Free synonym questions for the Lower, Middle and Upper Levels.
Same four-option format as the exam, with answers.
A synonym question gives one word and four options; you pick the option closest in meaning. They sit in the Verbal Reasoning section next to sentence completion questions, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer. The questions below are in the same format; tap “Show answer” after you have chosen.
Jump to: Lower Level · Middle Level · Upper Level. Primary students: see the Primary Level vocabulary page (no synonym section at that level).
34 Verbal Reasoning questions in 20 minutes. More Lower words: Lower Level vocabulary list · full Lower practice test.
D. Middle — adj. between two levels More about “intermediate”
D. assist — v./n. help, hold up More about “support”
A. Wander — v./adj. wander, move away More about “stray”
B. Common — adj. happening often More about “frequent”
C. Average — n./adj. middle size or method More about “medium”
D. Protect — v. keep safe, protect More about “preserve”
B. Pain — n. extreme pain More about “agony”
D. Huge — adj. very large More about “immense”
40 Verbal Reasoning questions in 20 minutes. More Middle words: Middle Level vocabulary list · full Middle practice test.
B. Relocation — n. movement from one place to another More about “migration”
A. reduce — v. reduce to least amount More about “minimize”
C. inheritance — n. something handed down from the past More about “legacy”
C. Radiant — adj. shining, bright More about “luminous”
A. powerless — adj. powerless, weak More about “impotent”
B. Clever — adj. clever, sharp More about “astute”
A. precise — adj. particular, precise More about “specific”
B. magnificent — adj. excellent, grand, inspiring More about “sublime”
40 Verbal Reasoning questions in 20 minutes. More Upper words: Upper Level vocabulary list · full Upper practice test.
B. terrible — adj. terrible awful dreadful More about “abysmal”
D. Proactive — adj. preventive; anticipatory; first More about “preemptive”
A. friendly — adj. friendly and easy to talk to More about “affable”
D. Restrained — adj. moderate restrained temperate More about “abstemious”
A. extract — v. to remove by cutting More about “excise”
A. Healing — adj. healing; therapeutic; medicinal More about “curative”
B. advocate — n. supporter follower advocate More about “partisan”
A. harmful — Adj. harmful; damaging; injurious More about “deleterious”
Full ISEE practice tests with every answer explained · flashcard-style study of over 4,000 words · ISEE guide.
The Verbal Reasoning section mixes synonym and sentence completion questions: 34 questions in 20 minutes at the Lower Level, 40 in 20 minutes at the Middle and Upper Levels. ERB does not publish a fixed split, but practice tests usually treat it as roughly half and half.
No. Primary 2, 3 and 4 test vocabulary inside the Reading section. Synonym questions start at the Lower Level (applying to grades 5–6).
Learn each word with a sentence, say the synonym out loud, and practise in the real four-option format under time. If you cannot name the synonym before looking at the options, you do not know the word yet.
No. The ISEE does not deduct points for wrong answers, so always answer every question; cross out options you know are wrong first.
