LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

7 habits of top LSAT scorers (Logical Reasoning edition)

Everyone loves lists. Look around the internet and you’ll find 10 Ways To Keep Your Skin Clear and 5 Places You’re Most Likely To See A Bigfoot (I hear Oregon has them all over the place).

There’s a reason for that, though. Lists help us organize what’s important and puts things in an easy-to-understand format.

So I’m embracing the list trend and giving you seven habits that will strengthen your understanding of Logical Reasoning questions and in turn increase that LSAT score!

Here we go:

OMFG *SEVEN* Weird Tricks to Help You Ace Logical Reasoning in Under 7 Seconds! OMFG

(just kidding, that's not actually the title)

It's actually 7 habits of top scorers.

Anyway, there you have it!

Think of these habits as tools. The more tools you put in your “LSAT Toolbox,” the more equipped you’ll be when test day rolls around.

Your LSAT Guide,
Steve

P.S. Questions? Comments? Concerns? I’d love to hear your thoughts on these seven habits and anything else related to Logical Reasoning problems. So don’t be shy and drop me a line!

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. Logical Reasoning Explanations
The explanations that should have come with the LSAT. These don't just fall back on "out of scope," but actually tell you why the wrong answers are wrong, why the right answers are right, and the easiest way to get the correct answer.

3. Logical Reasoning Cheat Sheet
Based on what I'd typically do in college: read what the professor emphasized and condense it all onto a single piece of paper. It gave me a quick reference, making things a lot less threatening and a lot more manageable.

Listing the LSAT's major flaws

Today, we’re talking about logical flaws and fallacies.

Below you’ll find a link to an article I wrote that lists out all the logical flaws and fallacies you’re likely to find as part of your LSAT prep.

Even if you think you know all of them, they’re good to brush up on because there are a LOT. #24 is my favorite, because it sounds like it could be a good cocktail.

*** LSAT Logical Reasoning Flaws, Fallacies List ***

Not only is this great for LSAT prep, but they're also great to know for arguing with trolls and anyone else who's wrong on the Internet.

Have a good one!

-LSAT Steve

P.S. If any of these are giving you trouble, don’t be shy - let me know! If a bunch of people are confused about the same ones, I can do a deep-dive on those specific fallacies.

Recommended Resources:
1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. Logical Reasoning Explanations
The explanations that should have come with the LSAT. These don't just fall back on "out of scope," but actually tell you why the wrong answers are wrong, why the right answers are right, and the easiest way to get the correct answer.

3. Logical Reasoning Cheat Sheet
Based on what I'd typically do in college: read what the professor emphasized and condense it all onto a single piece of paper. It gave me a quick reference, making things a lot less threatening and a lot more manageable.

How to deal with LSAT Formal vs. Informal Logic

We’ve all got a pretty good understanding of what formal and informal usually means. Formal attire means show up in a suit. An informal dinner usually means you shouldn’t be afraid to order the extra saucy chicken wings.

Formal and informal logic, however, isn’t always as easy to understand. I did an excellent interview with the esteemed Dr. Deborah Bennett.

She wrote Logic Made Easy, which covers formal/informal logic, along with many other subjects.

If you don’t have time to read the full interview, don’t worry. Definitely go back and check it out when you get a chance.

For now, here's a quick bite-sized read article about formal vs. informal logic that will help you with your LSAT prep:

Formal vs. Informal Logic in LSAT Logical Reasoning

Hopefully that cleared it up for you.

And, in case you're wondering, most of my meals are informal (like chicken wings and Chipotle) rather than formal (like 5-star Michelin restaurants that require wearing a suit). Maybe one day, though!

Keep up the great work,

-Steve

P.S. If you’re still having trouble, send me an message letting me know what the problem is. If enough people are struggling with something, I’ll happily dive more in-depth!

LSAT-Flex Raw Score Conversion

If you want to get a rough approximation of a scaled score on the LSAT-Flex, multiply your initial raw score by 4/3 before converting it using that exam's chart.

It won't be perfect, but it'll be close enough to give you a sense.

Another option would be to calculate your overall accuracy % on the 3 sections you complete, then use that as a baseline to approximate your accuracy % out of the total number of questions on a given exam.

(For example, if you answered 60/75 correct, that's 80% accuracy. If you maintained that level of accuracy on a 100-question exam, that would mean your raw score was 80. On the June 2007 LSAT, a raw score of 80 converts to 161.)

Give yourself a margin of error of a couple of points on each end to be safe. If you take the average of your most recent five exams you've done in a relatively short period, that will give you the best indication of where you stand.

The hardest LSAT Logic Games I could find

Ok, so you’ve been doing practice LSAT Logic Games and you’re feeling pretty good. Cool. Confident. Collected.

If so, I bring you the ultimate test. If the LSAT is a video game, these questions are like the final boss.

Here is a collection of the ten hardest Logic Games questions I've come across:

10 Hardest LSAT Logic Games List --->

After you finish, let me know how you did! If you breeze through those, I’ve got some more tough ones tucked in my back pocket.

- Steve

P.S. If you get any wrong, let me know which ones. If enough people miss the same ones, maybe I’ll share some advice on how to solve them!

3. Mastering LSAT Logic Games

This guide to Logic Games is by a former writer of actual LSAT questions! Enough said.

Is LSAT-Flex At-Home Harder Than In-Person?

Is LSAT-Flex At-Home Harder Than In-Person?

We can’t say whether testing at home vs in-person at a testing center is better for *every* student. However, I suspect it’s a more pleasant one for many.

Some Potential LSAT-Flex (At-Home) Benefits:

At home, you may have a great internet connection and if you live alone, no one is going to bother you. You're not going to have a proctor walking around and you won’t be in a room full of other test takers making noise, sneezing, and or distracting you in other ways. You also avoid the hassles of booking a testing center and being placed on a waitlist.

Perhaps most importantly, the LSAT-Flex exam is only 3 sections (2 hours) rather than 5, and home is a more comfortable environment for many.

Some Potential LSAT-Flex (At-Home) Drawbacks:

If you live with roommates, family, significant others, kids, or pets, taking it at home may not be so easy.

Perhaps most importantly, if your internet is shaky and slow, or if your computer's old, you might have technical issues.

Overall, most of the students I encounter say at-home and shorter is preferable.

However, one of the biggest concerns is having the right computer and a strong-enough Internet connection. You may have to borrow one, and LSAC is taking that into consideration.

LSAC is committed to equal access. If you have a barrier of some kind that prevents taking the LSAT-Flex at-home in a comfortable environment, reach out to LSAC. They’ll probably give you a loaner device and/or help you take it at a local law school, university, etc. if you need it.

Why LSAC Created LSAT-Flex

Why Did LSAC Create LSAT-Flex (and what is it)?

The April LSAT was canceled because most of us now have stay-at-home orders. There was no way to administer it in-person at an LSAT testing center. Instead, LSAC has added a new LSAT-Flex administration the week of May 18. (Most will take it May 18 and 19.) It will be an alternative for those who had initially wanted to take the March and April LSAT in North America.

It will be administered online, at home on your computer. It will be different -- three sections, not five. You will have one section of games, one reasoning, and one reading comp back-to-back. They will equate the scores nonetheless. In other words, you will still get a score out of a possible 180 as an equivalent to the traditional five-section exam.

As for scores, LSAC’s site says two weeks for the online LSAT-Flex. They can't get them back much faster because of all the statistics they have to analyze, but they're also working quickly because law schools want those scores before they can evaluate applications.

By the way, most law schools are extending deadlines to wait for the LSAT-Flex. They may extend further if they need more applicants.

Virginia extended the stay-at-home order until June 10. Others, like California, extended it indefinitely. The June LSAT is June 8 and will have to be canceled, as many other states will likely extend to June 10 or beyond, meaning there's likely going to be at least one more LSAT Flex opportunity. If we see second and third waves of COVID-19, as I've been reading, the Flex will be around for a long time.

It may even be that LSAT-Flex will be here to stay as the new normal. It's very hard to go back on technology once you've advanced. Remember, there have been a number of difficulties in administering the LSAT in-person. They had to book the testing centers, hire proctors, get all the tablets in place and make sure they were fully charged. Additionally, students had to travel long distances to take the exam. If they offer the LSAT more frequently online, pulling out some of their old undisclosed test forms, it would have a number of advantages.

LSAT coaching + LSAT study motivation

How do you know when it's time to work with a private tutor, and how can people best use their time with the tutor to get the most out of it?

I recommend taking some time to familiarize yourself with the basics of the exam first. This allows you to make more efficient use of your time with a tutor or coach.

Once you've identified your weak areas, and you've put in the time on your end first, you'll be in a better position to make the most of the opportunity.

Come to each session with a targeted list of questions.

Personally, I require my students to send me a list of the 3-5 hardest LSAT problems they've recently encountered (along with photos of their diagrams and notes), along with 3-5 bigger mindset or conceptual questions like:

How do you determine when to split a logic game into multiple options?"

or

"How do you determine when a logical reasoning answer choice is outside the scope?"

I would also suggest getting a coach or tutor when you're ready to take your LSAT prep to the next level and make it your #1 priority.

You're ready for 1-1 LSAT coaching when you've already built a reasonably strong foundation, have targeted questions, and are ready to have in-depth discussions about them.

***

Are you planning to take the LSAT soon?

It seems to be looming on the horizon, still vague and distant but getting terrifyingly closer each day, doesn’t it? And you know it’s getting closer, so why are you suddenly finding it impossible to garner any interest in hitting the books?

Or...does THIS sound familiar to you:

Although you know exactly when it is going to be, you’ve been counting days and even hours, you’ve got study plans, and you should know exactly what to do each moment of your time.

But you just can’t bring yourself to study.

We’ve all been there - there’s nothing wrong with you. You better believe I hit my low points during what ended up being a miserable YEAR of studying for the LSAT.

So, don’t worry, you can do it!!!

Unfortunately, nobody can really hold your hand ALL through it (I try as much as I can). If you've lost your focus, and it’s making you worry you’re on track to fail, tell your lizard brain to stop thinking that!

You can definitely fix this.

You just need to remember why you wanted to do it.

After working on something for a long time, it's common to experience a sudden drop in motivation.

Because even if you’re studying for something as worthwhile like the LSAT, after you’ve been staring at a goal for long enough, it just starts to look kind of boring.

Maybe you need to take a step back to remember why you were studying in the first place.

For a lot of us, it's:

***Getting into the law school of your dreams and becoming a successful attorney.***

Remember?

So, don’t be too hard on yourself - take plenty of breaks to watch trashy TV and smoke cigarettes if it helps you preserve your sanity.

Associating studying with something you like helps you keep going.

You can read all about it in my article on:

Self-Control: Smoking, Eating, and LSAT Prep ------>

-LSAT Steve

P.S. What's helping you get through studying right now? Hit reply and let me know.

P.P.S. Seriously, if you have a sec, reach out and tell me all about your LSAT journey. Although I can’t reply to EVERY message, I do read every one myself.

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT CoursesThe best of my LSAT material with exclusive access to attend my Live Online LSAT Master Classes + Q&As, and on-demand video lessons you can watch anytime. Plus, LSAT study plans to keep you on track. Save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. LSAT Day-By-Day Study Plans
Preparing for the LSAT is confusing. There are dozens of prep books and practice tests out there, and 1,000+ articles on my website alone. When, and how, should you use them all? These super-specific study plans give you a clear plan of attack.

3. LSAT Checklists
All the little items and details students don't usually think of. They hold you accountable and help you make sure you're not missing anything.

Digital LSAT Prep Changes

What is the biggest change you've seen in how people prepare for the LSAT since it became a digital test?

More students are using computers, tablets, and smartphones to study than ever before.

Because LSAC has only released 3 exams in the Digital LSAT format (as of April 2020), many students are using LSAT PrepTest PDFs to simulate the experience of completing practice tests while looking at a screen.

When using books, I advise students to treat their books like screens --- not to write on them, but to do their work on scratch paper to the side.

Over the course of my career teaching the LSAT (since 2005), I've seen a continued decline in students taking traditional in-person classes in favor of online prep courses because they're cheaper and more convenient.

Students now have an additional reason to seek out online courses that can better prepare them for the Digital LSAT specifically.

Personally, I completely revamped my LSAT prep courses for the Digital LSAT. They now include Live Online Master Classes and Q&As (with Digital LSAT walkthroughs for each section), group coaching, and on-demand video lessons.

***

Is the LSAT rapidly creeping up on you? Or maybe just slowly creeping up on you?

Either way, chances are it’s looming somewhere in the not-too-distant future, like The Eye of Sauron!

K but srsly…

At this point, if you’re like I was, you’re PROBABLY stuck on SOME part of the LSAT or another. So, don’t be shy:

I’d love it if you told me:

What’s the number one thing you can’t get your head around?

and

What do you MOST want to find out more about?

Or, if it helps, read the following in the voice of Samuel L. Jackson:

Are you at the beginning of your LSAT journey, and motivation is in short supply? Maybe you’re not even sure where to start?

(I know I found it tough).

Maybe you’re already actively studying, but you’re stuck – does reading comprehension make you feel like a moron?

Everyone has their weaknesses, but you’re never alone! I’m going to take the most common problem areas and work from there.

It’s questions from my readers and students like you that led me to create a treasure trove of free information and advice, design a series of popular LSAT courses and produce hundreds of free video explanations. Your valuable feedback inspires me to get off the couch and produce even more free content and LSAT advice!

Can’t wait to hear from you,
LSAT Steve

P.S. Wanna do a guy a favor? Just reach out and share your story- it won’t take long! I can’t reply to EVERY message, but I read them all personally.

Should you avoid the LSAT and take the GRE instead?

I’ve been teaching the LSAT for over 10 years now. This exam's how I make my living, but I'm also completely obsessed with it. I have a (dare-I-say) IRRATIONAL love for this test.

The GRE’s a much easier exam, and it’s much easier to get a higher-percentile score on it than on the LSAT.

So, why would I talk up the GRE when it’s in my best interest for more people to take the LSAT?

Because, if you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance you might want to take the easy way out.

Maybe you’re a wannabe lawyer considering law school and think you can avoid the LSAT beast by doing GRE vocabulary flash cards and brushing up on middle-school math.

If that’s you…

Please stop reading right now.

Obviously, Harvard requires a super-high GPA and top score on whichever test scores you submit, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, PCAT and all the other XXATs out there.

And law schools KNOW it's easier to get a high-percentile score on the GRE because the competition isn't as tough.

(That's a kind-of nice way of saying the people who typically take the GRE aren't as good at standardized tests.)

A senior LSAC employee actually refused to take the GRE because "it didn't measure anything important."

!!!

If you’ve got a decent chance of getting into a top law school, you probably could ace the LSAT if you put in the work. This requires…*learning the LSAT the hard way* (shudders)

But don’t worry - it’s actually the EZ way in the long run.

That’s what I focus on in my courses - helping you get the LSAT mindset by showing you how the test-makers think.

You won’t find the typical “cheap trix” that only get you high 150s / low 160s.

A lot of the lower-tier law schools that’ll eventually take the GRE as an alternative don’t actually plan to accept “LSAT-avoiders.” They actually just want to accept applications from GRE-takers so they can deny you and boost get a boost in the US News rankings by increasing their selectivity.

So, if you want to avoid the LSAT “monster” (yeah, that’s how I used to see it, too), because you’re lazy and don’t want to put in the work, please go ahead and unsubscribe. Get a bunch of flash cards and find a high school kid to tutor you in algebra.

Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always believed you get out what you put in…and taking “shortcuts” won’t get you where you want to go. My site's the oldest (and still continuously running) LSAT Blog because I show you how to DEFEAT the LSAT monster by actually looking at the LSAT from the test-maker's perspective,

Cheap trix, are just that - “cheap” and “trix.” I’ve always believed you get what you pay for, you get out what you put in. If you’re not willing to invest in yourself, law schools aren’t going to, either.

If you’re ready to take the first step towards tackling the LSAT, and you’re ambitious enough to take on this challenge, you should join the courses and get access to my premium content. The stuff too classy to give away to just anyone.

So, if you haven’t already, take action and click here to join thousands of other students fighting to conquer the LSAT. I'm so confident my courses will help you improve your score that I even offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

Very truly yours,

Steve Schwartz

P.S. My course isn't the fastest or cheapest.

But if you’re looking for the best course on increasing your LSAT score - one that really works and has been proven for thousands of LSAT students - it’s time to join.

If you have any questions about the course, reach out. But only if you’re serious about joining.

Recommended Resources:

1. A Comprehensive Guide to the Law School Personal Statement
This guide provides tips on conceptualizing, planning, writing, and editing the law school personal statement.

2. Law School Admissions Guide
I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing.

3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet
Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

Want to increase your LSAT score? Get my free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet today.