One of the most common questions I receive right now is: when are the 2021 LSAT Bibles coming out? Usually the answer is an easy one, and by January they are typically out. But 2020 was obviously one of the strangest years in history. And so the answer this year isn’t as easy as usual. The LSAT Bibles Usually Come Out in the Fall I typically make changes to the books in the fall of each year, after I wait to see what has happened with the LSATs of that year. After making a thorough analysis of the released LSATs, I can then make updates to the text, and add new sections as needed. The new … [Read more...]
LSAT Podcast Episode 75: State of the LSAT Union – 2020 Recap & 2021 Preview
2020 was a year of unprecedented change, from test cancellations amid quarantine orders to the introduction of the LSAT Flex. In this strange year's final PodCast, Jon and Dave recap the past twelve months—highlighting the pivotal LSAT developments, good and bad—before previewing what 2021 has in store. Be sure to stick around until the episode's end, as they also offer a first-ever glimpse at several new prep projects currently in the works! … [Read more...]
Timing Your LSAT Course: Now or Later?
When choosing the right LSAT course for you, you may face this dilemma. Should you take the course that starts early and ends well before your LSAT administration? Or should you wait so that it ends closer to the test date? There are pros and cons to each decision, let's look into them. Starts Well Before the Test Date PROs If your target score range is way above where you're currently scoring, taking an earlier course might be your best bet. Early courses are particularly advantageous if you don't think you can complete all your homework while also taking additional practice tests in the … [Read more...]
How to Increase Your LSAT Score When You Are Stuck
I'll begin this blog with a confession. The vast majority of the text below is not my own, but rather has been taken (with encouragement) from a post Dave Killoran wrote on our LSAT Forum. The advice is too good and too endlessly relevant not to share, so I'm reusing it here to ensure it reaches the widest audience possible. Specifically, Dave went to great lengths to explore and explain two of the most common concerns plaguing test takers. Namely, how to correct for wide-ranging performance variations and how to keep improving when it feels as though you've hit a permanent score … [Read more...]
The PowerScore 2020 LSAT Bibles: What Has Changed?
Each year I make revisions and updates to the LSAT Bibles, and there are several different reasons for that. First, at least three new LSATs release each year. I make changes to some of the content to account for new directions taken by the test makers. Second, I talk with many different LSAT students and also teach various sessions throughout the year. The feedback I receive helps me shape and improve parts of each book. Finally, the books have changed so much over time that providing new versions each year helps students know they are getting the most up-to-date methods and techniques … [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...]
The PowerScore 2019 LSAT Bibles: Changes and Updates
Every year I make revisions and updates to the LSAT Bibles, and there are several different reasons for that. First, at least three new LSATs are released each year. I make changes to account for new wrinkles used by the test makers. Second, I talk with many different LSAT students and also teach various sessions throughout the year, and the feedback I receive helps me shape and improve parts of each book. Finally, as I discussed previously, the books have changed so much over time that providing new versions each year helps students know they are getting the most up-to-date information … [Read more...]
Using the LSAT Bibles: Should Your Score Go Up Immediately?
One frequent question I get comes from students reading the LSAT Bibles who wonder how much of a score increase they should see while reading the book. The answer is that while you are reading the books, you probably won't see much of a score increase. It's after you finish the book and start working with ideas where you will begin to see the greatest score increases! Let's talk about why that is the case. LSAT Studying Is Not Linear To be sure, many students do see significant increases while they are still reading the LSAT Bibles. But, that's not the case for everyone, nor is it a … [Read more...]
Creating an LSAT Study Bible
If you take our LSAT course, you learn the importance of accurately identifying every element you encounter on the test. In Logical Reasoning questions it might be Assumption or Flaw or underlying conceptual ideas like Causality and Formal Logic. Within a Game, constructs like Grouping and Advanced Linear may be apparent. You must be able to distinguish them consistently from one another so you can be certain your plan of attack is the best one!It should come as no surprise that we devote plenty of class time and course text to examining these elements. First, we explain how each piece … [Read more...]
The PowerScore 2018 LSAT Bibles: Changes and Updates
Each year I make revisions and updates to the LSAT Bibles, and there are several different reasons for that. First, at least three new LSATs are released each year, and I like to make changes to some of the content to account for new directions taken by the test makers. Second, I talk with many different LSAT students and also teach various sessions throughout the year, and the feedback I receive helps me shape and improve parts of each book. And, finally, as I discussed last year, the books have changed so much over time that providing new versions each year helps students know they are … [Read more...]
Choosing a Prep Course After Reading the PowerScore Bibles
Which prep course should you take after reading the PowerScore LSAT Bibles? This is a fantastic question that we get frequently, and in today's LSAT Forum Post of the Day, LSAT expert Nikki Siclunov offers some tips to a student on how to find the best course fit for you. Here's a quick preview. But be sure to check out the full thread to read the entire explanation our team provided:The Forum posts selected for this series are chosen because they have a universal quality to them. In other words, we’ve selected posts that contain information that can be used by test takers of any … [Read more...]
Logical Reasoning in the Reading Comprehension Section
A student recently wrote in to ask about the relationship between Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension on the LSAT, and more specifically whether he should be looking to apply the lessons from the Logical Reasoning Bible to the Reading Comp section of the test. This is an interesting question, and one that I’ve heard before from students seeking to clarify the relationship and distinctions between the various sections of the test.The answer is Yes, because when an author makes an argument, it will be comprised of the components discussed in the Logical Reasoning Bible—a conclusion, … [Read more...]
PowerScore LSAT Bibles vs the Workbooks vs the Training Type Books
People often ask about the differences between our various self-study books. Here’s a short guide! The LSAT Bibles: These books explain the concepts that underlie the section, and detailed techniques for solving each question. They are the foundation for learning how to approach each section. The LSAT Bible Workbooks: These books provide more drills and questions, and are based on the material in the LSAT Bibles. They help cement the ideas contained in each LSAT Bible. The LSAT Training Type Books: The books provide extended practice for each type of question, and allow you to repeatedly … [Read more...]
How is Everyone Else Preparing for the LSAT?
Do you ever wonder? Almost everyone does, but shouldn't. First of all, how others prepare for the LSAT isn't a big deal because it doesn't directly impact you. Second, it really doesn't matter because no one else will be taking the exam for you (unless you bribed someone to take your exam, in which case you've got way bigger problems heading your way than choosing a prep method!).Fortunately, instead of just guessing about what other people do, we can get a good general sense from the test makers themselves. LSAC's The Summary of Self-Reported Methods of Test Preparation by LSAT Takers for … [Read more...]