A lot of people don’t like math class. Maybe it’s because it’s so easy to mess up on small details that throw the entire problem off, or maybe it’s because the numbers are so abstract—they don’t connect very obviously to things in real life; however, if you’re going to be taking the ISEE, you’re going to have to face two math sections—that’s right, two sections: Mathematics Achievement and Quantitative Reasoning. You may ask, “How could any test need two math sections?” The answer is that each of the Middle Level ISEE’s math-based sections test a different kind of skill: the Quantitative Reasoning section unsurprisingly tests quantitative reasoning. To many students, this means math, and calculations; however, the ISEE’s idea of “quantitative reasoning” doesn’t include calculations, or at least not very many of them. This section tests how well you can logically work your way through math problems that don’t require you to remember how to find the area of a circle or calculate the probability of some event. “Phew,” you might say! That doesn’t sound so bad! As you may have guessed, however, those sorts of problems aren’t missing from the Middle Level ISEE—they’re just on the Mathematics Achievement section.

The Mathematics Achievement section, unlike the Quantitative Reasoning section, does involve calculations, and a lot of them. Additionally, you are not allowed to use a calculator, so these are calculations that have to be done by hand in your test booklet; they don’t give you any scratch paper, either. The Mathematics Achievement section aims to test how well you remember the things you have learned in all of your math classes. This may make it seem much, much scarier than the Quantitative Reasoning section, but it gives you a definite advantage: you have a way of figuring out exactly what you need to review, and that is the mathematical concepts you’ve been taught in previous math classes.

Ready to review this material, but not sure where you left your third-grade math notes? Never fear, Varsity Tutors is here to help with its free online Middle Level Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests! Each Practice Test consists of problems drawn from topics that are tested on the Middle Level ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section. You can decide whether or not you want to do problems drawn from each of these sections, or to focus on one section at a time: the choice is yours, and you should do problems in whatever way suits your studying style and requirements. When you’re done taking a Middle Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test, you will get to see exactly how you did, not just as one score conveying how many problems you missed, but how this score compares to scores other test-takers received. You can also read through complete answers for each problem, so if you get one wrong, make sure to figure out where you made your error so you don’t repeat it when you’re taking the actual Middle Level ISEE!

Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools also include Full-Length Middle Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests. You can assess where you should begin your test preparation by taking a free online Practice Test, which can help you create an individualized study plan. These longer practice tests simulate the actual test experience, which in turn gives you the chance to work on your test-taking endurance and focus. As on the concept-specific Practice Tests, each of the results pages include extensive explanations of the correct answers and additional information on each question’s primary concepts. However, the complete Practice Tests provide the additional benefit of helping you tailor your study plan by showing you which concepts you have down pat, and the concepts on which you’ll want to spend some extra time. After you’ve reviewed using the other online Learning Tools, you can check your progress by working through another Full-Length Middle Level ISEE Math Practice Test.

Even if you don’t think you’ve ever achieved much in your mathematics classes, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do well on the ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section, with the right tools and studying effort. By making sure to review the types of problems that appear on this section, as opposed to the Quantitative Reasoning section, and keeping the difference between the two parts of the exam in mind, you’ll be able to feel totally prepared for the Middle Level ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section on your real Middle Level ISEE!