LSAT Changes in June 2007

What's new about the LSAT this year?
Starting with the June 2007 exam, LSAC is introducing two small changes to the LSAT that affect the Reading Comprehension and Writing Sample sections. Additionally, there will be changes in test security regulations. Here's more info about those changes.

What's changing about the Writing Sample?
Prior to 2005, the LSAT only had one kind of Writing Sample - an essay based on a decision prompt. Decision prompts present a choice between two courses of action and give two criteria to use in deciding which action to recommend. You're instructed to use the criteria to explain why one option is better than another. This prompt tests your ability to take a position and back it up with solid reasoning; there's no right or wrong answer. In 2005, LSAC introduced the argument prompt. It presents an argument similar to those in the multiple-choice Arguments sections and asks you to evaluate the reasoning. For the past two years, each test taker has been randomly assigned an argument prompt or a decision prompt. LSAC has now decided to drop the argument prompt and return to serving everyone a decision prompt.

What's not changing about the Writing Sample?
Most importantly, the Writing Sample remains an unscored section. Even though each school you apply to receives a scanned copy of your essay, the Writing Sample normally carries little or no weight in the admissions process. As long as you write your essay on the assigned topic and fill most of the space available, you have nothing to worry about.

What's changing about Reading Comprehension?
Here's LSAC's description: "Starting with the June 2007 administration, LSAC is introducing a new variant of reading comprehension, called comparative reading, as one of the four sets in the LSAT reading comprehension section. In general, comparative reading questions are similar to traditional reading comprehension questions, except that comparative reading questions are based on two shorter passages instead of one longer passage. The two passages together are of roughly the same length as one reading comprehension passage, so the total amount of reading in the reading comprehension section will remain essentially the same. A few of the questions that follow a comparative reading passage pair might concern only one of the two passages, but most will be about both passages and how they relate to each other."

What do comparative reading passages look like?
Instead of a single passage, you'll see two related passages, labeled Passage A and Passage B. These passages will be drawn from the same fields as other reading comprehension passages - arts/humanities, social science, science, and law/policy. There may be an introductory blurb that provides information about the passages' sources or when they were written.

New LSAT Test Security Regulations Take Effect
Beginning with the June LSAT exam, there will be a number of significant changes to test center regulations. Additional details about the new regulations, and lists of permitted and forbidden items, can be found in the 2007-2008 LSAT & LSDAS Information Book. This information will also be provided on LSAT admission tickets. Ignorance of these new regulations will not be considered an excuse for their violation. Bringing prohibited items into the test room may result in the confiscation of such items by the test supervisor, a warning, dismissal from the test center, and/or cancellation of a test score by LSAC.

Some of the most significant changes are listed below:

• Cancellation/Complaint deadlines. Test taker complaints and cancellation requests must be received at LSAC within six (6) days of the test date. (This is a change from previous years.)
• Items permitted in the test room. Tests takers may bring into the room only a clear plastic ziplock bag, maximum size one gallon (3.79 liter), which must be stored under the chair and may be accessed only during the break. The ziplock bag may contain only the following items: LSAT Admission Ticket stub; valid ID; wallet; keys; hygiene products; #2 or HB pencils, highlighter, erasers, pencil sharpener (no mechanical pencils); tissues; beverage in plastic container or juice box (20 oz./591 ml maximum size) and snack for break only.
• Items permitted on the desktop. Test takers may only have tissues, ID, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, highlighter, and analog (nondigital) wristwatch. No electronic timing devices are permitted. This is a change from previous testing years.
• Prohibited items. Candidates are not permitted to bring into the test center the following items:
  • Weapons or firearms, ear plugs, books, backpacks, handbags, papers of any kind, calculators, rulers, timers, listening devices, cellular phones, recording or photographic devices, pagers, beepers, headsets, and/or other electronic devices.
  • Hats/hoods. No hats or hoods are allowed (except items of religious apparel).
  • Handbags, backpacks, briefcases. No handbags, backpacks, briefcases or other bags - except the ziplock bag described above - are allowed in the test room.
  Bringing prohibited items into the test room may result in the confiscation of such items by the test supervisor, a warning, dismissal from the test center, and/or cancellation of a test score by LSAC. Prohibited items may not be used during the break. LSAC and LSAT testing staff are not responsible for test takers' belongings.