ERB/ISEE

As an affiliate of ERB and ISEE, Nashville Education Consultants is an official test site for the Independent School Entrance Exam. As the only ISEE office in Tennessee, NEC welcomes testers for grades 2-12 from Nashville and beyond.

Our office is child-centered and our approach to testing is creating an environment that is nurturing and calm.

NEC hosts ISEE options in all three test seasons, with the most predominant availability in the fall and winter, which overlap with the traditional admission timeline of local independent schools.

Registration for the ISEE takes place directly through ERB. NEC date options are searchable on the ISEE registration site by entering the state of Tennessee and ERB Code 571509.

 Standard Testing 

Standard ISEE administration is an assessment that takes place with no alterations or accommodations for time, tools, or presentation of materials. However, within NEC’s mission to promote the best possible test setting for every student, standard testers do still benefit from the following:

  • Child-centered test environment

  • Small group tests (maximum 10)

  • Paper pencil testing option

  • Computer testing option

Accommodations Testing

A wide range of test accommodations are available to learners who qualify through ERB’s accommodations application process. Once approved through ERB, testers can register for an exam at NEC that matches any of the below accommodations:

  • Access to diabetic medical supplies

  • Calculator use

  • Computer use with spell check for essay

  • Double time (2x)

  • Extended time (1.5x)

  • Large print test

  • Mark answers in test booklet

  • *Reader

  • *Scribe for essay

Additionally, students testing with accommodations also have these opportunities available to all of our testers:

  • Child-centered test environment

  • Small group tests (maximum 10)

  • Paper test option

  • Computer test option

*Please note: As the Reader and Scribe For Essay accommodations require individual testing, those dates are not listed in the public registration portal. Once approved by ERB for the reader and/or scribe accommodation, parents should forward the approval letter to NEC in order to access available testing dates.

FAQ

Is there an additional cost to take the ISEE at NEC?

No. The cost to take the ISEE at NEC is the standard testing office fee set by ERB.

How do I register to take the ISEE at NEC? 

Registration for the ISEE takes place directly through ERB’s website at https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-registration. NEC date options are for the fall and winter windows are posted on August 1 of each year. Summer window dates are posted on May 1.

Why don’t I see NEC as an option when looking for ISEE dates in my registration parent portal?

Once a test date reaches our maximum capacity of ten testers, it is no longer visible in the registration portal. If no in-person dates are available, additional options are typically available through the remote ISEE at Home section of the registration portal.

How many times can I take the ISEE?

There are three ISEE test seasons and students may test once within each season. In Nashville, the fall test season (August-November) and winter test season (December-April) are the ones that fall within the traditional independent school timeline.

*Though the winter test season is open through April, applicants to Nashville schools should plan to take the ISEE by early February in order to complete their application file in time for the first round of admission decisions.

When do you recommend taking the ISEE?

For many students, it is beneficial to first take the ISEE in November and then, based on that score outcome, decide if they would like to take it again January - February. The simple knowledge that there is the option of another chance to test can often put students at ease and allow them to do their best work the first time.

Do I have to share my scores with schools? 

Eventually, scores will need to go to all applicant schools, but they can be sent after parents have the chance to see them first. This is especially helpful for a student testing in the fall season who would like another set of scores from the winter season before deciding which scores to share with a school. Parents can return to their ISEE parent portal at any time to add schools as a score recipient.

How do I share my scores with NEC?

Families working with NEC on school placement or score interpretation should add us as a score recipient through the ISEE parent portal. Our ERB code as a recipient is the same as our test site: 571509

Does my child need to bring anything on exam day?

  • All testers are required to bring identification in order to check in for the exam. (Passport, yearbook photo, online school record login with photo, etc)

  • All testers should bring a small snack and a drink to have during each of the two designated 5-10 minute breaks. 

  • Students taking the paper exam should bring two sharpened pencils and two blue or black pens. (Erasable ink is permissible.)

Does NEC do ISEE prep? 

No. ISEE test sites are contractually prohibited from also providing test preparation.

What if my child is sick on test day?

We want students to be at their best when undertaking this important aspect of their admission application, so do reschedule testing in the case of illness or feeling unwell. Rescheduling can be done either through the parent portal or by calling ISEE Operations.