Admissions Testing

Are all applicants required to take the admissions test?

Yes, St. Thomas More Academy employs the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) to administer and grade the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) for the following applicants:

• Grades 6 & 7
• Grade 9

Sophomore/Junior/Senior (grades 10-12) transfers may submit PSAT scores OR ISEE scores. 

Why does STMA require applicants to take the ISEE?

Many private schools in our area and many more college preparatory schools throughout the nation use this test for evaluative purposes.  

The ISEE is an excellent benchmark tool to evaluate applicants entering the Middle School and Upper School, as students from all over the Raleigh area (and beyond) apply to our school.

The ISEE is an excellent tool for any college preparatory school, as the results are often very similar to those the student receives after taking the PSAT in the first preparatory year of the Upper School.  

The ISEE gives the school and parents a good sense of where the student is on a trajectory toward taking the SAT at STMA in the third and fourth years of high school preparation.

How do I register my student for the ISEE?

Parents may register students for the ISEE in one of two ways:

• Online at the ISEE registration web page – please see instructions for online registration at the bottom of this page;
• By phone at (919) 956-8524 or 800-446-0320

Tips for registration

• Register early for the test – register a minimum of three weeks in advance or incur a fee for late registration one to two weeks before the exam. Phone registration costs an additional $25.

• Take advantage of the ERB preparation resources that will be sent to you after registration. More information regarding ISEE prep can be found here.

• Register as a walk-in if the registration deadline has passed for a specific date listed below.

• Parents must request a walk-in code, space permitting.  Please contact the Admissions Office to obtain this code.  

Please note that registering for the exam with a walk-in code is more costly. 

Students will not be allowed to take the exam as a walk-in without the necessary code. 

Ensure that STMA is chosen as a score recipient by entering our ERB number (344656) in the “Member Code” box during registration.  The Admissions Office will receive an applicant’s ISEE scores within 72 hours (often between 24 and 48 hours) of the exam. 

Is there a cost to register for the ISEE?

Yes, registration cost depends on the type of testing option chosen. ERB offers three testing options:

• Testing on the STMA campus – $155 (paper testing only; see test dates below)
• Testing at a Prometric Testing Center – $205 (online or paper testing available, depending on location)
• At-home testing – $205 (online testing only)

When should my student take the ISEE to be considered for admission?

• The admissions test should be taken between September and late January to be considered for admission.
• For admissions consideration for the 2025-2026 school year, students who take the ISEE after January 2025 will be considered as space is available during our rolling admissions period (March – August 2025). 

Does it matter where my student takes the ISEE?  

No, applicants may take the ISEE in any of the ways noted above. However, for your convenience, the ISEE is offered on our campus on multiple dates throughout the school year. This is a great way for applicants to visit our campus for either the first or second time. It also allows applicants contact with other prospective students, as well as the admissions staff.

The test dates offered on the STMA campus during the 2024-2025 academic year (for consideration for the 2025-2026 school year) are below:

• November 23, 2024 – Event Code:  DLP8J3A2
• December 14, 2024 – Event Code:  ZL5CEPQ3
• January 4, 2025 – Event Code: R8FJTLZU
• January 25, 2025 – Event Code:  78H4MVQW

***The exams listed above may only be found and registered for by phone or on the ERB website by using the Event Code listed beside each date.*** 

Are there other details I need to know to register my student?          

Please visit the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) website to register and to find out more information regarding fees and deadlines. Follow these registration instructions once on the site:

• Create a Parent account by selecting Register Now or login to an existing parent account.
• Watch the video How to Register for the ISEE.
• Select Add Student.
• Enter the student’s information.
• Select the green tab titled Search and Register to see available test dates and testing sites.
• Enter information in the box titled Registration Data and select Next.

A testing date/site can be found one of two ways:

• To register for an exam on our campus (dates listed above), enter the Event Code in the box to the right of the page for the specific date (please see the event codes listed above).
• To choose a different date/site, in the box on the left of the page, simply choose Raleigh/Durham area (or another area if not local) in the “Consortium” box to search for available dates and testing sites.
• To register for the at-home testing option, follow the directions provided in a pink box at the top of the page regarding how to search for at-home testing dates. 
• Choose a test date/testing site from the provided list and click the green “Register” tab; follow the remaining steps to complete registration and pay the registration fee.

For troubleshooting, please visit the ERB FAQ page here.

Please contact the Admissions Office by email at admissions@stmacademy.org with questions.