Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is for students seeking to qualify for a Cum Laude Scholarship. Before registering, please be sure to review award criteria.
Taking the ISEE
If your student is taking the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) at a site other than CHCA, be sure to enter CHCA’s school code 365953 when registering. Without this code, CHCA will not receive your student’s scores.
CHCA serves as an official ISEE testing location, welcoming both CHCA applicants and students from other schools. Our on-campus testing site is located in the cafeteria of the Martha S. Lindner (MSL) Upper School Campus, 11525 Snider Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249.
| Test Date | Registration Deadline | Event Code |
|---|---|---|
| *Saturday, December 6 | November 14 | UMHL5T76 |
| Saturday, February 21 | January 30 | GQ2C4VNF |
| Saturday, May 2 | April 10 | X7464CSK |
*This test date is only available for students currently in 8-11 grade
FAQs
Questions? Contact Audrey Keyes for more info.
Cum Laude
How does my student apply for The Cum Laude Scholarship?
No formal application is necessary. All students who take the ISEE and have their scores sent to CHCA are automatically considered for The Cum Laude Scholarship.
How often can a student take the ISEE to qualify for the scholarship?
Although the ISEE may be taken up to three times in a school year, scholarship determination will be made based upon the first ISEE scores in a given school year.
When will award recipients be notified?
Scholarship recipients will be notified upon acceptance (for new students) or within three weeks of test date (for returning Grade 8 students). Only scholarship recipients are notified; if you are not notified, then a scholarship is not being offered.
Do I have to demonstrate financial need in order to earn a scholarship?
No. These are merit-based scholarships; students may also receive tuition assistance based on financial need. However, in no case will the total of a student’s financial aid and scholarship award exceed the amount of tuition for any year.
If offered The Cum Laude Scholarship, what do I need to do to accept the award?
Scholarship recipients must sign the scholarship acceptance agreement and submit their enrollment contract by the date specified on their award letter.
By accepting the scholarship and submitting the enrollment contract, the scholarship recipient commits to be enrolled at CHCA for the upcoming year and the enrollment contract becomes a binding agreement, with exceptions made only for out-of-town relocations.
Are The Cum Laude Scholarships renewable?
Awards for students entering Grades 7–8 are renewable through the student’s eighth grade year, at which time the student may compete for a Cum Laude award renewable through graduation.
Awards for students entering Grade 9 and above are renewable through graduation.
ISEE
What does my student need to bring?
We will provide pencils, pens, and a bottle of water for all students. Eating is not permitted during the test, but your student is welcome to bring a snack for testing breaks. Students are not allowed to bring phones, calculators or watches.
What is the cost?
Registration is paid directly to Educational Records Bureau (ERB) online by Visa or Mastercard only. There is no paper or phone registration and neither cash nor checks are accepted for testing fees.
- Regular registration: $160 and you must pre-register online
- Late registration: $200 and you must pre-register online
- Walk-In registration: $215
What are the test components?
There are five major test segments:
- Verbal reasoning – 20 min
- Quantitative reasoning – 35 min
- Reading comprehension – 35 min
- Mathematics achievement – 40 min
- Essay – 30 min
How long does the test last?
The test begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Please arrive between 8:30-8:45 a.m. for check-in. The exam will conclude at 12:10 p.m.
How will I receive my student's resuts?
Within 7-10 business days, an individual test score report will be mailed to your home address. When you register for the exam you should select CHCA (school code 365953) to receive your test results so the school will receive a copy.
How many times can my student take the test?
Per ISEE guidelines, students may not take the exam more than three times in a 12-month period. If your student is taking the test to qualify for the Cum Laude Scholarship, they are only permitted to take it one time.