How should you interpret scores?
Testing companies, such as ERB, provide too many numbers. While I don't think there intention is to confuse parents, it inevitably does. On an ISEE score report, you'll see a scaled score, percentile score, and stanine score. Do yourself a favor and ignore the scaled score.Percentile scores are more important than stanine scores. Although most parents speak "STANINES", the percentile scores tell us more about a student's performance. Stanine scores are a scaled scoring system which translates percentile scores (1-99) to a number scale, 1 through 9. It's very easy to get lost in translation. Here's an example to illustrate my argument. Two students in grade 6 take the Middle Level ISEE. Student A scores in the 88th percentile in the reading section; Student B scores in the 77th percentile. Both student A and B receive Stanine scores of 7. In the Quantitative Comparison section, Student B scores in the 59th percentile; student A scores in the 40th percentile. Both students receive Stanine scores of 5.
SO, while STANINE scores may seem easier to interpret, please realize that percentile scores are more informative. Don't get LOST IN TRANSLATION.
What is a "GOOD" ISEE score?
Scoring above the 50th percentile is important, but it's impossible to say what a student needs to score in order to land a spot at highly selective private schools such as Bishop's and Francis Parker. There are many other factors a school will consider: recommendations, grades, and interview.
