Is math your worst subject, and does this fact make you apprehensive about having to take the Upper Level ISEE? It very well might, as the Upper Level ISEE contains not one, but two sections that test mathematical concepts. This alone might prompt you to throw in the towel. One math section is bad enough, but two on a single test? No matter what you may initially think of the test’s decision to include two math sections, the sections are distinct enough that they each merit a separate studying strategy. Mathematics Achievement, in particular, may be the tougher section for you, as while Quantitative Reasoning tests your ability to “reason through” various sorts of quantitative problems without relying much on calculation, the Mathematics Achievement section aims to test what you’ve achieved in mathematics classes thus far in your academic career.

While the Mathematics Achievement section of the Upper Level ISEE may initially appear to be the scarier of its two math-based sections, its reliance on problems it expects you to have seen before gives you a definite advantage: if you’ve seen (or were supposed to have seen) these types of problems before, that gives you something definite to study. Now for some details: the Mathematics Achievement of the Upper Level ISEE consists of forty-seven multiple-choice problems, and you are given forty minutes to solve them without using a calculator, and only using your test booklet for scratch paper. (That works out to about a minute and ten seconds per problem). While this calculation may at first make you feel more, rather than less, apprehensive about the exam, you should remember that, just as on every test, not all of the math problems on the ISEE’s Upper Level Mathematics Achievement section will be head-scratchingly difficult. If that were the case, most people would fail—and they don’t.

Here’s another fact that may cheer you up: your ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement score, just like all of your section scores for the Upper Level ISEE, is calculated solely by taking into consideration the number of problems you answered correctly. No points are deducted for wrong answers or answers that you leave blank. So, in other words, if you get stuck on a question on the Upper Level ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section, GUESS! Unlike on most of the exams students typically take, guessing can only help you on the ISEE!

So, now that you know that the Upper Level ISEE isn’t actually as frightening as it may initially appear to be, you might be finding yourself in need of some fantastic free resources that you can use to start studying. Varsity Tutors’ free online ISEE Upper Level Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests might be exactly what you’re looking for. Each Practice Test consists of between ten and a dozen questions, and each question includes a robust explanation of how to figure out the correct answer. You can choose to group questions from multiple topics or choose to only do those that test a single topic; you should use this resource in whatever way it might best meet your studying needs.

Others may find it helpful to kick off their exam preparation by taking a Full-Length Upper Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Test. The format of these tests mimics the actual exam, and enables you to establish a baseline of your test-taking speed and ability. After you finish the test, the results page will provide you with detailed explanations for each of the answers and a wealth of information on each question’s main concepts. These online practice tests can also help you refine your Upper Level ISEE Math study plan by exposing you to the concepts you need to review most. You can use any of the other free Learning Tools to streamline your study plan! Plus, you can track your progress by returning to any of the Full-Length Upper Level ISEE Mathematics Achievement Practice Tests.

While the Upper Level ISEE’s Mathematics Achievement section may initially look terrifying, being familiar with what’s on the section and the tools you can use to prepare for it is all you need to start studying effectively for it right now.