ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension

A comprehensive guide to mastering reading comprehension skills for the ISEE Upper Level exam.

Understanding Passage TypesMain Idea and Supporting DetailsInference and Drawing Conclusions
Author’s Purpose and ToneVocabulary in ContextAnalyzing Structure and Organization
Applying Comprehension in SchoolComprehension Beyond the ClassroomPreparing for Group Discussions
Active Reading TechniquesTime Management on Test DayElimination and Guessing Strategies
Understanding Passag...Main Idea and Suppor...Inference and Drawin...Author’s Purpose and...Vocabulary in Contex...Analyzing Structure ...Applying Comprehensi...Comprehension Beyond...Preparing for Group ...Active Reading Techn...Time Management on T...Elimination and Gues...
Study Strategies

Elimination and Guessing Strategies

Boost Your Odds with Smart Choices

Sometimes you won't be sure of an answer, and that's okay! Use the process of elimination to cross out obviously wrong choices, and make your best guess from what's left.

How to Eliminate

  • Look for answer choices that don’t match the passage.
  • Cross out extreme or silly options.

Guessing with Confidence

  • Never leave a question blank—ISEE does not penalize for guessing.
  • Use clues from the passage to make the smartest choice.

Why This Helps

These strategies can help you maximize your score, even on the hardest questions!

Examples

  • Eliminating two answer choices that don’t fit the main idea before picking between the last two.

  • Guessing after narrowing down the options and feeling confident you removed the wrong ones.