Free ISEE Practice Test & Samples (2024)

The correct answer is (D) — swift.

Nimble means "able to move or learn quickly and easily."

Answer (A), asleep, is incorrect because someone who is asleep is quite the opposite of nimble, as he is not even conscious. Answer (B), candid, means "honest." This is unrelated to being quick or a quick learner. Answer (C), protective, is also unrelated to being nimble. Answer (D), swift, means "moving or able to move very fast." It is the closest in meaning to nimble, and it is therefore the correct answer.

The correct answer is (D) — wordy.

Verbose is an adjective that means "using or containing many words."

Answer (A), contrite, is incorrect because it means "regretful," which has nothing to do with words. Answer (B), succinct, is an adjective that means "concise, using few words." It is the opposite of verbose, so it is incorrect. Answer (C), verbal, means "spoken" or "related to words." It refers to the presence of or relation to words, but not to their quantity, so it is not a synonym for verbose. Answer (D), wordy, is an adjective that means "using an excessive amount of words for the given context." It is the closest in meaning to verbose, and it is therefore the correct answer.

The correct answer is (A) — compelled.

Sculptor Andy Goldsworthy explains that even though it is challenging, he is compelled to—which means that he feels he must—work with transient (not lasting long) materials out of a responsibility to work with nature. The clue in this sentence is "though it is challenging" as well as “out of a responsibility”— which indicates that the word that is missing describes him being driven to do something despite his own preference. Therefore, (A) is the correct answer.

Answer (B), inept, means "lacking skill" or "not suitable." Someone can be unsuitable to work with transient materials because it is more challenging, but it does make sense to say that someone lacks the skill to do something even though it is more challenging.

Answer (C), unrestrained, means "not controlled or limited." The fact that something is challenging would not be said in the first place to control or limit him from having the choice to use a specific type of material. It might dissuade him from doing so, but a word having to do with binding and control is not relevant in this context.

Answer (D), productive, means "working towards or achieving good results." This does not even make literal sense in the sentence, as one can be productive, or it can be productive to do something, but a person cannot be described as “productive to do something.”

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

The first step in selling a publication (printed product) is making sure you find an adequate distributor to stock and deliver the books to the appropriate stores. The first missing word should describe a worthy distributor, and the second an action that a distributor would do with the books.

In answer (B), adequate means "suitable" or "competent," which describes the type of distributor one would look for. Deliver (“to the appropriate stores”) accurately describes what a distributor does with the books. Therefore, answer choice (B) is the correct answer.

In answer (A), adept means "fitting for the task," which can be used to describe a distributor, but to foster means to "promote the development of" or "give care or accommodation," which is not a suitable verb here since it is not an action that needs to be done to the books in this context.

In answer (C), liberal means "generous, abundant, or tolerant and open-minded," which is not a suitable adjective in this context as it does not accurately describe the books in the sentence.

In answer (D), ungainly means "awkward, clumsy, or difficult to handle," which does not describe a good distributor. In addition, release is a verb usually associated with the launch of a book rather than its distribution, so it is not a good word here either.

The correct answer is (B).

The range of a set of data is the difference between the highest value and the lowest value. Therefore, unless one of these values changes, nothing happens to the range. In Mr. Collins original class, since the highest number of glasses of milk drunk by a student is eight glasses, the highest value of the set of data is 8.

Since the lowest number of glasses of milk drunk by a student is one glass, the lowest value of the set of data is 1. Therefore, if a new student who drinks seven glasses of milk per week joins Mr. Collins’s class, the highest value of the data will stay the same (8), and the lowest value of the set of data will also stay the same (1). Therefore, the range of the set of data would not change, and the correct answer is (B).

To solve this problem, create an expression that models the total number of cars manufactured per week. You know that 𝑓 cars are manufactured per day and that the company operates five days a week. Thus, 𝑓 × 5 would be the number of cars manufactured per week if it were not for the repair work on Mondays and Tuesdays. You know that on each of these days the company produces three fewer cars, which is six fewer cars per week in total. Therefore, one may conclude that 𝑓 × 5 − 6 is the total number of cars manufactured per week, and the correct answer is (B).

The correct answer is (B).

Remember that all you need to know to get the answer is which value is greater, not the exact value of each column. The simplest way of solving this is by using logic, without any formulas. The perimeter of a circle is always going to be larger than the perimeter of a quarter circle. One can easily see from the picture that in column A, the two straight lines are taking a direct route from the curved line to meet each other, while in column B, starting from the same points, the lines take a much longer route around the circle. Therefore, we know the perimeter in column B must be greater.

Alternatively, you can use the formula for finding the perimeter of a circle: 2πr, which here becomes 2π(1) since the radius (r) is 1. We can easily estimate the perimeter to be a little more than 6 since π is roughly 3.14 and we only need to multiply that by 2 according to the formula. The perimeter of the quarter circle will be a quarter of that (1.5) plus the two other lines, which we know are each 1. Therefore, we can calculate that the perimeter of the quarter circle is approximately 3.5, which is lower than 6. So clearly column B is greater than column A.

The correct answer is (A).

In column A, if 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 0, and you know that 𝑏 is greater than 𝑎, then 𝑎 is a negative number and 𝑏 is the corresponding positive number, as that is the only way to get to 0 by adding. Since 𝑐 is greater than 𝑏, this means 𝑐 is positive as well. In column B, if 𝑐 is less than zero, that means it is negative. Since 𝑏 is less than 𝑐, it must also be a negative number. If the value in column A is a positive number, and the value in column B is a negative number, then column A is greater than column B, and the correct answer is A.

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

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.

2. The correct answer is (B): pack.

Answer (B) is the correct answer because a pack of lions is called a pride. The sentence refers to observing a pack of lions. 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.” By replacing the word “pride” with each of the options, one can clearly see that “pack” is the correct answer.

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

This sort of question is best answered by elimination. Answer (A) is incorrect because the paragraph does refer to this in the fourth sentence: "...they are abandoning their failed homesteads." Answer (B) is incorrect because the paragraph does indicate this in the fifth sentence: "The mountain streams are running dry, and the dusty ground that was once fertile and full of life has turned barren."

Answer (D) is incorrect because the paragraph does state this in the third sentence: "...new settlers used to flock to the mountainside, lured by its rich soil and abundant fresh water." Answer (C) cannot be concluded from the paragraph. The text does not make a generalization from the specific difficulties in the Kilimanjaro area to all rural mountain villages. This, along with the fact that all of the other options can be concluded from the text, makes (C) the right answer.

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

Answer (A) validates the main claim of the paragraph (that the weather has recently changed for the worse) by establishing the source as someone who would know this very well. By noting that Wilbert Minja has been living in the area for 60 years, it can be inferred that he must be very familiar with the local weather patterns over a long period of time, and his account that it has changed can therefore be trusted.

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 requires that you know that all corresponding pairs of lines between similar triangles (triangles that share the same angles) share the same ratio in size. If you calculate the ratio between the length from the net to the landing spot and the length from the throwing spot to the landing spot, you can apply this same ratio to the height of the net in order to determine the height he would need to throw from to land 4 meters from the net (at a slope that will only just pass above the net).

The ratio of the distance from the net (4m) to the distance from the ball (4m+2m = 6m) is 4:6. This must be equal to the ratio of the height of the net (1m) to the height of the ball where it is thrown from (?). In other words, 4:6 = 1:? This means 4 and 1 have the same relationship as 6 and our answer.

You can simply calculate that 1 is a fourth of 4, so the answer must be a fourth of 6, which is 1.5. Alternatively, 4 and 6 must have the same relationship as 1 and our answer. 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5 So what number divided by 1 equals 1.5? Anything divided by 1 is the same number, so we know it is 1.5

The correct answer is (B). 

For the two dice to show the same number, the first die can show anything (probability = 1) and the second die needs to show the same number as the first die. Thus, there is only one favorable outcome for the second die (once the first die was rolled), and the probability with only one favorable outcome out of six is 1/6 . Therefore, the probability for the two dice to show the same number is 1 × (1/6)  = 1/6 , and the correct answer is (B).

The correct answer is (A).

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

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).

To solve this problem, first draw the graph of 𝑦 = |𝑥|. You know that the absolute value function equals the non-negative value of 𝑥, thus |𝑥| ≥ 0.
You also know that |𝑥| = |−𝑥|, thus the absolute value function is symmetric across the 𝑦-axis. |0| = 0, |1| = |−1| = 1, and one may conclude that the graph of 𝑦 = |𝑥| is:
Since you are required to find the solution set for 𝑦 ≥ |𝑥|, look for the area above the function (where 𝑦 is greater than the 𝑥 values of the function), and the correct answer is (A).