For the last week or so we have been posting articles about mentally and physically preparing for the upcoming LSAT. Now the day of the test is almost here, and I wanted to add a final thought about the stress that everyone faces when taking the LSAT. As you walk into the test, keep this in mind: Stress will not hurt your performance, and it can actually help. That's right, stress isn't the test-killer that many people expect it to be. In … [Read more...]

So, you've got a test coming up on Monday. Ideally, you've already been preparing, you're in the home stretch! And we're here to help. Here are a few last-minute suggestions to make sure you're ready for test day. Relax Don’t forget to take a day off! If you don't have to work, that's all the better. You need a day for your brain to take a break and gear up for a long Monday. Avoid activities that are too mentally taxing. Yes, that includes … [Read more...]

Picking up Rocks Once there was a young boy who lived in the country. Like with all young boys who live in the country, there were always chores to do. This boy lived on a farm with rocky soil, and one day his father told him to go pick up rocks until their wagon was full. Being nine years old, the boy knew that this impossible task would be the end of him.First, the boy pulled on his boots, because that's what you wear when you do chores on … [Read more...]

Mental Isolation I recently studied for and took the bar exam. Because I live in a rural environment, more than an hour from the nearest bar review lecture site, I decided to forego the in-person classes, and instead watched recorded lectures. I took advantage of several books that came with the program, and studied hard. This was my first time experiencing intensive study without personal interaction, and I have to admit that it drove me a … [Read more...]

When you're in the final months of test-taking mode, you'll probably take anywhere from 10-20 timed practice tests. If done correctly, such a regimen will help improve your score. Not every score will be higher than the one before. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes, improve your stamina, and take it easy. How Interruptions Affect Us Of course, the LSAT is hard enough without the added aggravation of unavoidable distractions, … [Read more...]

I met some new people the other day, and when I explained to them what it was that I did, one of the guys asked me whether you could actually prepare for tests like the LSAT (or GMAT, GRE, SAT, etc). I get that question enough that it doesn't bother me. In fact, I always find it an interesting conversation. Whether they find it an interesting conversation is a different matter though! While it is near gospel that almost any endeavor that requires … [Read more...]

In my last post, I talked about the myth that you can't prepare for standardized tests, how that myth was created, and why it has been perpetuated. In this post, we'll look at some explanations for why those beliefs are false. The Army Alpha Tests Let’s begin by looking at the original broad-based tests that started the whole thing: the Army Alpha tests, which were meant to reveal native ability. For example, they intended to “Supply a mental … [Read more...]

Ten days ago the world lost a sporting legend, Johan Cruyff. If you've never heard the name before, you could be forgiven for thinking that he might be an old ship captain, or maybe some forgotten inventor. The name sounds a bit grizzly and angular, and would certainly fit a big game hunter or gold miner. He wasn't though—he was a world famous soccer player from the Netherlands. So, how could he possibly have any wisdom that applies to the … [Read more...]

If you're like nearly everyone who submitted picks for the NCAA men's basketball tournament this year, chances are exceptionally good that your bracket at this point is a mess. "Busted," to use the parlance of those who take these things somewhat seriously. I say that because attempting to predict winners and losers over the span of 67 match ups (give or take) is bound to meet some difficulties. This year's games seem especially determined to … [Read more...]

We know you secretly want it: your daily LSAT fix. No, you don't need to call your dealer or risk a felony charge. But, let's face it: the LSAT is a controlled substance, and quantities are limited. There are only a certain amount of past official LSATs publicly available. Even with access to everything LSAC makes available, you may still want some variety from the daily grind. Maximizing your LSAT score sometimes requires taking a break from the … [Read more...]

Tonight, the NCAA Basketball Tournament returns to action, and one of the notable games pits Texas A&M against Oklahoma. Why is this notable? Because there's no way Texas A&M should be in this game. But they pulled a miracle escape against Northern Iowa and won the game in double overtime. As always, whenever I watch sports, thoughts of the LSAT aren't far from my mind. The question is, what can we learn from their incredible comeback, … [Read more...]

Recapping a Wild Week This past week featured two of my favorite events: the start of the NCAA basketball tournament and St. Patrick's Day. If you are a sports fan and Irish (I'm both), it's about as good as it gets! And the tournament this past weekend proved to be one of the most interesting in recent years: in the first round, there were 13 upsets (defined as a lower-seeded team winning versus a higher-seeded team), tied for the most ever in … [Read more...]