LSAT Writing is a mandatory writing sample that students complete on their own time in the days, weeks, or even months following the test. We put together this guide to explain what’s expected of you, how it’s administered, its general importance, and how to write the most compelling essay possible.LSAT Writing is a 35-minute assignment that requires you to write a persuasive essay in favor of a particular choice among two possible … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part VIII: Appeal to Authority
Before continuing on to Part Eight of our flaws in LR on the LSAT, let’s review once more. Here’s how I began the first post in this series, where we looked at Source Arguments: The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some frequency. I’ll examine common mistakes that … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 15: The Digital Writing Sample
Episode 15 of the podcast is all about the LSAT Writing Sample, as Jon and Dave discuss its purpose and potential impact on your app, upcoming changes to its administration, what the new digital format will mean when submitting your essay, and, perhaps above all, precisely how to craft a response that satisfies even the most inquisitive admissions committee. You can find the episode below, but make sure to subscribe/follow and rate/review on … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part VII: Internal Contradiction
Part 7 is here! But before we get going on the topic of internal contradiction, let's start with a review the importance of this series Take a look at how I began the first post, where we looked at Source Arguments. The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some frequency. … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 14: Student Question Mailbag
The 14th episode of the podcast is a Student Question Mailbag edition, where Jon and Dave tackle submitted inquiries about admissions—including undergrad vs grad school GPA usage and why your college GPA and LSAC GPA may not match—as well as some big-picture curiosities about using older LSAT Bibles, when to read the question stem in LR, and the best guessing strategy to employ as time runs out. You can find the episode below, but make sure to … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part VI: Uncertain Use of a Term
Welcome back to our series on some of the common flaws you'll find in LR questions on the LSAT! We're already half way through and heading on to Part 6! Let's remember our roots with how I began the first post on Source Arguments in this series: The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part V: False Dilemma
Part Five of our series examining common flaws in LR questions is here! But, before we continue, here's a recap of our mission as stated in the first post on Source Arguments. The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some frequency. I’ll examine common mistakes that … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part IV: Errors of Composition and Division
Let's recap the purpose pf this series before we tackle Part Four. Why is it so important to understand these argumentative errors? Here’s how we started the series when looking at Source Arguments: Considering the vast majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions will have an argument in their stimulus, and the vast majority of those arguments will contain some sort of flawed reasoning, I thought I would take a moment to address a variety of … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part III: Exceptional Cases and Over-generalizations
Before continuing with Part Three of our Flaws in Logical Reasoning series, let’s review the importance of understanding argumentative errors. Here’s how I began the series when we looked at Source Arguments: The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some frequency. I’ll … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 12: Sufficient Assumption/Justify the Conclusion Questions
Episode 12 continues the discussion from the last episode by looking at the other Assumption question type: Sufficient Assumptions (also known as Justify the Conclusion). Dave and Jon provide an extensive analysis of this unique LR task, exploring everything from how to spot Justify questions to the relationship between Assumption and Justify—key similarities and differences—to powerful mechanistic techniques like the Justify Formula to help you … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part II: Circular Reasoning
Before we continue examining common flaws in LSAT LR questions, let’s review the importance of understanding these argumentative errors. Here’s how I began the first post in this series, where we looked at Source Arguments: The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 11: Necessary Assumption Questions
Episode 11 centers on one the LSAT’s toughest LR question types: Necessary Assumptions. In this episode, Jon and Dave break down how these problems operate, describe what makes them unique (and how to keep them separate from Sufficient Assumptions, which are covered next week!), and provide several powerful strategies for solving any Assumption question, whether Supporter or Defender. If you struggle with this tricky concept you won’t want to … [Read more...]
Flaws in Logical Reasoning Part I: Source Arguments
The majority of LSAT Logical Reasoning questions have an argument in their stimulus and most will contain some sort of flawed reasoning. In this series, we will address a variety of the flaws that tend to appear with some frequency. I’ll examine common mistakes that authors on the test make. This should prove useful for Flaw in the Reasoning questions (which account for about 15% of LR questions.) It should also help with other question types … [Read more...]
LSAT PodCast Episode 10: March 2019 LSAT Review and Scale Prediction
The 10th episode focuses on the four March LSAT administrations students just experienced—North American, two International, and a Sabbath-observer—detailing the scored topics section by section, the original appearance of any reused tests, student reactions, and overall impressions of difficulty, including curve predictions. There’s also a discussion of the keep-or-cancel decision and advice on what to do if you’re unsure about your next … [Read more...]