According to LSAC, the Logical Reasoning portion of the LSAT is designed to "evaluate the ability to analyze, critically evaluate, and complete arguments as they occur in ordinary language. These arguments mirror legal reasoning in the types of arguments presented and in their complexity, though few of the arguments actually have law as a subject matter."I frequently echo this final disclaimer at the start of my classes. The LSAT is not a … [Read more...]
The Genesis of an LSAT Question, Part II
Continuing on with our discussion from Part I, let’s take the text from the article and turn it into a proto-LSAT Logical Reasoning stimulus: “In the country of Downlandia, over 100,000 people currently live in towns with populations of fewer than 100 residents. This is an increase of over 20,000 people from a decade ago.” With this very rough “stimulus” in hand (which at this point is just a fact set), we can examine the three question types … [Read more...]
The Genesis of an LSAT Question, Part I
The other day I was reading an article about a town in the US with just two residents. In the middle of the article, the following text caught my attention: “The 2010 Census found 13 hamlets with one or two residents, including Lotsee, Okla., Gross, Neb., and Bonanza, Utah. About 119,000 people live in towns with fewer than 100 residents, up from 79,000 a decade earlier. Mr. Cantrell suspects the increase is due largely to towns shrinking below … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 89: Myths of the LSAT Experimental Section
The August 2021 LSAT marks the end of the Flex format and the return of the test’s experimental section, and Dave and Jon are here with all the details! Join them to learn exactly how the experimental section works, how to best identify it, and how to use it to your advantage as you navigate your way through test day. … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 88: The LSAT Scoring Scale – 7 Common Myths Explained
The LSAT scoring scale remains one of the most mysterious and misunderstood aspects of an already-shadowy exam, so to help clear away the confusion, Jon and Dave are busting the scale’s 7 biggest myths! Listen as they explore everything from how the scale works to what truly tightens or loosens it to, above all, what differing scales mean for you on test day. … [Read more...]
My LSAT Score Just Dropped… Now What?
If you have an LSAT test administration coming up, a drop in your practice test scores can be demoralizing. Was all this work for nothing? What if it happens again?The fact is, it didn't: it happened on a practice test. It may not seem that way, but it's one of the best things that can happen to you while prepping for the test. While getting an awesome score on your practice test can give you an important confidence boost, it has little … [Read more...]
Justify and Assumption Questions: Conceptual Similarities and Differences
Many students confuse Justify and Assumption questions. Of course, this is not news to those whose job is to confuse you (hint: they work in Newtown, PA). Consequently, you will often encounter Assumption decoys in Justify questions and vice versa. The trick is to know what you are looking for. And what you are not. Some basic concepts: In Justify questions, you need to identify a statement that is sufficient to prove the conclusion. In other … [Read more...]
New Course: LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Course!
Today we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Course! This is the first step in what will become a full-fledged LSAT Bibles Course encompassing all three of our best-selling books. Let’s take a look at what this new course includes as well as our plans for the future.The New Course: Complete LR Mastery The new course is built around our well-known Logical Reasoning Bible. We have taken the content in … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 87: The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Course Launch
Episode 87 is a slight departure from the typical topics of LSAT concepts, test reviews, and admissions advice, as Dave and Jon turn their attention to the latest addition to the PowerScore lineup: the Logical Reasoning Bible Course! Tune in to learn all about this invaluable new prep tool, from what it is and who it’s for to how you can most effectively utilize it to master Logical Reasoning. Whether you’re just starting out or nearing the end … [Read more...]
Should You Work Backwards in Logical Reasoning?
Students often ask if working backwards in Logical Reasoning might be the way to go. After all, the reasoning goes, the hardest questions are typically towards the end of the section. So, if you tackle them early on, you will have more time to get them right without rushing. As you progress through the section, you will have less and less time left, but the questions will (presumably) get easier, so you have a higher chance of getting them … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 86: The June 2021 LSAT-Flex Review – We Make History, Again
Jon and Dave bid farewell to the last-ever LSAT-Flex with a bittersweet sendoff: the short format will be sorely missed, but celebrations also abound, as they correctly predicted the exact LSAT given to the majority of June test takers! Join them as they discuss all of the test forms used—domestic and international—concluding with an analysis of each section’s difficulty and a scale calculation for every unique combination. … [Read more...]
Official Scoring Scale for the New LSAT
When LSAC added sections from the May 2020 LSAT-Flex administration to their Prep Plus package, it allowed us to see exactly how they score a Flex test. Although the Flex version of the test is no longer with us, this data is still relevant to the new LSAT. Let’s take a look at LSAC’s official scoring scale for the May 2020 Flex test:*** There is no raw score that will produce this scaled score for this form. Note: This scoring scale is … [Read more...]
Certainty vs. Uncertainty in Logic Games
We focus a tremendous amount of time and attention in our courses and books emphasizing the importance of inference making in Games; determining the truths of the relationships between variable sets. In making inferences, what we’re really focused on is establishing notions of what I’ll refer to here as positive and negative certainty. That is, determining what must occur in an absolute (consistent) sense, and what cannot occur in an absolute … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 85: Causal Reasoning Part II – Causality and Question Types
Wrapping up their comprehensive coverage of LSAT causality, Dave and Jon move from conceptual discussions of causation to an application-focused look at how causal reasoning is treated in the test’s various LR question types. Specifically, you’ll hear them address what to look for and how to best respond to causality in every context—from Weaken to Strengthen to Flaw and more—before touching on advanced cause and effect constructions, ensuring … [Read more...]