Top ISEE Essay Prompts: Develop Your Child’s Writing Skills for Successful Exam Prep

Preparing for the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is a significant step for your child’s academic journey. Among the various sections of the exam, the essay section holds special importance. While the essay is not scored, it is sent to the schools to which your child applies, making it essential to showcase strong writing abilities. Practicing with diverse essay prompts can help your child develop the skills needed to excel. 

Why encourage regular essay practice? 

Well, the short answer is, “Why not?”

Writing is a task that pops up time and time again in a student’s life. They’ll need sharp skills for class essays, college applications, and often throughout internships and jobs further down the line. Here are a couple benefits to keep in mind:

• Improved Writing Skills
  • Regular practice helps your child develop clear and coherent writing. Gotta love that!
• Critical Thinking
  • Crafting essays enhances their ability to analyze and articulate thoughts.
• Time Management
  •  Practicing timed essays prepares them for the exam setting.
• Confidence! 
  • Preparation for the essay section generally boosts student confidence and reduces test anxiety.
• Personality
  • Unlike the rest of the ISEE, the essay section is where a student can showcase who they are, how they think, and what’s important to them. That special personality will shine the brightest when a student’s writing is clear, strong, and free of mistakes.

What else do I need to know?  

• Set a timer!!
  • During the official test, a student only has 30 minutes to complete each essay. It’s often best to practice under those timed conditions, too. 
• Planning is preferred.
  • We usually advise that students take the first few minutes to make a rough outline of their essay. That means identifying main points, brainstorming relevant details, and making sure to answer the question completely. 
• Review and revise.
  • Encourage your child to review their essays afterward, focusing on clarity, grammar, and structure. Students should be able to ask and answer “How can I make this essay better?”
• Variety is key.
  • Rotate through different prompts to build versatility in writing.

The Prompts

• What is your favorite place, and why is it special to you?
• Can you describe a memorable experience you had during a summer vacation?
• Write about time when you faced a personal challenge.  How did you overcome it?
• Do you think teamwork is important for achieving a common goal? Why or why not? 
• What role does technology play in education? Draw from your own experiences.
• If you were in charge of starting a new club or activity at your school, what would it be and why? 
• Do you think having a year-round school calendar is a good idea or a bad idea, and why?
• Reflect on a book that had a significant impact on you and explain why.
• Can you describe a time when you learned a valuable lesson from failure?

More imaginative prompts can often kickstart apprehensive writers:  

• If you could have any animal, real or imaginary, as a pet, what would it be and why?
• Imagine you could travel to any time period in history. Which period would you choose, and what would you do there?
• If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be called, and how would people celebrate it?
• Suppose you discovered a hidden talent that you didn’t know you had. What is it, and how would you use it to benefit others?
• If you could swap lives with any fictional character for a day, who would it be, and what adventures would you have?

Consistent practice with essay prompts will help your child develop their writing skills, preparing them for the ISEE and beyond. Contact us today for more expert tips, individualized instruction, and fun (yes, fun!) test prep.