Summary As always, test forms for the September 2006 LSAT included an experimental (unscored) section. On most test forms, the experimental section appeared in Section 2. Be aware, however, that LSAC often administers a few 0selected forms with identical scored sections, but with their experimental sections in a different location. Ratings of this administration placed its difficulty slightly above that of other recent exams. Princeton Review students report being pleased with their overall performance. Games - 22 questions
Princeton Review students rated the difficulty of this section as easier than Games sections that have appeared on exams within the past year. In the first game, you had to determine at which of four airports six flights, ordered 1 to 6, landed. The second game involved 0selecting a panel of five people from a group of three parents, three students, and four teachers. The third game asked test takers to determine in which of five years three students graduated and in which of those years they purchased cars. In the last game, a child eating alphabet soup decided to eat from one to three of six remaining letters in three spoonfuls. You had to determine which letters were in each spoonful. Our students found that their familiarity with the games and experience with making deductions helped them set up the games and work the questions efficiently. Scored Arguments - 25 questions in each section Both scored arguments sections had 25 questions, and the order in which they were served varied by test form. Most examinees found one of the sections harder than the other, though the difference in difficulty was less pronounced than on some other recent exams. Within each section, the questions had a rough progression of difficulty. Test takers cited careful use of process of elimination (POE) as the most helpful technique. Overall, Princeton Review students found the techniques they had learned in class worked well on the exam. They reported that their ability to spot language shifts, recognize common flaws, and diagram conditional statements were the most useful tools for analyzing arguments. Broad experience with past exams was invaluable to test takers, and smart pacing choices were required to get the best possible results. Scored Reading Comprehension - 28 questions The reading comprehension section offered the usual breakdown of topics—science, law, social science, and arts/humanities. Examinees found the arts passage easiest and the science passage hardest. On the whole, Test takers found this to be a difficult section because of the number of questions, difficulty of the questions, and complexity of the passages. The first passage discussed Mexican-American writers and argued that their writing displays a fusion of language and theme unique to their experiences. The second passage reviewed changes in bankruptcy law, noting a shift in emphasis from punishment to restitution. The author viewed the change as beneficial because those who declare bankruptcy can better repay their debtors. The third passage addressed the malleability of cultural identity. It used historical examples to illustrate how one culture can engulf another and cause identity shifts. The last passage dealt with chaos theory, specifically the idea that you can predict a future state but not how something will get to that state. It described recent work in the field that challenges the reproducibility of scientific results and has the potential to undermine some of science’s core tenets.