What’s worse than a test with one math section on it, to a student who doesn’t like math? A test more than one math section on it, or in other words, the ISEE! Yes, the Lower Level ISEE contains not one, but two math sections. While this may seem like some giant mistake, it’s not—each math section on the ISEE tests a different set of skills. By learning about what makes the Quantitative Reasoning section of the Lower Level ISEE different from the test’s Mathematics Achievement section, you can study yourself for the specific types of problems that are found on each section, especially by using Varsity Tutors’ free Practice Tests. So, even if math is your least favorite thing in the world, you too can do well on the Lower Level ISEE’s Quantitative Reasoning section by studying in a smart way!

Let’s take a closer look at what makes each of the Lower Level ISEE’s math-based sections different. On the Mathematics Achievement section, you are tested on concepts that you have been taught before in your various math classes. This may seem like a lot of concepts to review, but they should all be things you’ve seen before that you just need to brush up on. The Quantitative Reasoning section, however, is a different story. It doesn’t require you to calculate many of the answers to its problems; instead, you have to figure them out. These problems are typically somewhat unfamiliar to students and challenge them to think on their feet. This means that studying for the Lower Level ISEE’s Quantitative Reasoning section can be extremely beneficial, as it allows you to practice answering the type of problems it asks and familiarize yourself with what they are like.

Kick off your studies by taking one of the free online Full-Length Lower Level ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Tests. These comprehensive exams will call on all of the topics you might be asked about on the real exam. Plus, the extended format gives you the chance to practice your timing and refine your pace. Like the results pages for the concept-specific practice tests, each results page for the complete practice tests includes links to relevant concepts you may like to review and thorough explanations for each answer. These long-form ISEE practice tests can also help you craft a custom study guide by revealing the concepts on which you may want to spend more of your time. Once you know which concepts need attention, try reviewing by using one of the other Learning Tools. You can take another Full-Length Lower Level ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test to check your progress.

If you want more extensive practice on Lower Level ISEE Quantitative Reasoning problems, you can do so by taking Varsity Tutors’ free online Lower Level ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Tests. Each Practice Test asks you about twelve problems that are similar to those you’ll encounter on the Lower Level ISEE’s Quantitative Reasoning section. After finishing a Lower Level ISEE Quantitative Reasoning Practice Test, you get to see if you missed any problems, and your score is compared to the scores other students received when taking the same test. Complete answers are also provided for each question, so if you miss any, be sure to read through the explanation and try to figure out where you went wrong, or at least how to find the correct answer. If you figure out that you really don’t understand a certain topic, you can choose to answer questions just about that topic. By understanding what makes the ISEE’s two math sections different, you can begin to think of them less as two math sections and more as two different challenges. By studying specifically to meet each of these challenges, you can do the best you can on the Lower Level ISEE’s Quantitative Reasoning section!