Los Angeles Independent Schools (ISEE-heavy) Exam Survival Guide

Use: Harvard-Westlake, Sierra Canyon, Brentwood, etc. (commonly ISEE + writing + interview)

Must-do

• Verbal Reasoning: synonyms, two-blank completions (tone + logic).
• Quant Reasoning + Math Achievement: comparisons, estimation, algebra/geo, word problems with units.
• Reading: function/inference; science/history texts common.
• Essay & Interview: specific examples, reflective voice, school fit.

Top traps

• Solving two-blank in wrong order; skipping signal words (although, despite).
• Quant: full algebra when a size estimate works.
• Essay: generic “hard work” stories; no detail.
• Interview: no questions, low eye contact.

Quick checks

• Tone word bank: critical, skeptical, optimistic, neutral.
• Compare 3.123.1^23.12 vs 9 (≈9.61 > 9).
• Geometry: triangle area = ½bh. Units?
• Interview: prepare 2 stories (challenge, collaboration).

You will make

• Two-Blank Playbook (tone → logic).
• Estimation ladder & unit checklist.
• Essay mini-templates.
• Interview story cards (STAR).

Last-48h

• 6 two-blank; 12 comparisons; 10 math; 2 passages; 1 essay outline.
• 10-min interview rehearsal with follow-ups.

Speed tactics

• Eliminate by connotation first; then logic.
• Quant: compare magnitudes; sanity-check units.
• Reading: mark paragraph function in margins.

Day-of plan

• 8-min warm-up: 4 vocab + 3 quant + 2 math.
• Bring a question list for the interviewer.