If you're thinking about applying to law school, you should also be thinking about your applications. If apps are on your mind, you may also be researching schools and quickly overwhelming yourself with the multitude of websites and publications out there that give out (sometimes not-so-reliable) information. To that end, here's a list of some of the best, "must-have" resources for applicants. We regularly help students with their applications! … [Read more...]
A Timing Strategy for Faster Reading Comprehension Performance
Although people don't think that Reading Comprehension and Logic Games have much to do with each other, the truth is that they have something very important in common. The most obvious thing that the sections have in common is their structure. Both the sections have four main units. The Game section has four games and the Reading Comprehension section has four passages. And the number of questions associated with each game or passage is similar … [Read more...]
The Value of Work Experience to a Law School
Work Experience on Your Application LSAT score and GPA generally constitute the most important factors in law school admissions decisions. Historically, post-college work experience has not been emphasized, and students often go directly from college into law school. Over the past few years, however, many top law schools have increased their focus on work experience when making admissions decisions.Dean Martha Minow brought this type of … [Read more...]
Avoid Isolation While Prepping for the LSAT
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...]
Beyond “Unless”: Advanced Conditional Reasoning
It's fair to say that conditional reasoning is either the bane of your test prep, or a welcome escape from the uncertainty that plagues causal reasoning. In the first few months of test prep, you will likely see conditional reasoning everywhere: understanding conditional reasoning can easily turn into an obsession, prompting you to diagram whenever you come across any of the indicators of conditionality. The costs of this approach ultimately … [Read more...]
What is the LSAT-India?
For the past few years, the makers of the LSAT have produced a test that is remarkably similar to the LSAT. It’s called the LSAT-India, and it is used solely to gain entrance into a set of law schools in India. The Format If you are familiar with the regular LSAT, then the format of LSAT-India probably looks pretty familiar.Four scored sections, with roughly 100 total questions Two Logical Reasoning sections, one Reading Comp section, … [Read more...]
Conditional Reasoning on the LSAT: Do You See It Everywhere?
Many students, upon being introduced to the foundational concepts of conditional reasoning and deductive logic, begin to "see" conditionality everywhere. In a sense, it is everywhere - especially in deductive reasoning, which forms the basis for most LSAT questions. You may even find comfort in the rule-driven environment of formal, or deductive, logic. There is nothing wrong with that, per se. But you need to know when you've gone far. To … [Read more...]
The Destructive Power of Distraction
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...]
Timing Strategy: Quit While the Quitting’s Good
Our inspiration for this post comes from an exceptional episode of Freakonomics Radio that counters a prevailing norm that quitting is somehow nearly always bad. The episode, The Upside of Quitting, centers on the efficiency you gain by knowing when to quit. The anti-quitting bias is one that we all tend to carry with us into the LSAT. Just like most real-world experiences we bring to the test, this bias can hurt us. Knowing when to avoid or … [Read more...]
How Are Older LSAT Scores Reported?
One point of confusion among test-takers is how LSAC reports older LSAT scores. Currently, LSAC reports any LSAT score from the past five years. They report an average score if two or more LSAT scores appear on your record. However, even though LSAC reports those scores, most schools want to see a score within the past three years.Some test-takers applying to law school take advantage of this and wait to retake the LSAT until a past poor … [Read more...]
Your LSAT Practice Test: Make it Messy
Over the years, we've written a number of blog posts on how to take the perfect practice test, so if you haven't read them, now is probably a good time to do so:The Ideal Way to Take an LSAT Practice Test Getting the Most out of Your Practice Test Review The Best Way to Review Practice TestsThere is no question about it: taking a bunch of practice tests is a critical component of any half-decent test prep strategy. If your LSAT … [Read more...]
Logical Reasoning Traps: How to Avoid the Natural Question Error
I was recently asked about a specific question from the October 1999 LSAT (O99, LR1, #7) on our LSAT Discussion Forum. This summary of this question, known as Debbie's Magic Act, is as follows: Debbie has a magic act where she identifies a card chosen randomly from a deck, without ever looking at the card beforehand. A skeptic examined the process, and conducted three separate tests. In the first test, he made a video of her selecting the … [Read more...]
Hoping to Apply to Law School Early? What Actually Is Early?
Many people know that law schools use a rolling admissions process, which means that schools consider applicants in batches as the applications arrive. Thus, when an application comes in at the beginning of the application period (in the fall of each year), there are the fewest number of competing applications completed and the greatest number of available spaces in the class.As time goes on, more applications come in. Towards the end, there … [Read more...]
Taking the LSAT in Vietnam
Are you taking the LSAT in Vietnam? Students take the LSAT if they plan to attend law schools in the US and Canada. However, the test administers across the globe. Check out this post about taking the LSAT abroad.In Vietnam, only one location offers the LSAT: Hanoi, at the IIG Vietnam. They administer the test once a year in December. You can find a complete list of test dates and deadlines here. Students should know that testing center … [Read more...]