LSAT Logical Reasoning Tips and Tricks

or...How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the LSAT (Part 2 of 3)

Last week, I showed you how to answer Logic Games questions in my post on Logic Games tips and tricks. This week, I'll demonstrate the best ways to answer common Logical Reasoning questions. Next week, I'll teach you how to prepare for Reading Comprehension.

First, why is Logical Reasoning learnable, and even (sometimes) fun? Before you start throwing your shoes, let me explain.

After doing a few sections of Logical Reasoning, you may feel like nuclear physics is an easier career than law. However, we hear flawed arguments all the time. I'm not talking about the ones you hear from your significant other, your parents, or your kids - I'm talking about advertising.

Imagine yourself reading the following argument on test day, and think about how you'd analyze it.

Stimulus:
"Advertisement: Purell hand sanitizer kills 99% of common disease-causing germs. Therefore, your health is in good hands when you use it."

A real LSAT question wouldn't use such a lame pun, but otherwise, I've based this on a real Logical Reasoning stimulus.

Purell may want you to believe their product will make you safe. My first question (and yours, too, I hope) is, "What about the other 1% of disease-causing germs (DCG)?" If any germs get us, it'll probably be those. This leads us to...

5 reasons this advertisement is flawed:

1. The 99% of common DCG Purell kills are the weakest 99%. The other 1% were too strong or difficult to kill. What I really need is a product to fight that 1%.

2. If enough other people buy and use Purell, then I don't need to worry about those 99% of common DCG. Purell's customers, and all the other purchasers of antibacterial products are taking care of the problem for me. I can sit back and relax (and be a "free rider"). Others will pay to eliminate the problem for me.

3. The advertisement fails to specify if it kills 99% of all common DCG or 99% of types of common DCG.

4. Is it worth bothering to get a product that kills common DCG? My body's probably encountered most common DCG - it has antibodies against them. If I've made it this far without the sanitizer, I don't need to worry about them. I need a product to fight uncommon DCG - they may be the greater threat.

5. I'm starting to sound like the paranoid scientist in a bad sci-fi flick, but hear me out on this last point. If everyone starts using a product that kills 99% of the common DCG, the 1% of common DCG will grow in number to replace the ones killed by the sanitizer. We'll have a growing army of DCG this sanitizer can't kill.

The previous argument should please health nuts concerned about worst-case scenarios, so here's one for smokers:

Stimulus:
"Joe developed cancer, and he smoked for many years. Therefore, smoking led to his cancer."

While this is possible, it's not certain. Correlation does not prove causation. The argument can be supported by 2 types of information:

1. Dismissers defend against possible alternative explanations.

Examples:

- Joe does not live in LA, a city known for its cancer-causing smog.
- Joe lives in the mountains, where there is little air pollution.
- Joe only eats organic produce, so he is exposed to very few pesticides.
- Joe does not work in a nuclear power plant.

2. Supporters strengthen the evidence or provide new evidence.

Examples:

- Studies show smokers have much higher cancer rates than the general public.
- Laboratory tests show cigarettes contain more carcinogens than anything else, ever.
- Smoking is the only cause of cancer.

(The LSAT is unlikely to include statements as extreme as some of the ones above, but see the sample question stem below. The question says "if true," so the answer choice can be unrealistic. Put aside your preconceptions.)

Any of the dismissers and supporters I listed above could be the correct answer choice to the following:

Question stem:
"Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?"

You don't know if you're dealing with a dismisser or a supporter until you look at the answer choices.

Why? Because the correct answer doesn't need to be true for the argument to work. It just helps the argument if it is.

When it's a "Strengthen EXCEPT" question, 4 answer choices strengthen the argument, and 1 does not (it weakens OR has no effect). In these questions, it's worth trying to predict the strengtheners before looking at the answer choices - this helps you eliminate them more quickly.

If the question were "Which of the following assumptions does the argument depend upon?", it's a "necessary assumption" question, which is completely different.

Another example of an argument to illustrate how these question-types differ:

Stimulus:
"Child: Mommy, please let me play outside - I finished all my homework!"
(Argument: "Finish homework -> Play outside")

Question stem:
"Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?"

Dismisser:
"The child has been well-behaved all day."

Supporter:
"Leading experts argue children need fresh air every day."

What if it were a principle question? These can function as strengthen questions, depending upon the stem.

Question stem:
"Which one of the following principles, if valid, would most help to justify the argument's conclusion?"

Principle:
"Children who perform their duties deserve to be rewarded."

Next week - why Reading Comprehension is learnable. If you just can't wait, see 10 Strategies for LSAT Reading Comprehension for a previous post I wrote about Reading Comp.

Continue Reading...»

Law School Admission Council | Senior Test Specialist

Who exactly are the people who make the LSAT, and how do they think? What's going through their minds as they write it?

To answer these questions, I found a survey completed by Stephen W. Luebke, a Senior Test Specialist (formerly Director of Test Development), at the Law School Admission Council.

These excerpts will tell you about his responsibilities and background:

Job Title and Principal Duties:

Director of Test Development. Develop test questions and test forms for the Law School Admission Test, a major standardized admissions test required for applicants to most U.S. and Canadian law schools. Acquire test questions. Review, revise, rewrite, edit, and process test questions. Assemble and review test forms. Review and reply to challenges to test questions. Monitor statistical performance of test questions. Hire and oversee staff doing similar work. Participate in test-related research and in test planning and development with psychometricians.


Non-philosophical Background Pertinent to Your Job:

Some knowledge of statistics or educational measurement is useful in this job, but not necessary -- the necessary knowledge can be acquired on the job. I did some graduate course work in psychometrics while working.


How You Obtained Your Job:

I conducted a search for "education-related" jobs for which my graduate study and teaching experience provided an appropriate background. I had held several such positions since leaving teaching. I found an ad for a position at LSAC in the Chronicle for Higher Education. The initial position involved reviewing reading passages and handling copyright issues, but I was quickly moved into a management position and then became director of Test Development. After some reorganization my position became Senior Test Specialist.


Personal Characteristics and Philosophical Skills You Use in Your Present Position:

Reviewing, revising, and editing test questions draw heavily on the analytical skills taught in analytic philosophy -- close reading and analysis of texts, careful drawing of implications, identifying ambiguities and category mistakes. Since much of the LSAT consists of reasoning questions, my specific training in logic and informal logic was directly applicable, along with the general philosophical skill of argument analysis. Working with reading comprehension questions calls upon philosophical skill in understanding and analyzing texts. Other skills used include the ability to see multiple readings and multiple sides of an argument and a sensitivity to issues of fairness and the concerns of various population groups. Writing and editing skills and experience writing questions for classroom tests -- particularly multiple-choice questions -- are directly applicable to writing and revising questions, although for high-stakes admissions tests the standards are much higher than those usually applied in classroom tests. The job draws so heavily and directly on philosophical skills and training that one of my colleagues likes to call what we do "applied philosophy."


Comments:

Training in analytic philosophy, informal logic, and philosophy of language seem most directly applicable to reasoning testing. The major tasks in reviewing test questions are to make sure that they are clear and unambiguous, test for the appropriate skill, and have one and only one best answer. The job is intellectually challenging and many interesting philosophical questions arise in reviewing test questions.

Continue Reading...»

Free LSAT PrepTest PDFs Questions

There are currently over 60 official LSAT PrepTests. Very few people need, or want, to review all of them.

1 of these is a free LSAT PDF for download.

You can see a big list of all LSAT PrepTests by both number and date, as well as the books containing every LSAT PrepTest.

Also, please see my previous post with reviews of the best LSAT prep books for more info on the various books containing LSAT PrepTests.

Among other things, the below contains some details on the various books containing older LSAT PrepTests.

PrepTests 1-60 = 60
Some of the older PrepTests are difficult to get. I linked and reviewed the easy-to-get ones in Best LSAT Prep Books.

Official LSAT TriplePrep, Volume 1 (out-of-print, available used) contains PrepTests 2 (October 1991), 4 (February 1992), and 5 (June 1992). Also try this and this to get it on Amazon.

Official LSAT TriplePrep, Volume 2 (out-of-print, available used) contains PrepTests 3 (December 1991), 6 (October 1992), and 7 (February 1993). Also try this, this, and this to get it on Amazon.

Official LSAT TriplePrep, Vol.3 (out-of-print, available used) contains PrepTests 8, 9, and 10.

Kaplan LSAT Endurance Practice book contains PrepTest 1 (June 1991) and PrepTest 8 (June 1993). PrepTest 8 is a separate exam in full (all 4 sections are back to back). However, PrepTest 1's 4 sections are spread throughout the book to serve as the "experimental section" for other exams in the book. (Just look at the end of each exam and it will tell you where the experimental is taken from - in 4 of the exams, it will be a section from PrepTest 1). This book is normally only available through the Kaplan LSAT course, but many copies in perfect condition are sold online by former students.

Grouped by Game Type contains every Logic Game in PrepTests 1-20.

Grouped by Question Type contains every Logical Reasoning question in PrepTests 1-20.

Grouped by Passage Type contains every Reading Comprehension Passage in PrepTests 1-20


Free Sample June 2007 PrepTest (PDF) = 1

Official LSAT PrepTest With Explanations (out of print - available used) = 1
Fun LSAT trivia: This is the stolen February 1997 LSAT exam.

The Official LSAT SuperPrep (PrepTests A, B, and C) = 3
This book contains the previously-undisclosed February 1996, February 1999, and February 2000 exams. It explains all answer choices.

Continue Reading...»

Free LSAT Question of the Day by Phone, Email, or RSS

This week, I started posting LSAT explanations on Twitter. I'll answer a Logical Reasoning question every weekday, starting with Section 2 of the June 2007 LSAT. I'll still keep posting here, of course. Don't worry!

Exams explained by @LSATBlog:

June 2007 LSAT - unnumbered (PDF)


In this post, I'll show you how to subscribe via text message, email, or RSS.

Because Twitter limits all messages to 140 characters, I'll use "text-speak" when necessary. I promise never to use "LOL." Ever.

To receive LSAT explanations on your cell phone:

1. Create a Twitter account.
2. Add your cell phone number.
3. "Follow" LSATBlog.


To receive LSAT explanations in your email:

If you use Microsoft Outlook for your email, you can use OutTwit to receive the explanations via email after following steps 1 and 3 above.


Receive LSAT explanations via RSS instead.

I'd love to post the relevant questions along with the explanations, but it would take several "tweets" to send even one Logical Reasoning question because of the 140-character limit.

Print out the June 2007 LSAT and keep it nearby so you can follow along with the explanations each day. ttys!

(Please also see my Daily LSAT Question post for more details.)

Continue Reading...»

LSAT Logic Games Tips and Tricks

or...How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the LSAT (Part 1 of 3)

The LSAT is all bark and no bite. Yes, I know it seems scary and difficult, but it's not that tough. It's a test of illogic. Treat it like a gullible younger brother who believes the unjustified claims of every TV commercial he sees on Nickelodeon.

The LSAT is the child whose mind has been made into mush by years of Saturday morning cartoons. He wants breakfast cereals, action figures, and video games. He just doesn't realize the commercials' evidence (appeals to authority, popularity, emotion, etc.) rarely justifies the conclusion (their product or service is worth your $ and will make you happy).

In this post, I'll teach you to turn the tables on the LSAT's Logic Games (Analytical Reasoning) section by spotting some of its tricks. Next week, I'll demonstrate how to ace Logical Reasoning, and I'll do the same for Reading Comprehension in the following week.

Logic Games

Logic Games aren't much different from crossword puzzles and sudoku. In fact, they're easier. Why? Because they're incredibly predictable, and you already know everything you need to solve them. For more on this, see my post on Logic Games that repeated.

You can also predict what will happen within games. The following is based on PrepTest 41, Game 2 and the 1973 movie "The Sting."

1. The Players: Night's All Right, Question Man, Rhino Rock, Sammy (NQRS) playing Flute, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboard (FGHK)

2. The Set-Up: The rule regarding the placement of RKN, combined with the conditional rules (Sk --> Rh and Qk --> Nf), tells us it's worth it to create 4 templates representing ALL of the game's possibilities.

3. The Hook: Most games start with a general acceptability question: "Which one of the following could be an accurate matching" / ordering / grouping of the variables?

4. The Tale: "Which one of the following could be true?" In other games, we might have an "if" question: "If S is placed 4th, which one of the following could be true?

5. The Wire: The game has a few more questions of these types, possibly with a "cannot be true" or "except" question thrown in (more on this below).

6. The Shut-Out: Occasionally, we'll have a harder question towards the end: "Which one of the following, if true, would allow us to completely determine the ordering / grouping of the variables?" These often require drawing a few scenarios. We don't have one of these in this game.

7. The Sting: Acing the Logic Games section is like pulling off a con. It ends with you getting into law school.

These are the only types of questions you're likely to see in Logic Games. Do enough of them, and you'll have no surprises on test day.

Before I end this post, 2 more tips:

1. Ordering within questions

As you read answer choices from "A" to "E," letters are often listed in alphabetical (or reverse alphabetical) order.

2. Immediately precedes and immediately follows

PrepTest 41, Game 2, Question 10 asks:
Which one of the following CANNOT be true of F? That it:

A) immediately precedes Q
B) immediately follows Q
C) immediately precedes R
D) immediately follows N
E) immediately follows S

The LSAT is trying to annoy you to death here, just like a younger brother might. There's a deliberate lack of a pattern here: precedes, follows, precedes, follows, follows.

While you can learn to love the LSAT for its childish habits, don't let that stop you from giving it a wedgie or half-Nelson when Mom isn't looking.

We can symbolize the answer choices like so, starting with the 2 "precedes" choices and moving on to the 3 "follows" choices:

A) immediately precedes Q - FQ
B) immediately follows Q - QF
C) immediately precedes R - FR
D) immediately follows N - NF
E) immediately follows S - SF

Now, you can quickly scan through the 4 templates you created earlier (in "The Set-Up"). The LSAT didn't really expect you to waste your time reading through the choices over and over, did it?

(For more Logic Games fun, see 5 Ways to Solve Logic Games in Under Seven Minutes.)

Continue Reading...»

Does the LSAT Repeat Previous Logic Games Questions?

Does the LSAT repeat questions from previous tests?

Yes and no. You will not see questions repeated word-for-word. That would be too easy. However, you may see games that feature extremely similar methods of reasoning - sometimes only with small changes to the rules and variables. Although the games aren't identical, they're extremely similar.

You know you've been tutoring the LSAT for too long when you notice these things.

In horror movies, the teenagers are frightened (understandably) when their enemy rises from the dead. Luckily, the LSAT is not a horror movie. If you're lucky enough to recognize your enemy on test day, you'll have the tools to defeat it.

(For all you new folks, PrepTests are previously-administered LSAT exams. See LSAT prep book recommendations for more info. See LSAT PrepTests and Date Administered to convert PrepTest # to month and year.)

These Logic Games just wouldn't die...

1. SuperPrep B, Game 2 (Trees in a park: firs, laurels, maples, oaks, pines, spruces, yews)
Preptest 33, Game 2 (Birds in a forest: grosbeak, harrier, jay, martin, shrike, wren)
PrepTest 36, Game 1 (Fruit stand carries: figs, kiwis, oranges, pears, tangerines, watermelons)
PrepTest 45, Game 3 (Friends in photo album: Raimundo, Selma, Ty, Umiko, Wendy, Yakira, Zack)
PrepTest 58, Game 2 (Parents' volunteer group: Felicia, Leah, Masatomo, Rochelle, Salman, Terry, Veena)
LSAT Blog Logic Game (Legislator votes on bills: defense, environment, free trade, gun control, health care, immigration, and judicial activism)

Type: Grouping: In-and-Out / Selection


2. PrepTest 26, Game 1 (Physics students assigned to laboratory benches)
PrepTest 36, Game 4 (Pilots and co-pilots assigned to flights)

Type: Advanced Linear


3. PrepTest 13, Game 3 (Art teacher schedules lectures: fresco, history, lithography, naturalism, oils, pastels, sculpture, watercolors)
PrepTest 32, Game 1 (Students in a seminar give oral reports in morning or afternoon)

Type: Grouping/Linear Combination


4. PrepTest 35, Game 2 (New cars with options: power windows, leather, sunroof)
PrepTest 47, Game 3 (Record stores in Crescentville carry folk, jazz, opera, rock)
PrepTest 48, Game 3 (Technicians repair machines: radios, televisions, VCRs)
LSAT Blog Logic Game (Seven Hindu deities answer prayers: Arjun, Bobby, Jason, Puja)

Type: Grouping: Matching with Numerical Distribution (not 1-to-1)


5. PrepTest 36, Game 2 (Radio calls are live or taped from Vancouver, Seattle, Kelowna)
PrepTest 46, Game 3 (Thunderstorm drops only rain or both hail and rain over 5 towns)

Type: Advanced Linear


6. PrepTest 37, Game 2 (Trucks arrive at a warehouse and are green or red)
PrepTest 39, Game 3 (Sam, Theo, Uma, Will, Zoe are left-handed or right-handed)
PrepTest 51, Game 3 (Guitarist's demo CD, rock classics and new compositions)
PrepTest 53, Game 3 (Detectives question suspects about burglaries, confess, not confess)

Type: Advanced Linear


7. PrepTest 51, Game 4 (Courier delivers eight parcels)
PrepTest 52, Game 1 (Workers at a water treatment plant open eight valves)

Type: Pure Sequencing


Bonus:

8. Preptest 53, Game 4 (Debate teams from Gillom High and Hilltop High)
PrepTest 56, Game 4 (Executives visit manufacturing plants: Farmington, Homestead, Morningside)

Type: Advanced Linear

Which games have you seen repeated on PrepTests?

Continue Reading...»

LSAT Proctors, Test Center Reviews, and Test-Taking Strategies

What will you do if the LSAT proctor at your test center doesn't give you enough time on test day? How will you deal with the guy who sniffles every 30 seconds? While this isn't as tough as trying to do a Rubik's Cube in the middle of a war zone, it can feel that way. When I took the LSAT, the proctors circled us like vultures. I wanted to reach into my clear plastic bag and toss them a sandwich so they'd leave me alone.

You're about to find out how to deal with less-than-ideal LSAT proctors and test centers, how to avoid them, and how to prepare for worst-case test day scenarios.

The LSAT Proctor:

If your LSAT proctor cuts you short on time, notify him or her immediately. It can't hurt to complain - it can only help. Getting back even 40-45 seconds to which you are entitled is significant because it can net you another question or two. LSAC's policy is to allow you to work on relevant sections after you complete section 5 for the amount of time you were shorted. Don't be shy - be assertive. You DO want to be a lawyer, right?

However, even if your proctor doesn't follow this procedure and will not listen to your complaints, obey all instructions anyway. Don't become overly argumentative, and don't cause a scene. Complete the writing section and follow all instructions - otherwise, your score may be invalidated and a mark might be placed in your file. Notify LSAC immediately after the exam of what happened. Once you're outside the test center, ask the other test-takers to do the same. Filing a report can't hurt you, so do what you can.


LSAT Test Center Reviews and LSAT Registration:

Of course, you probably want to avoid test centers like the ones mentioned above. Fortunately, other students have posted their LSAT test center reviews, so keep them in mind when you register for the LSAT, if you haven't done so already. If you know you'll be taking it on a certain date, register now. The best test centers get filled up quickly.


Test-Taking Strategies:

-Mark your answer sheet and bubble at the 5-minute warning.

The 1st page of each section lists the # of questions in the section. Make a tiny line on your answer sheet under that number. This will help you save time and prevent you from mis-bubbling. Tie up loose ends on your answer sheet when the proctor announces there are only 5 minutes left. This is especially important in case the LSAT proctor cuts your time short, which occasionally happens. You also won't have to watch the clock every few seconds at the end of the section.


-Take some practice exams under actual LSAT conditions.

-Noise

Especially in winter months, some of the other test-takers might be sick. Bring tissues and cough drops to keep them quiet. However, you don't know if this will be enough, and there might be other noises around you. For this reason, take practice LSAT exams in various public places like coffee shops or libraries. If you can take the LSAT with people around you, you can take it anywhere. Remember, earplugs are not permitted on test day.

-Motion

The proctors may walk around the room throughout the course of the exam and keep a close eye on you. The other test-takers might highlight, underline, and erase excessively. Again, this means you should take the LSAT in places you would expect to be much worse than your test center.

-Pacing

Many students flip out when they see others turn the page before they do. They think, "I'm falling behind already. I'd better skip these questions and move on." Remember the other test-takers may have a completely different pacing strategy than you do, or maybe they just don't know what they're doing.

Stay focused on your pacing strategy, and remain confident in your techniques. Do some practice exams with a friend. This will help you get used to being around people who write or turn pages faster than you. Have a friend proctor a practice LSAT so you'll get used to having someone else keep time.

Continue Reading...»

Law School Admissions Expert | Interview

I recently interviewed Ann Levine, Esq., a law school admission consultant, via email. Our discussion follows.

1. Many applicants take the February LSAT with the intention of starting law school that fall. At which law schools is applying this late a significant disadvantage, and at which is it okay?

The answer is simple; if your score is in the 75th percentile for that school, then it’s probably ok to apply that late in the game. But it’s a terrible time to try to be admitted to a reach school.


2. In your experience as well as that of your colleagues over the years, to what degree is the LSAT Writing Sample a factor in the admissions process?

If, for any reason, a law school suspects you did not write your personal statement then it will look at your writing sample closely. For example, if an applicant received an undergraduate degree in a foreign country (non-English speaking) and the personal statement is flawless, then the writing sample will be a big factor.


3. What are some of the most common / funniest mistakes you've seen in students' applications?

None that are “funny” but many that are pathetic, like the wrong school being mentioned in a personal statement, confusing the law school with another of a similar name (Case Western versus California Western, NYU versus NYLS), and listing high school honors on the application. Those things will always get my eyes rolling.


Ann Levine, Esq., a law school admission consultant, formerly served as Director of Admissions for two ABA law schools. Since opening Law School Expert in 2004, she has helped 1,000+ law school applicants through the admission process as The Secret Weapon of Law School Applicants Nationwide. Almost 100,000 people read her law school advice blog in 2008.

Continue Reading...»

Why You Can't Improve Your LSAT Score

Everyone wants to get into a top law school, but how many people actually do?

Do the students at Harvard Law, Yale Law, and Stanford Law have superior brainpower that allows them to achieve what you can't?

Maybe law school is just a dream that crosses your mind every once in a while, but you believe everyone admitted to top law schools is lucky. This would be a great excuse to avoid studying - if it were true.

The truth is, you don't need to be a genius to get into law school. The "secret" is obvious:

Get an early start on your LSAT preparation.

One of my students was the kind of guy who sits around and makes excuses. He said the LSAT was too hard, that none of the techniques out there would work for him, and that he had no time to study. Instead, he wasted hours each day complaining and worrying instead of studying.

Finally, after a lot of pushing and prodding, I got him to actually sit down and go through some problems with me. We set a schedule and goals for each week until the LSAT, and despite his wildest expectations, he developed an appreciation for the exam. Yes, that's right. He actually started to like the LSAT, and he achieved a 175 on test day. He's now at Yale Law School.

Procrastination can eat you alive if you let it. There's no "perfect day" to begin studying. If you want to make your dream of law school come true, today is the best day to start your LSAT preparation. Here are the schedules I posted last week for the February 2009 LSAT and June 2009 LSAT to help you get started. Of course, I'm always available to help via email and phone (or in-person if you're in NYC).

What helps you stay motivated to achieve your goals?

Continue Reading...»

10 Hardest LSAT Logic Games List

Which Logic Games do you think are the most difficult?

Here are 10 of the most difficult Logic Games. I've included classifications of each game after the game's topic. (Get the below LSAT PrepTests here.) Enjoy!

1. PrepTest 23 (October 1997), Game 2 - Applicants being interviewed and hired (Combination: Grouping: Selection and Grouping: Splitting)

2. PrepTest 24 (December 1997), Game 3 - Juarez and Rosenberg review introductory and advanced textbooks

3. PrepTest 25 (June 1998), Game 2 - Tourists and Guides (Grouping: Matching)

4. PrepTest 27 (December 1998), Game 2 - Lizards and snakes in a reptile house (Combination: Linear and Grouping: Matching)

5. PrepTest 31 (June 2000), Game 2 - Music store's new and used CDs (Grouping: Selection / In and Out)

6. PrepTest 33 (December 2000), Game 3 - Stones: rubies, sapphires, topazes (Grouping: Selection / In and Out)

7. PrepTest 34 (June 2001), Game 4 - Randsborough/Souderton Clinics (Grouping: Splitting)

8. PrepTest 36 (December 2001), Game 3 - Window and aisle seats on a bus (Advanced Linear)

9. PrepTest 40 (June 2003), Game 3 - Flight connections on Zephyr Airlines: Honolulu, Montreal, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver (Grouping: Mapping)

10. PrepTest 57 (June 2009), Game 3 - Dinosaurs: iguanadon, lambeosaur, plateosaur, stegosaur, tyrannosaur, ultrasaur, velociraptor and Colors: green, mauve, red, yellow (Combination of Grouping: Selection / In-and-Out and Grouping: Matching).
Check out my Dinosaur LSAT Logic Game Explanation.


Also see: 5 Hardest LSAT Logical Reasoning Questions, Difficult LSAT Logical Reasoning Questions, and 5 Hardest LSAT Reading Comprehension Passages.

Continue Reading...»

September 2009 LSAT | Study Schedule | Questions and Answers

Update: Since the September 2009 LSAT is no longer something people are preparing for (I hope), it now makes the most sense to include a bunch of relevant links for those of you who are coming across this now.

Sample LSAT Study Schedules / Plans

Best LSAT Prep Books

You can see some questions and answers below in the comments.

Photo by lwr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Continue Reading...»

June 2009 LSAT | Study Schedule | Questions and Answers

Update: Since the June 2009 LSAT is no longer something people are preparing for (I hope), it now makes the most sense to include a bunch of relevant links for those of you who are coming across this now.

Sample LSAT Study Schedules / Plans

Best LSAT Prep Books

You can see some questions and answers below in the comments.

Photo by lwr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Continue Reading...»

February 2009 LSAT | Study Schedule | Questions and Answers

Update: Since the February 2009 LSAT is no longer something people are preparing for (I hope), it now makes the most sense to include a bunch of relevant links for those of you who are coming across this now.

Sample LSAT Study Schedules / Plans

Best LSAT Prep Books

You can see some questions and answers below in the comments.

Photo by lwr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Continue Reading...»

Law School Admissions | Book Recommendations

Here are some books on law school admissions worth checking out.

A Comprehensive Guide to the Law School Personal Statement

This concise 30-page guide to the personal statement gives tips on conceptualizing, planning, writing, and editing the law school personal statement.



A Guide to Optional Essays and Addenda and A Guide to Law School Recommendations

Quick-reference guides on these crucial aspects of the law school application process.




Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold

This excellent 374-page law school guide contains the thoughts of a lawyer/author on getting into law school and succeeding once you get there.




The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions

See my interview with Anna Ivey for more information.





The Law School Admission Game

See my interview with Ann Levine for more information.






How To Get Into The Top Law Schools

Comprehensive book that will help you with every aspect of the law school admissions process. It's full of useful tips about how to stand apart from the crowd and get yourself noticed. It includes several quotes from admissions officers at top schools, and it even has a chapter about how to decide if law school is right for you. It's 608 pages long!

Note: that this book is mainly written for students applying to the top schools, so some applicants may not find every chapter useful.



55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays: What Worked for Them Can Help You Get Into the Law School of Your Choice

Editors at the Harvard Crimson analyze accepted students' personal statements to show you why each student was accepted.

Continue Reading...»

How to Study for a Retake (or...

What to Do When You Run Out of PrepTests)

Someone recently asked me, "What should you do if you have used a lot of your LSAT material already but need to retake?"

Here are 7 tips for anyone in this common situation:

1. Redo practice tests.

Even if you've done every PrepTest (you probably haven't), you won't remember every question. The purpose of doing practice tests is to analyze the logic of each argument or game, so make sure you actually think through each question, even if you know you've done it before. Soon enough, the right answers to each question will seem obvious even if you've never seen the question before.


2. Avoid fake practice tests like the plague.

They're full of errors and not similar enough to real PrepTests. You're better off redoing old PrepTests than spending time with bad materials. Check out my LSAT retake study schedules (scroll down) for tips on how to prepare for your retake.


3. Analyze your current performance on practice tests.

Save every PrepTest answer sheet from the first time. After a few months, retake these PrepTests and compare your performance between the 1st and 2nd times. If you answered the same question incorrectly both times, spend several minutes figuring out the reason.

Keep track of all your mistakes by making a big list with the PrepTest #, Section #, and Question #. Make two columns: one for every serious mistake and one for every stupid mistake. Don't ignore stupid mistakes - they cost as many points as serious ones, and you can decrease the number of stupid mistakes you make.


4. Create strategies based on patterns in your performance.

Figure out the reason you consistently answer certain types of questions incorrectly. Even if you say you won't make the same mistake again, this alone won't prevent you from doing it the 2nd (or 3rd, 4th, or 5th) time.


5. Explain LSAT questions to a friend.

This will help you gain a fresh and concrete understanding of the arguments.


6. Create your own LSAT-style Logic Games.

This jazzes things up and indulges your creative side. More importantly, it allows you to understand their structure. Spend a lot of time creating the incorrect answers. LSAC has a consistent strategy for making wrong answers - each one is wrong for a specific reason.

By making your own Logic Games, you will begin to understand these reasons. Consider writing your own Logical Reasoning questions, too.

(Send in your LSAT-style Logic Games! I'll publish them here and write explanations for them.)


7. Try for perfection on each PrepTest.

Allow yourself to puzzle over every question you answer incorrectly. Make sure that you fully understand why the correct answer is correct and why that tempting, but incorrect, answer choice is incorrect.

***

Also see my LSAT Retake Study Schedules.

Continue Reading...»