Practice Test 5 - ISEE Upper Level Essay

17 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

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1. Describe a personal experience overcoming a challenge, reflecting on lessons learned and lasting impact.
2. A student wrote: 'The reason why the play was cancelled is because the lead actor became ill.' Which revision best eliminates redundancy while maintaining clarity?
3. In a multi-paragraph response essay, which approach to using specific examples would demonstrate the STRONGEST analytical thinking?
4. In a 4–5 paragraph essay, analyze the causes and effects of the 2008 global financial crisis. Your thesis argues that risky lending and weak oversight contribute to systemic instability, which then harms ordinary workers through job losses. Support at least two ideas with specific examples, such as subprime mortgages, complex financial products tied to housing, bank failures, and rising unemployment. Use formal transitions and conclude by reinforcing the central claim. Which statement provides the best evidence for the claim that the crisis harms ordinary workers?
5. A draft claims part-time jobs build responsibility. Which supporting example is too weak?
6. Which method would be MOST effective for determining whether a multi-paragraph essay adequately addresses all parts of the writing prompt?
7. In a 4–5 paragraph essay, analyze the causes and effects of the Great Migration in the United States. Your thesis argues that the migration reshapes American cities because people seek economic opportunity and greater personal safety. Support at least two reasons with relevant examples, such as labor demand in Northern factories during World War I, discriminatory Jim Crow laws in the South, and the growth of Black cultural institutions in cities like Chicago and Harlem. Use clear transitions and a concluding restatement. Which example is least relevant to the thesis that migration reshapes cities through opportunity and safety?
8. Compare and contrast online learning and classroom learning, emphasizing similarities, differences, and evidence-based examples.
9. A student argues that schools should offer more vocational training options alongside traditional academic courses. Which supporting example most effectively addresses potential concerns about limiting student opportunities?
10. In the historical essay on women's suffrage, which example best supports the thesis that sustained activism changes voting laws?​​
11. When a student discovers that their thesis statement makes a claim that cannot be adequately supported with available evidence, which revision approach would be most appropriate?
12. A student has developed a thesis statement but realizes it may be too narrow to sustain a full essay. Which revision strategy would most effectively broaden the scope while maintaining focus?
13. Which strategy would be MOST effective for ensuring that each body paragraph in a multi-paragraph essay contributes meaningfully to the overall argument?
14. What revision makes the paragraph more coherent? Renewable energy is often described as clean power. It can reduce pollution by limiting the need to burn fossil fuels. It can also protect water because many renewable systems use less water for cooling. I once found a lost glove in the hallway. In addition, renewables can support stable budgets when fuel prices rise. These benefits explain why many communities are investing in clean energy.
15. Describe a personal experience helping someone, reflecting on empathy, responsibility, and what you learned afterward.
16. In the analysis of Orwell's Animal Farm, which statement provides the best evidence for the claim that language enables manipulation?
17. An essay claims that outdoor education programs improve student engagement. Which supporting example shows the most sophisticated understanding of multiple variables?

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