For most people, preparing for any standardized test can be somewhat stressful. The LSAT is a very challenging test, and in a competitive field, the stakes can be high. For a lot of people, even beginning to prepare can seem daunting. With so much potentially riding on your LSAT performance, here are a few suggestions to get and stay motivated. Commiserate It can be very helpful to know that you don’t have to take on this daunting test alone. … [Read more...]
The LSAT Bibles: Do You Need the Newest Editions? Part II
In Part I of this blog, I discuss why we use cover medallions on our LSAT Bibles to indicate the year of release. The short answer is that they help students identify the most up-to-date versions and avoid accidentally buying an older version that's out of date. In this continuation, I go into each book individually and provide an overview of some of the changes over the years. Want more in-depth explanations between specific years? Here are some … [Read more...]
The Fundamentals of Prephrasing Part II
If you’ve spent much time with Logical Reasoning on the LSAT, you’ve recognized that the answer choices, right and wrong, are masterfully crafted. The test makers are unbelievably adept at disguising correct answers, and making the incorrect options look extremely attractive. Fortunately there’s a step in the question-attack process designed specifically to help you navigate through the answers: Prephrasing. Recapping Part I Since we go over … [Read more...]
Logic Games Practice Tips
When preparing for the LSAT, it's not uncommon to study long and hard. There are only so many official LSAT practice tests and there's a chance you will eventually run out. So, what do you do if you run out of Logic Games questions and still want to raise your score? With no new questions, you may worry about getting rusty and your score deteriorating. This situation comes up more frequently than you may think! Let's get into some tips on what to … [Read more...]
Have You Retaken the LSAT? Here Are Some Statistics for You
Have you ever wondered whether you should re-take the LSAT? Or how many people actually do take the LSAT more than once? Well, even if you haven’t, we’re here to provide some insight into just how many people do take the LSAT multiple times. The Numbers According to an LSAT Research Report covering the period of 2010 to 2018, the average percentage of first-time test takers was 68%. So, on average, almost 7 out of 10 test takers yearly are … [Read more...]
How Stress Can Actually Help Your Score
For the last week or so we have been posting articles about mentally and physically preparing for the upcoming LSAT. Now the day of the test is almost here, and I wanted to add a final thought about the stress that everyone faces when taking the LSAT. As you walk into the test, keep this in mind: Stress will not hurt your performance, and it can actually help. That's right, stress isn't the test-killer that many people expect it to be. In … [Read more...]
The Weekend Before the LSAT
So, you've got a test coming up on Monday. Ideally, you've already been preparing, you're in the home stretch! And we're here to help. Here are a few last-minute suggestions to make sure you're ready for test day. Relax Don’t forget to take a day off! If you don't have to work, that's all the better. You need a day for your brain to take a break and gear up for a long Monday. Avoid activities that are too mentally taxing. Yes, that includes … [Read more...]
LSAT Test Composition: How and Why Difficulty Varies
Struggling with Consistency? One question that arises frequently is, “Why am I not consistent in how I score on a certain section?” For example, a student may see his or her score in Logical Reasoning move around by a few questions with each practice test. Or, a student with consistent overall scores notices that sometimes she performs well on Reading Comprehension, other times Logical Reasoning, and other times Games. So, she ends up scoring … [Read more...]
LSAC Law Forum Etiquette
Don't know what an LSAC Law Forum is? You should! Law forums are events held in various major cities around the country where prospective law students have an opportunity to talk personally with representatives from ABA-approved law schools. Almost every ABA-approved law school sends representatives to these events, which are held in hotels and conference centers. These reps have information and documentation about their schools, and are also … [Read more...]
LSAT Private Tutoring: In-Person vs. Live Online
When searching for LSAT private tutoring these days, students have a choice: they can either choose to meet their LSAT tutor in person (in the real world!), or they can choose to meet their tutor online, using an e-learning platform. But, how are the two approaches different, and which is the best approach for you? The answer depends on several factors, so let's examine some of the key elements about both forms of tutoring: The Teaching … [Read more...]
Unusual Rules in LSAT Logic Games: Part II
This is Part II of our blog series covering the emerging trend of making you labor over strangely-worded or confusing rules in LSAT Logic Games. You can read the first part of the blog here. It’s worth repeating that none these rules can be described as ambiguous, i.e. none of them are open to multiple interpretations. Indeed, each rule entails a concrete and definitive outcome.In the second part of this blog series, we will analyze a … [Read more...]
The Boy and the Rocks: An LSAT Allegory
Picking up Rocks Once there was a young boy who lived in the country. Like with all young boys who live in the country, there were always chores to do. This boy lived on a farm with rocky soil, and one day his father told him to go pick up rocks until their wagon was full. Being nine years old, the boy knew that this impossible task would be the end of him.First, the boy pulled on his boots, because that's what you wear when you do chores on … [Read more...]
Conditional Reasoning Redux: The Only Cheat Sheet You Need on the LSAT
First, a disclaimer. You cannot have a cheat sheet when taking the LSAT. Don't even think about it. But, if you follow the advice below, you wouldn't need to. This cheat sheet is for those of you who struggle with the myriad of ways in which the LSAT conveys conditional relationships. We feel your pain! It sucks encountering 20 different ways of saying the same thing. Then again, that's what makes natural language different from coding. A Word … [Read more...]
LSAT Private Tutoring: Pros and Cons
LSAT tutoring shouldn't be like the picture above, where some drill sergeant yells at you! Instead, private tutoring should provide a warm and friendly learning experience, where you feel comfortable being as honest as possible, and you trust your tutor completely. At its best, private LSAT tutoring provides a fluid and seamless learning environment, where the tutor knows how you learn best, what you need to improve upon, and how to get you there … [Read more...]