Below is Part II of our discussion of the 15 hardest LSAT Logical Reasoning questions of all time. This Part contains 5 more of the 15 questions we’re listing out in chronological order. In Part I, we discussed questions 1-5 on the list and in Part III we present questions 11-15. Part IV is our finale where we discuss some of the interesting patterns and statistics associated with the questions on the list. We chose this list by looking at statistics from students’ practice tests, the volume of questions we receive from students about a LR question, and our own experience teaching and writing … [Read more...]
Killer LR: 15 of the Hardest Logical Reasoning Questions of All Time Part I
Below is Part I of our discussion of the 15 hardest LSAT Logical Reasoning questions of all time. This Part contains 5 of the 15 questions, which will be presented in chronological order. In Part II we discuss questions 6-10 on the list and in Part III we present questions 11-15. Part IV is our finale where we discuss some of the interesting patterns and statistics associated with the questions on the list. We chose this list by looking at statistics from students’ practice tests, the volume of questions we receive from students about a LR question, and our own experience teaching and writing … [Read more...]
Overall Section Difficulty in Logical Reasoning
So far in this mini series, we have covered Question-by-Question Difficulty and Individual Question Difficulty. These have largely covered the individual questions within a section on Logical Reasoning on the LSAT. In this post, I am focusing my efforts to discuss overall difficulty in the LR section. Following that, I'll address how that figures into the creation of an LSAT. Overall Difficulty by the Numbers For this, we are using the statistics cited in my previous posts. From there, we have a composite of the overall average difficulty of each section from the four tests under … [Read more...]
The LSAT Bibles: Do You Need the Newest Editions? Part I
It's a common question! Students always ask us, "I have an older version of the LSAT Bibles, do I need to buy the current edition?" The easiest answer for us to give is "Yes, you do!" But, we're cognizant that these books are expensive. So, the answer isn't quite as simple. In order to give you the information to help you make your own decision, let me first give you an overview of how the update process works. In part II, I talk more about each individual book. A Brief History When we first started publishing the LSAT Bibles, the original covers didn't have medallions or other indications … [Read more...]
Individual Question Difficulty in Logical Reasoning
In my last post, I discussed question-by-question difficulty in LSAT Logical Reasoning sections. Continuing in that same vein, let’s look inside the statistics a bit further. When you examine the difficulty rating for individual questions and sections, you can make several useful inferences. The First Question The first question is always easy or relatively easy (seven of the eight sections under discussion began with a level 1 (easy) question; the other section began with a level 2 (relatively easy) question. In other words, the first question will not be hard. The same is true for the … [Read more...]
Question-by-Question Difficulty in Logical Reasoning
In Logical Reasoning on the LSAT, there is a question many students ask. How does the difficulty of the questions change as the section progresses? In our courses and books, we delve into this point in some detail. Here, I’m going to give a brief overview of how difficulty changes throughout the section. Where Our Data Comes From Before addressing the questions, a note about the statistics we use. You might ask how we derive our information and how accurate that information is. First, years of experience working with LSAT problems and LSAT students give us insight into each section on the … [Read more...]
Yale Law School to Accept GRE Scores
NOTE: This was originally an April Fools post (and the nature of the text below will most certainly bear that out—read those dean's names!) but on July 24th, 2019 Yale Law School did indeed announce they would begin accepting GRE scores for admission. Life imitates comedy!After Harvard's decision to accept GRE scores in lieu of LSAT scores, Yale Law School announced this morning that they would be implementing the use of GRE scores in the law school admission process effective immediately. Yale spokesperson N. Feriority had this to say: When we saw Harvard's decision to accept GRE scores, … [Read more...]
2020 US News Law School Rankings Released!
The 2020 US News Law School Rankings are out! We’ll break down some of the big news from the new rankings in a moment. But first, here’s our standard disclaimer about rankings. Please keep in mind that these rankings are just numbers put through an arbitrary formula that was created by a magazine that makes millions of dollars off of them, so use them at your own risk! The list below is numbered according to the new rankings, and the order for 2020 is listed on the far left. There is a column showing the position change (if any) from the 2019 rankings. Lastly, the columns to the right … [Read more...]
Conditional Reasoning 101: Circular Reasoning and the Contrapositive
Students often ask great questions on our LSAT Forum.One that specifically sticks out regards the existence of circular reasoning in a question that appeared to use the contrapositive. From appearances, the question did use the contrapositive but the reasoning was still flawed, precisely because of the way it was used. Because so many become used to the contrapositive and eventually take it for granted, questions that trade on the point raised in the question can be very difficult to solve. Let's look at this in more detail. Contrapositive vs. the Logical Flaw The question is from the … [Read more...]
Why Does It Take So Long for Paper LSAT Scores to Come Out?
Once the LSAT is over, one of the most common complaints is that scores should come out more quickly. Given that we live in an era where tests are electronically scored and the results are transmitted nearly instantly by email, it sounds like a reasonable complaint. So, why does it take so long for LSAT scores to appear? Couldn't they get them out a lot earlier? To best understand what happens once you turn in your LSAT scoresheet, let's take a look at each phase of the process. Test Administration and Collection The first delay actually comes before most students take the LSAT. Typically, … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Test Mentality Resource List
The LSAT is daunting, and can tax your brain as you get more and more wrapped up in studying. During your final stretch to your test, you should make sure you are as mentally prepared as possible for the pressures of test day. To help you reach a state of pure mental power and balance, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite LSAT confidence resources. Set aside some time before the test to think about how you will approach the LSAT when it begins and especially how you will react if you encounter any difficulties. It's an essential step, and one that can dramatically impact your … [Read more...]
Our LSAT Podcast is coming!
If you are a podcast fan, we have big news for you! Coming up in several weeks we will begin releasing episodes of the new PowerScore Podcast, which will feature myself and Jon Denning as hosts, and also welcome the occasional guest.UPDATE: The podcast is live! Access it here: Apple iTunes Spotify YouTube PowerScore website Please subscribe and rate if possible. Thank you!Our focus will of course be on the LSAT—we'll discuss a wide range of topics from the broad to the narrow to the downright esoteric—and certainly if you have any topics you'd like us to cover, or questions you … [Read more...]
Submitting Your Law School Application if You’re Retaking the LSAT
We had an interesting question posed recently that we thought we would share. "When you submit an application to a law school (say, in November), but you are registered to take the test in January (or March), do law schools automatically see that and hold off on making a decision until they receive your score? Or do you have to "remind" them somewhere on the application form?" Heavy on the minds of many applicants is the need to submit applications early. After all, it’s something both law schools and many advisors endlessly repeat. When the time comes to submit applications, many students … [Read more...]
Should You Do Warm Up Questions the Morning of the LSAT?
"Should I do a set of warm-up questions the morning of the LSAT? Just to get into the right frame of mind?" This is a question that comes up often among test-takers. The idea is that by doing questions prior to the start of the exam, you'll hit the ground running. Thus, setting you up for the best possible score. In theory, it sounds like a good idea. But does it really work? Should you try it? It Depends The answers are sometimes and maybe. Some people are naturally slow starters! After taking several practice tests, if you notice that your performance in the first section of the exam is … [Read more...]