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Disclaimer: These tests are fictional, inspired by SAT and LSAT reading models, written and internationalized by an Eastern European (Romanian) author.
They incorporate cultural and thematic elements characteristic of Romanian and broader Eastern European perspectives - for example, the literary passage draws on 19th century Romanian Romanticism, emphasizing a direct and intense connection to nature through vivid imagery, rather than the often more implicit or varied treatments found in American texts.
Likewise, the opinion passage reflects a regional cultural phenomenon by discussing "doomer music", a genre prevalent in post-Soviet and Eastern European contexts, which differs from typical American cultural references often centered around mainstream or Western genres.
With these distinctions, the test content intentionally diverges from standard American test biases, aiming to offer a globally interpretable reading experience.
They do not represent actual College Board or LSAT materials in any way. In fact, they are shorter than official models and have multiple questions per text.
As a boy I roamed the woods
And I used to lie by the spring,
And put my right arm under my head
I can hear the sound of the water:
A soft rustle went from branch to branch
And a sleepy odor came.
And so I used to eat all night,
Softly lulled by the waves.
1. Which choice best describes the mood of the poem?
2. The phrase "a soft rustle went from branch to branch" primarily serves to:
3. What might "a sleepy odor" symbolize in the poem?
It is several years since Pasi Sahlberg used the term Global Education Reform Movement, or GERM, to describe the emergence of a new global orthodoxy in education policy. The acronym-as-analogy worked perfectly to describe a phenomenon that Sahlberg identified as both spreading and destructive, behaving "like an epidemic that spreads and infects education systems through a virus". The power of such acronyms lies in the extent to which they take hold in the social imaginary and act as a signifier for a complex amalgam of policies and practices that students and educators experience as an education system that feels "cracked".
Sahlberg has identified the principal features of the GERM as increased standardisation, a narrowing of the curriculum to focus on core subjects/knowledge, the growth of high stakes accountability and the use of corporate management practices as the key features of the new orthodoxy.
4. According to the text, why is the term GERM used as an analogy?
5. What does the author mean by stating that education systems feel "cracked"?
6. Which of the following is NOT listed as a feature of GERM?
Doomer music isn't a genre. It's more of an umbrella term that includes genres such as synthwave, vaporwave, sovietwave, and retrowave. These genres themselves don't have very clear definitions. But there's something common to them: a subtle feeling of sadness. Don't get me wrong, these are not sad, depressing songs. Doomer music makes you feel a different kind of sadness. This sadness feels more like nostalgia, a sense of pain that's actually sweet.
7. What does the author suggest about the emotional effect of doomer music?
8. Which of the following best summarizes the opinion expressed?
A lawsuit argues that using the tests violates the state's anti-discrimination statute because it disadvantages children of color, children from low-income families and children with disabilities. Research seems to support this notion.
With regard to race, in 2018, combined SAT scores for Asian and White students averaged over 1100, while all other groups averaged below 1000. With regard to income, a 2015 analysis found that students with family income less than $20,000 scored lowest on the test, and those with family income above $200,000 scored highest. And we're not talking about just a couple of points. The average reading score for those students whose family income is below $20,000 is 433, but the average for those with income of above $200,000 is 570. Clearly, there is disadvantage.
The disadvantage is typically attributed to test preparation. There is substantial evidence that test prep can raise test scores, and even the College Board who administers the SAT test admits there are benefits associated with test prep. But high quality test prep can be expensive, and many can't afford the fees associated with these tutoring classes. Beyond test preparation, high income students often have access to educational opportunities not available to low income students.
9. What is the main concern raised about the SAT according to the passage?
10. Which of the following statements best reflects a potential cause of the disadvantage in SAT scores?
As a boy I roamed the woods
And I used to lie by the spring,
And put my right arm under my head
I can hear the sound of the water:
A soft rustle went from branch to branch
And a sleepy odor came.
And so I used to eat all night,
Softly lulled by the waves.
1. The author's depiction of nature primarily serves to:
2. The poet's use of "a sleepy odor" most likely suggests:
3. Which one of the following can be inferred about the speaker's relationship to the natural world?
Pasi Sahlberg coined the term Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) to describe a worldwide trend in education policy. The analogy to a germ or virus reflects Sahlberg's view that this trend spreads rapidly and negatively affects educational systems. He argues that features of GERM include increased standardisation, narrowing curricula to core subjects, high-stakes accountability, and adoption of corporate management methods. These have led to an education system perceived as "cracked" by students and educators.
4. Which one of the following best expresses the author's main conclusion about GERM?
5. The analogy between GERM and a virus is used primarily to:
6. If a country adopts policies aligned with GERM, which of the following consequences would most likely occur according to the passage?
7. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument presented by Sahlberg?
Doomer music is not a precise genre but an umbrella term covering genres like synthwave, vaporwave, sovietwave, and retrowave. These genres lack strict definitions but share a subtle feeling of sadness. Unlike depressing music, doomer music evokes a bittersweet, nostalgic sadness - a sense of pain that is strangely sweet.
8. The author's primary purpose is to:
9. The passage suggests that doomer music's sadness is:
10. Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A lawsuit claims that SAT testing violates anti-discrimination laws because it disadvantages children of color, low-income children, and children with disabilities. Research cited shows disparities in scores by race and income, with higher income and Asian/White students scoring significantly better. The disadvantage is attributed partly to the high cost and unequal access to test preparation, which improves scores but is not affordable for all. Moreover, high-income students have access to educational opportunities unavailable to others.
11. The argument primarily depends on which of the following assumptions?
12. Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that the SAT disadvantages certain groups?
13. The reference to "test preparation" functions primarily to:
14. Which of the following best describes a major implication of the passage?