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. A 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 correct … [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...]
Taking the LSAT in Kazakhstan
Are you taking the LSAT in Kazakhstan? 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 Kazakhstan, only one location offers the LSAT: Almaty, American Center for Education and Testing. They administer the test once a y ear in June. You can find a complete list of test dates and deadlines here. Students should … [Read more...]
When to Move to the Questions in LSAT Logic Games
I've written two posts on Logic Games recently, both in response to student questions, and this week I'd like to address a third question about games I was asked recently: How do you know when to move from your setup to the questions? I should start by saying that it's a very contextual decision. Some games (especially in recent years) have few inferences that can be made and you'll often feel as though you've discovered little in your initial … [Read more...]
Assumption and Must Be True Questions: Strange Bedfellows
Must Be True Questions Must Be True (aka “Inference”) questions are foundational to both the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections of the test. Most commonly, their question stem indicates that the information in the stimulus should be taken as true (“if the statements above are true…”). It then asks you to identify an answer choice that is proven or supported by it (“…which one of the following must also be true?”). All Must Be … [Read more...]
Still Waiting to Hear from Your Dream School? You’re Not Alone
Still waiting to hear back from your dream school? You are not alone. This year, “rolling admissions” can just as well be called “crawling” admissions. We can only speculate as to the reasons why schools are taking longer than usual. One plausible explanation has to do with the relatively unpredictable size (and qualifications) of the applicant pool. We all know that applications have been dropping since 2010, but there is a strong indication … [Read more...]
What Does It Mean When an LSAT is “Nondisclosed”?
If you've ever taken an LSAT or looked through the LSAC website, you probably familiar with the notice LSAC places on every LSAT registration page. It's easy to miss, and it really should be in big, bold red flashing letters--taking a nondisclosed LSAT is actually a pretty big deal. But why? What is a Disclosed Test? Let's first start by explaining to what the terms disclosed and nondisclosed apply. They don't actually apply to the specific … [Read more...]
Can You Prepare for Standardized Tests such as the LSAT, GRE, and SAT? Part I
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...]
Can You Prepare for Standardized Tests such as the LSAT, GRE, and SAT? Part II
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...]
What to Do if You’re Waitlisted at Your Top Choice and Accepted at Another
For most, the whirlwind of the law school application process is over. The waiting is over and decisions are in your inboxes. You open those emails, answer those phone calls, and rip open the envelopes. Are you in? Are you out? Or are you waitlisted? If you applied to more than one law school, chances are you'll have a myriad of answers to sort through. If you're reading this, chances are you're in a most beneficial position: you've been accepted … [Read more...]
O.J. Simpson’s Bloody Gloves in the Context of the LSAT
The most memorable line from O.J. Simpson’s 1994-95 jury trial was defense attorney Johnnie Cochran’s genius phrase. "If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit." That clear, simple rule is widely thought to be a key factor in Simpson’s acquittal. In today’s post, we’re going to look at that statement and its circumstances in the context of the LSAT. Recapping the Case For those who don’t know, O.J. Simpson was an American football legend and a … [Read more...]