own testing tips say students generally do best when they prepare over a period of time, and that a rush at the last minute is not usually a successful approach. Short, regular sessions leave room to notice a pattern, practice it, and check it again.

What a sensible plan contains

• A first full-length, timed practice test, so your child knows what 2 hours 20 minutes with two breaks feels like.
• A look at the results by section and question type, including questions left unanswered when time ran out.
• Short, regular practice aimed at what that test showed.
• Another full-length practice test after a few weeks, to see what changed.
• Nothing new in the last days: rest, and logistics — the verification letter, ID, and for testing at home a practice check-in at least three days ahead.

How much time is enough?

There is no single answer. It depends on how far away the test is, how many days a week your child can practice, and how familiar timed, multiple-choice tests already are. A child meeting this format for the first time usually needs more time for format and pacing than one who has done it before.