There are many excellent resources that discuss how to review LSAT questions in general, but few discuss the best ways to specifically review Reading Comprehension questions. It can be tough to review a full passage and 5 to 8 questions, so let’s discuss what you should be doing.Understand the Passage This may seem rather obvious, but it’s often an overlooked part of Reading Comprehension review. Go back and re-read the passage, and as you … [Read more...]
Reading Comprehension Webinar: Skills & Diagnostic Tests
Do you spend too much time reading? Fail to absorb enough information about the structure of the passage? Or is it that you go too slowly in the questions? Dave and Jon explore these common problems and teach you how to overcome them. They also showcase how to make this often-loathed section actually fun. Below is the recording for a webinar from Dave Killoran and Jon Denning on the best way to analyze your strengths and weaknesses in Reading … [Read more...]
Digital LSAT Question Collections Now Available!
When the digital format of the LSAT was introduced in July, we knew that students would need new preparation tools for this massive change. So, in June we introduced our Digital Platform. This allowed our students to study with the same tools and interface the actual test uses. Earlier this fall we opened up that interface to all students and gave them the opportunity to work with the interface by buying full tests or individual sections. Now, in … [Read more...]
Killer RC: The Hardest LSAT Reading Comprehension Passages of All Time
Students studying Reading Comprehension passages often want to see the hardest passages in LSAT history. To that end, here is a list of the hardest Reading Comprehension passages of all time, in chronological order. It is accompanied by our at-times jesting commentary. Although we can no longer offer direct downloads of the games due to LSAC rules, this publication identifier link will tell you where to find them. Want to try them all? We've … [Read more...]
Reading Comprehension a Total Drag? Find a Study Buddy!
The LSAT can be a daunting experience for anyone starting out their preparation. And one particular area that a number of students will struggle with is the Reading Comprehension section. After all, most people taking this test are collegiate-level students who are initially confident in their abilities as readers. As such, they should be regular perusers of periodicals such as The Economist, Scientific American, The New Yorker and National … [Read more...]
Note-Taking Reading Comprehension: Mark Up Your Map
Taking notes on Reading Comp passages can be a challenge for many students, especially because RC on the LSAT is so unlike RC on other standardized tests. Most students either forego note-taking altogether in favor of trying to “just get it”. Or else they go crazy underlining everything they think might be important somehow.Neither of these strategies lends itself to the evidence-based approach you should take to answer the questions. … [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. More specifically, he wanted to know whether he should apply the lessons from the Logical Reasoning Bible to the Reading Comp section of the test. This is an interesting question and one that we’ve heard before from students seeking to clarify the relationship and distinctions between the various sections of the … [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...]
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...]
Staying Focused During Reading Comprehension
Do you have trouble staying focused in Reading Comprehension? It's the one section on the test that is notoriously difficult to improve on. In this Forum post, our resident LSAT expert and content developer Nikki Siclunov discusses strategies for staying actively engaged with the text. If you've ever "zoned out" in RC, this post is for you.Here's a quick preview. Make sure to check out the full thread to read the entire explanation … [Read more...]
How to Guess Like a Pro on the LSAT Part III: Reading Comprehension
If you're going to be guessing on any LSAT questions, it will probably be on Reading Comprehension questions. Why? Because there are more questions in the Reading Comprehension section (27-28) than in any other section of the test. Moreover, it's no secret that the complexity of the passages you will be dealing with has increased over the years, with some of the latest RC sections bordering on brutal.While there is no penalty for guessing, … [Read more...]
Main Point Questions on the LSAT
If you've ever taken a practice LSAT, you've seen at least a few Main Point questions. They often accompany Reading Comprehension passages, and they appear in the Logical Reasoning sections of the test as well. Regardless of the context, the ability to recognize an author's main point is a crucial part of understanding any stimulus or passage. The right approach is vital if you want to attack Main Point questions effectively and … [Read more...]
Passage Diagramming and Notation on the Reading Comprehension Section
Diagramming and notation can play a vital role in a strong performance on the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT. The ideal approach to effectively breaking down the passages, however, can be different for each student. Unlike Logic Games, when it comes to Reading Comprehension passages there is no single best way to diagram or notate. There are, however, several diagramming options from which to choose. Basic Underlining This is the … [Read more...]
Reading Comprehension on the LSAT: Overload by Design
The LSAT's Reading Comprehension passages are typically dense and convoluted. Clearly, it's not lazy summer beach reading. But what is the reason behind the design? Reading vs. Reading Comprehension When we read a passage, we're performing several mental processes all at once. For example, as we read a sentence, we identify individual words and combine them into phrases and sentences. An experienced and skilled reader, such as a law school … [Read more...]