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🇺🇸 ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) · flashcards
ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) Flashcards
50 question-and-answer cards covering Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) as it is examined in ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination). 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
Give three examples of transition words useful in an ISEE essay.
Examples include 'first,' 'for example,' 'however,' 'in addition,' 'therefore,' and 'finally.'
What should the conclusion of an ISEE essay accomplish?
It should restate the main idea (thesis) and bring the response to a clear close without introducing new topics.
Should a conclusion introduce brand-new arguments? Why or why not?
No; the conclusion should wrap up and restate the main point, not raise new ideas that go undeveloped.
Why does grammar and usage matter on an unscored writing sample?
Schools read it to judge the applicant's command of standard English, so correct grammar and usage make a strong impression.
What is a complete sentence?
A sentence containing at least a subject and a verb and expressing a complete thought.
What is a sentence fragment, and why should it be avoided in the essay?
An incomplete sentence missing a subject, verb, or complete thought; it weakens writing and signals weak grammar to readers.
What is a run-on sentence?
Two or more complete thoughts joined incorrectly without proper punctuation or a conjunction.
Which writing conventions besides grammar should be correct in the ISEE essay?
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
Name two punctuation marks a student must use correctly in the ISEE essay.
Examples include periods, commas, question marks, apostrophes, and quotation marks.
What capitalization rules must a student follow in the essay?
Capitalize the first word of each sentence and proper nouns (names of people, places, etc.).
What does 'word choice' refer to in writing the essay?
Selecting precise, appropriate vocabulary that clearly conveys meaning to the reader.
What does 'voice' mean in an essay?
The writer's personal style and tone that comes through in the writing, making it sound authentic.
What does 'clarity' mean in essay writing?
Expressing ideas plainly so the reader easily understands the intended meaning without confusion.
Why is legible handwriting important on the ISEE essay?
The essay is handwritten and read by admissions officers; if they cannot read it, its quality cannot be appreciated.
What should a student do with any time remaining after finishing the draft?
Use it to proofread, checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity errors.
What is proofreading?
Carefully rereading the finished writing to find and correct mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and clarity.
In what order should the essay-writing process steps generally occur within the time limit?
Analyze the prompt, brainstorm ideas, outline, write (intro, body, conclusion), then proofread.
What is the difference between a thesis in the introduction and the restatement in the conclusion?
The introduction's thesis presents the main idea; the conclusion's restatement reminds the reader of that idea in fresh words to close the essay.
How does staying focused on a single main idea help an ISEE essay?
It keeps the one-page response coherent and ensures all details support the prompt rather than wandering off-topic.
Why is it risky to spend too long brainstorming on the ISEE essay?
With only about 30 minutes, excessive brainstorming leaves too little time to write a full essay and proofread.
What kind of supporting detail is strongest: a general statement or a specific example?
A specific example, because it gives concrete evidence that makes the point more convincing.
How should a student handle a prompt asking for an opinion?
State a clear position (thesis) and support it with reasons and examples throughout the body paragraphs.
What overall qualities are admissions readers looking for in the ISEE writing sample?
A focused response to the prompt, clear organization, supporting details, correct mechanics, and legible, clear writing.
Why is the ISEE essay considered a more authentic measure of writing than multiple-choice sections?
It is the student's own unedited, original writing produced under timed conditions, showing real composition skills rather than recognition of correct answers.
What this deck covers
The Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) deck follows the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) syllabus — 4 chapters and 15 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 12.5 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 104 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) flashcards FAQ
How many Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) flashcards are in this ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) deck?
50 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 50-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) cards cover?
They follow the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) Essay (Unscored Writing Sample) syllabus — 4 chapters and 15 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.