I tell people all the time that one of the greatest things about the LSAT is that it’s remarkably consistent! That is, for the test to be considered a legitimate measuring device where people taking different LSATs can still be compared to one another in a meaningful way, the measuring device itself (the LSAT) absolutely CANNOT change! That, in a way, is the very definition of a "standardized" test. I mean, what good is a ruler if yours has 13 … [Read more...]
How to Be an LSAT Jedi
Star Wars is a classic. A particularly memorable scene depicts Ben Kenobi and Luke Skywalker heading to the nearby spaceport to find a ship to get them and their two droids (R2D2 and C3PO) off the planet. Their goal is to get back into the hands of the Rebel Alliance. R2 is carrying important information about how to destroy the Death Star. It's a great plan, but there's a problem. The Empire is looking for the droids and they've set up … [Read more...]
Obamacare Numbers and How to View Numbers and Percentages on the LSAT
The rollout of the Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare") has gotten quite a bit of attention. Much of the discussion has been about numbers. Since numbers frequently play a significant role on the LSAT, I figured this would be a great opportunity to talk about how we should view numbers and percentages on the test.To be very clear, this is not a political piece, and we at PowerScore take no political position. Solely from the perspective of what … [Read more...]
Multiple Subjects and Varied Viewpoints on the Reading Comprehension Section
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of reading an LSAT Reading Comprehension section, you may have noticed that the passages are not necessarily intended to delight and amuse. Even if you are an avid reader, they can be very challenging because the passages are not written or chosen for clarity. Unlike newspapers and magazines, whose writers do their best to be clear and direct. The makers of the LSAT aren’t trying to sell you their passages. You … [Read more...]
Jumping from 165 to 173: The Last Mile is Always the Hardest
Getting from the 90th percentile on the LSAT to the 99th percentile is perhaps the most difficult "jump" you can make. Many high-scoring test-takers get stuck in the mid-160's, seemingly unable to move up. Why? For one thing, they probably reached their score relatively quickly - within a few months, or even less. The 150's Indeed, if you started in the mid-to-low 150's, all you needed to do is learn how to tackle the major game types, improve … [Read more...]
What’s the Difference Between LSAC’s CAS and LSDAS?
We get this question quite a bit this time of year. Is there a difference between the Law School Admission Council's CAS (Credential Assembly Service) and LSDAS (Law School Data Assembly Service)?The answer is yes. And no. LSDAS vs CAS The branch of LSAC that compiles all the elements in a law school application and sends it to each law school used to be known as LSDAS, an acronym for Law School Data Assembly Service. LSDAS was the … [Read more...]
Approaching Reading Comprehension Sections Strategically
Approaching the LSAT Strategically Series: Part I, Part II, Part III There is a fundamental truth about test takers when it comes to the LSAT: everyone is different. That is, everyone who sits down with this exam will have unique strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and ultimately, ways they can optimize their performance in every section. While that certainly affects how it is that people prepare, I think it also dictates how test … [Read more...]
Logical Reasoning Flaws in American Politics Part II
In part one of this series, we discuss the Logical Reasoning flaws that candidates during the political season help demonstrate. On the LSAT, LR flaws are a common question you will face. In this post, we consider several more examples. Causal Reasoning"I'm the most successful person ever to run for the presidency, by far." - Donald TrumpCausal reasoning flaw: assuming a causal relationship where only a correlation has been … [Read more...]
How to Be an LSAT Hero
This blog comes to you from special guest, Pamela Adewoyin, Esq. Former PowerScore student Pamela Adewoyin experienced a terrific score increase after taking a prep course. Here's her story. Putting in the Effort Pamela bounced from place to place as a child but learned to call the Bronx, New York, home. From a very early age, she knew that she wanted to be an attorney. Ambitious and dedicated, Pamela focused on her schoolwork throughout her … [Read more...]
Jail Time for Claiming Drinking Water Helps Prevent Dehydration?
In 2008, two German professors asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to approve a certain claim for use in labeling bottled water. The claim at issue was whether “regular consumption of significant amounts of water can reduce the risk of development of dehydration and of concomitant decrease of performance."The EFSA denied the request. Linking Drinking Water and Dehydration Understandably, the decision caused an uproar, especially … [Read more...]
Double Negatives and Multiple Negatives
In their creation of the LSAT, the test makers have found many ways to make Logical Reasoning questions challenging. Often the stimulus is so long or complex that it can be tough to get through. Sometimes even the question stems can be difficult to interpret. And, as you may have noticed, the writers of the test are quite adept at hiding the right answers among very appealing incorrect answer choices. Double Negatives One element that is often … [Read more...]
Is the LSAT Getting Strange…r?
Whether the test is getting more "strange," "unusual," or "weird" is a question we get on a weekly basis. It's an understandable worry! Your prep comes with the assumption that the skills the LSAT tests don't vary from one administration to another.Rest assured that they do not. Every LSAT tests your ability to:Reason with conditional statements Infer what must be true or false from a given set of rules Recognize logical … [Read more...]
7 Things People Who Prep for the LSAT Are Tired of Hearing
Statistically speaking, most of your friends aren't going to law school. For better or worse, they also know very little about the LSAT, let alone LSAT prep. Sure, they may hear you muttering something nonsensical about mauve dinosaurs, but they probably dismiss it for lunacy. That's par for the course. Why else would you go to law school in the first place?If you're taking the LSAT soon, chances are you are about to start a prep course or … [Read more...]
Logical Reasoning Flaws in American Politics Part I
If you're preparing for the LSAT, you're probably familiar with the sorts of flaws that commonly appear on the Logical Reasoning sections of the test. If not, there is an entire chapter devoted to Flaw in the Reasoning questions in the PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible. Your chances of running into a flaw question on the test is very high. Political debating season provides countless examples, as well. Source Argument“Look at that … [Read more...]