Mental Isolation I recently studied for and took the bar exam. Because I live in a rural environment, more than an hour from the nearest bar review lecture site, I decided to forego the in-person classes, and instead watched recorded lectures. I took advantage of several books that came with the program, and studied hard. This was my first time experiencing intensive study without personal interaction, and I have to admit that it drove me a … [Read more...]
Beyond “Unless”: Advanced Conditional Reasoning
It's fair to say that conditional reasoning is either the bane of your test prep, or a welcome escape from the uncertainty that plagues causal reasoning. In the first few months of test prep, you will likely see conditional reasoning everywhere: understanding conditional reasoning can easily turn into an obsession, prompting you to diagram whenever you come across any of the indicators of conditionality. The costs of this approach ultimately … [Read more...]
Conditional Reasoning on the LSAT: Do You See It Everywhere?
Many students, upon being introduced to the foundational concepts of conditional reasoning and deductive logic, begin to "see" conditionality everywhere. In a sense, it is everywhere - especially in deductive reasoning, which forms the basis for most LSAT questions. You may even find comfort in the rule-driven environment of formal, or deductive, logic. There is nothing wrong with that, per se. But you need to know when you've gone far. To … [Read more...]
The Destructive Power of Distraction
When you're in the final months of test-taking mode, you'll probably take anywhere from 10-20 timed practice tests. If done correctly, such a regimen will help improve your score. Not every score will be higher than the one before. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes, improve your stamina, and take it easy. How Interruptions Affect Us Of course, the LSAT is hard enough without the added aggravation of unavoidable distractions, … [Read more...]
Timing Strategy: Quit While the Quitting’s Good
Our inspiration for this post comes from an exceptional episode of Freakonomics Radio that counters a prevailing norm that quitting is somehow nearly always bad. The episode, The Upside of Quitting, centers on the efficiency you gain by knowing when to quit. The anti-quitting bias is one that we all tend to carry with us into the LSAT. Just like most real-world experiences we bring to the test, this bias can hurt us. Knowing when to avoid or … [Read more...]
How Are Older LSAT Scores Reported?
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]