Easy LSAT reading

Ever walk into a bookstore and see a shelf full of LSAT books?

Probably not what most people would pick to read through on their day off.

Not only are these things dense and obtuse, they are sometimes flat-out WRONG!

That’s right, some LSAT study books can do more harm than good when it comes to properly preparing you for The Big Day.

Let’s start with an assumption I think a lot of us tend to make: length = value.

Surely, if someone were to put this much time and effort into writing a 1,000-page prep book, it must be worth the huge price tag they put on it.

For those of you who've seen my list of logical fallacies, you can see where this might not be quite true.

Let me hit you with a quote from one of the all-time great American authors (not R.L. Stine, although I’m a big Goosebumps fan)

"If I had more time, I would have made it shorter.” - Mark Twain

The honest truth is it just doesn’t take that long to explain something.

You’re smart. I’m not trying to flatter you, but people who sign up for the LSAT are fairly intelligent human beings. You don’t need something explained to you in 100 pages when it can be done in 10.

This over-explaining, meandering style is what frustrates a lot of readers. It’s hard to study for the LSAT when you’re just trying to make it through One. More. Paragraph.

That’s why I wrote guides that are short enough not only to read in full, but also re-read as you get closer to the test. Can you imagine re-reading one of those LSAT prep books pictured above as a refresher? I’m pretty sure that’s against the Geneva Convention.

I’ve got LSAT guides and cheat sheets for Logic Games, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. Even made some for law school admissions. And they're all short, sweet, and to the point.

So if you’re busy or feeling overwhelmed with all the study material you have…

Go Pick Them Up Right Here

If you’re not ready to spend the money - I do offer 100% money-back guarantees, but I get it, sometimes bills are a very real thing -

Remember I have tons of FREE material on my website. Go check it out, and you’ll see what kind of quality guidance you’ll be getting.

That’s all for now, gotta get back to work

-Steve, the LSAT Machine

How beating stress and anxiety made the LSAT a breeze

There aren't many people who'd describe the LSAT as a breeze, but there’s this girl Allison who overcame stress and sailed through test day.

But things weren’t always so easy for her...

Before she discovered my website, she was pulling her hair out! And why wouldn’t she?

She'd read all the prep books, completed numerous practice tests and done everything she’d been told to do...

...but her scores weren’t budging!

Sound familiar?

Fortunately, she found her way to me. After reading through the free stuff, having a few private tutoring sessions with me and taking my LSAT courses, she managed to pull her score up from the mid-150s to 170 on test day!

But it wasn’t just the valuable tricks and tips she got from me that helped her score so high on test day.

One of the biggest keys to her success?

She beat stress and anxiety by using a few crucial techniques.

Here’s what she did:

● She recreated test day conditions for every practice test - including waking up early to sit the test in the morning.

● She looked after her own well-being - getting plenty of sleep before test day and relaxing rather than stressing out.l

● She didn’t lose focus every time something didn’t make sense - instead she recovered and got on with the next section.

Anyway, check out her guest post to see how exactly she managed to climb from 150, to a whopping 170 on test day - it’s packed full of valuable tips!

How Allison Overcame Stress and Anxiety to Score 170 on the LSAT

All the best,

Stoic Steve

P.S. What’s stressing you out more than anything else on the LSAT? Send me a message and let me know, I read them all!

P.P.S. In my next article, I'll share with you some guides that make for easy LSAT reading.

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. 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.

LSAT-Flex Bathroom Breaks

I've confirmed with ProctorU that bathroom breaks will not be permitted for most test-takers.

During the in-person LSAT, you can leave to go to the bathroom while the clock is ticking (not that it's desirable, but it's an option).

ProctorU wrote:

the exam does not have breaks unless LSAC specifically approves it (for things like accommodations)

I haven't specifically confirmed with ProctorU whether they allow diapers, but I can't imagine them considering it a security risk (or having a way to determine whether you're wearing one).

Limiting coffee / tea or other diuretics (liquids in general, really) will help you get through the 2-hour exam without issue.

What your law school personal statement says about you

Today we discuss not how to conquer Logic Games or what prep books are best...

(although I've talked a LOT about those and will keep doing so)

No, today is all about that fickle, subjective beast: The Law School Personal Statement.

While there's no formula for writing a great statement, there are some things to consider that could help you write the best one possible.

So I've put together a bunch of questions I'd ask myself if I were a law school admission officer.

If you put yourself in their shoes, you’ll be one step ahead of the game.

7 Questions For Your Law School Personal Statement

After you get done with those, I have a lot more resources for writing a great Law School Personal Statement farther down the page. So don’t stop scrolling after you finish #7!

Write On!

LSAT Steve

P.S. If there’s any questions I didn’t cover, but you think are relevant, let me know! I’m always willing to add a #8!

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.)

Deciding to Postpone Law School During COVID-19

Taking law school 1L classes online is probably not the experience many students are looking for.

So some applicants may not want to attend online and choose to forgo their deposits instead.

And it's not surprising to me that schools would keep deposits in those circumstances - if applicants previously committed could withdraw without any penalty, I suspect many would do so.

Of course, a deposit may not be significant relative to tuition, but if applicants learned others were easily bowing out, they might follow suit.

As you can imagine, this would be an enrollment disaster for schools.

Keep in mind there are no guarantees of what awaits this fall. And why should you pay the same tuition for an online experience as an on-campus one?

If you want the in-person on-campus experience, it may be safest to hold off and apply this fall to start law school in 2021.

P.S. The ABA currently limits the number of credits that can be online (Standard 306), although there are proposed revisions to account for distance education.

Law Schools Keeping Seat Deposits During COVID-19

UPDATE: After writing this article, making related posts on social media, and inquiring directly to the Dean of Admissions at Mitchell Hamline, I heard back from them with the following.

"[N]o student will be precluded from participating in our blended learning program next school year because of COVID-19. If we decide to hold one or more on-campus weeks in person, and a student cannot participate in person for medical reasons, we will accommodate that student as long as we receive verifiable medical documentation."

While this wasn't apparent in any of the emails I read from the applicant (and he also indicated that this was new information), it's certainly welcome information - kudos to Mitchell Hamline for its commitment to accommodating affected students.

Still no word from Hofstra, though. Will update as I hear more.

***

I've gotten reports from a law school applicant that Mitchell Hamline and Hofstra may keep deposits from students who won't be able to attend in person due to COVID-19 health concerns (pre-existing medical conditions that put the applicant at risk).

Deposits are typically non-refundable.

But given COVID-19, if an applicant has a health issue that prevents attending in-person, and online classes aren't available, that should warrant some flexibility, at least in my opinion.

In fact, it could be considered an ADA violation if the school does not provide a suitable online option for those who can't attend in-person due to health issues.

The law school situation has a unique twist - the ABA currently limits the number of credits that can be online (Standard 306), although there are proposed revisions to account for distance education.

It's not surprising to me that schools would want to keep deposits - if applicants previously committed can withdraw without penalty simply by providing a doctors' note, I suspect many would do so - especially if the school is online in the fall (yet tuitions will not be any lower). As you can imagine, this would be an enrollment disaster for schools.

Of course, a deposit may not be significant relative to tuition, but if some students learned others were easily bowing out, others might follow suit.

(There would be many borderline cases of medical withdrawals mixed in with the legitimate ones, as doctor's notes are fairly easy to get.)

Taking law school 1L classes online is probably not the experience they're looking for. If they want the in-person on-campus experience, there are no guarantees of what awaits in the fall. Why should a student pay the same price for an online experience as an on-campus one?

I've written a short related article: Starting Law School This Year vs Next ----->

(And if you're having difficulty getting a deposit back from a school, please contact me and I will do everything I can to help.)

In contrast to Mitchell Hamline and Hofstra, Case Western and FIU appear to be handling it differently (and much better!)

The below are all from emails forwarded to me by an applicant accepted at these schools.

***

Email from the Dean of Admissions at Mitchell Hamline:

"[W]e do not refund deposits. Every student who has deposited has done so with the same amount of risk because none of us know what the situation will be in the fall. If we refunded yours we’d have to refund everyone’s."

Another email from the Dean of Admissions at Mitchell Hamline:

"We have not made any decisions about the fall semester and so I cannot tell you whether or not we would allow you to attend remotely. I do not know if such an option will be available or not. As soon as we have more information, we will let all students know."

Email from the Senior Director of Enrollment at Hofstra:

"I will make mention of your deposit concern based on the pandemic, but please note that deposit refund-ability is a policy that is not decided on a case by case basis."

***

In contrast, see these emails from Case Western and FIU:

Email from the Director of Admissions & Diversity Initiatives at Case Western:

"In the event that you are unable to attend classes in person or remotely we would refund your deposit."

Email from the Director of Admissions at FIU Law:

"If that were to be the case, we would refund your deposit."

How I learned to love LSAT reading comprehension

Good day to you lovers of the LSAT!

Or should that read loathers of the LSAT?

Well, let me ask you this..

Who does better on test day, the person that enjoys reading or the one that hates it?
Alrighty then, so here's how I learned to love the LSAT, and how you can do the same - I’ve talked PLENTY about logic games and logical reasoning in the past, so today let’s take a look at reading comprehension.

First of all, how can we improve reading comprehension and concentration?

Well, you’ll need to prevent yourself from spacing out on test day. Do this by reading more long, analytical articles, like those published by the NYTimes Magazine, the Atlantic, New Scientist, etc. This made a big difference for me.

You can subscribe to such publications online - so don’t tell me you don’t have access to them!

And quit watching videos all day and start reading more! There is no video section on the LSAT so watching documentaries isn’t going to help you much.

Also, most newspaper articles are no good - they don’t HIDE information the way LSAT passages do and as such are no use to you.

Instead, read about things that wouldn’t normally interest you. And read up on a broad range of topics - you never what can come up in the test. Look at how scientists write, or philosophers, or anyone for that matter.

Okay, what’s next...

Build up your LSAT Reading Comprehension Vocab

The more LSAT RC passages you read, the more you’ll notice the precise kind of language the authors use. Look out for words you don’t often hear in everyday speech (think eschew..) and make a list of them.

Study these and be sure you know the exact meaning of words like ambivalence. It’ll help prevent you from stressing out when you’re not quite sure what a word means on test day. I was constantly looking up new words in the dictionary.

Read for structure, not content

Is there an echo in here? I’ve probably said this before! Structure is far more important than content.

Look out for:

● the main points (conclusions)
● underlying facts (evidence)
● main players (supporters and critics)
● players' motivations / interests (if any)

Look at RC as a fact-finding mission and you’re the secret agent. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to search each passage for the points I’ve just listed.

Read quickly

Fast reading is a gift during the test. That time saved allows you more time to crack the puzzle. Don’t pronounce words as you speak. Remember, you can think faster than you can speak.

Break the connection between reading and speaking and you’ll soon increase your speed, while retaining more information.

Find the main point

The main point can be anywhere in the passage, depending on the content. Don’t always bank on it being in the conclusion - many a student has been fooled in this way in the past.

If the passage is about a:

● Problem, the main point is the solution.
● Mystery (cause / effect), the main point should be the explanation the author advocates.
● Person the author likes / dislikes, the main point is that the person is great / not great. Evidence will be reasons for opinion.
● Study / experiment, the main point is that the study / experiment is good / bad. Evidence will strengthen / weaken study's validity by attacking study / people conducting it.

Got all of that?

Brilliant, well then, as they say in Hollywood, that’s a wrap.

Yours truly (and now with slight finger cramp),

LSAT Steve

Btw...
..don’t forget that while there’s always more to know, you’re not alone, I’m one step ahead of you. If you really want to ace reading comprehension, you’ll need to develop seven important habits - just click the link and find out what they are!

No apologies for the long article today - it’s a gift that will improve your concentration. If you spaced out, read it again (and again).

P.S. Let me know your techniques for reading faster (and better) or if you're having any issues with it - just shoot me a message. I read each and every one!

Recommended Resources:

1. LSAT Courses
The best of my LSAT materials, with my full curriculum for each section, including video courses, guides, and study plans to keep you on track. You can save hundreds of dollars with an LSAT course package.

2. Reading Comprehension 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. LSAT Vocabulary Builder
A handbook that guides you through confusing LSAT language, but not by forcing you to memorize hundreds of words. Instead, this comprehensive guide focuses on the LSAT's most commonly-used words and phrases and gives you their meanings on the LSAT.

May LSAT-Flex I LSAC + ProctorU Scheduling Update

LSAC has moved LSAT-Flex scheduling to Monday, April 27, citing issues with a system in ProctorU that is required to handle signups. Test dates will still be May 18 and 19 for most test-takers.

ProctorU support shared with me what they're sending students right now:

"LSAC has not entered this exam into our system or made it available for proctoring yet...You’ll have plenty of time between setting up an account and taking your exam in order to test your equipment. Please do not set up an account under ACER or any institution or organization that is not your own as this can negatively impact that institution’s tracking of their own test-takers."

How Alice made a huge mistake...and we fixed it

I’m a HUGE believer in looking for LSAT logic in real life examples. It’s a great way to break away from the study books and look at something more real.

Or not.

The Alice I'm talking about today actually isn't one of my former LSAT students -

I'm talking about the "Alice" from a little book you may have heard of...

Alice in Wonderland!

It's about as far removed from real life as you can get, but the beautifully illustrated pages play host to many examples of formal logic.

Lewis Carroll was a fantastic author whose ability to take readers on bizarre journeys is unrivalled. But he was also a keen logician. Check it out:

"[Y]ou should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on.

'I do,' Alice hastily replied; 'at least — at least I mean what I say — that's the same thing, you know.'

'Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. 'You might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see"!'

'You might just as well say,' added the March Hare, 'that "I like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!'

'You might just as well say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, 'that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!'"

Ten points for telling me what Alice did there?

Anyone?

Exactly! She wrongly equates “X then Y” with “Y then X”, or in other words she commits the heinous LSAT crime of making a mistaken reversal.

When I look at this text I like to make my own translations, to LSATify it a bit!

Alice says “at least, I mean what I say”, whereas I translate it to “whatever I say, I mean”.

We can then take it a step further, by applying the if/then structure:

“If I say it, then I mean it”

The Mad Hatter rightly informs Alice that this is not equivalent to “saying what you mean”.
Or in my translations;

“Whatever I mean, I say” ---> “If I mean it, then I say it”

As you can see in the excerpt, the Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse are all quick to point out the flaws in this logical fallacy, by switching X and Y just as Alice has.

A real life example

Okay then, let’s crawl out of the rabbit hole. We can do the same for many everyday sayings. Think of the classic china shop rule..

If you break it, you buy it.

A fair enough rule, if we LSAT it up a bit, we have “if I break it, then I will buy it”.

Meaning that breaking it is a sufficient condition for buying it, but not the ONLY (or necessary) condition for buying it.

Now, if we look at the mistaken reversal of this statement, it’d read something a bit like “If I buy it, then I broke it”. This suggests that the ONLY condition for buying something is by breaking it - a logical fallacy!

So, how is your understanding of the mistaken reversal? Are you like Alice in the previous example or more like our logical trio?

It’s great to be able to spot mistaken reversals in real life and in novels - and it’s certainly nice to get away from more formal studying every now and then - but do you know how to spot it on the LSAT?

Being sure that you know what the various aspects of conditional reasoning look like on the LSAT is essential to cracking the LSAT code and rocking an awesome score on test day.

So, thinking caps on and start cracking down on all the logical fallacies out there!

Yours through the looking glass,

Steve

P.S. Know any other great examples of novels filled with logical reasoning? Let me know!

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. 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.

An addict's guide to LSAT Test Day

A typical LSAT test day lasts over 3 hours.

And many test dates start at…

9AM?!
Of course, your test day might not last 3 hours - that’s only if everything goes to plan. If the proctors can’t find their little booklets, time will crawl even slower.

Chances are you’ve been studying many long, hard hours for this test, am I right?

Let me make another assumption.

Somewhere along the line maybe you became addicted to either coffee, cigarettes, gum or some variety of study drugs?

More than 3 long hours without a fix…

Will your body be able to cope? Is this fair for test-takers?

What's fair/unfair doesn't really matter - what matters is how LSAC handles things. I wrote an article on which vices are allowed on test day, which aren't, and what you might be able to get away with. You might find the answers interesting. I know I did!

But questions like are just one small part of how to fully simulate Test Day conditions - a major aspect of maximizing your chances of achieving your full Test Day potential.

The other area you need to have a game plan?

Facing nerves and anxiety head-on. Building your LSAT Confidence levels.

Because Test Day Score Drops happen all the time:

In order to avoid a massive score drop like that one, you need to be ready for anything.

That's why my LSAT course doesn't just cover the basics like what to bring, what not to bring, etc.

I provide you with anxiety-reduction techniques and strategies to simulate even the worst test centers.

But that's not all - in the course, I also review the most important rules and strategies you need to be aware of before walking in.

I’ll cover what top-performing students do in the lead-up to Test Day to ensure success while others - even smart, talented students - get stuck and don’t know why.

In this course, I show you:

the 3 biggest mistakes students make when taking timed practice tests

the most common test center problems (and how to avoid them)

how to manage and overcome LSAT test anxiety

how to simulate Test Day conditions and predict your score

how to avoid an unexpected “Test Day Score Drop”

I’m going to show you the system I use to prepare my students for Test Day that approaches it from every angle. If you want to increase your LSAT score and reliably perform at that level in real-world conditions, I’m going to show you some of the most effective and powerful LSAT Mindset techniques I've developed and refined since 2005.

My LSAT course is for you if:

you’ve never taken the LSAT before and are worried about what Test Day will look like

you’ve taken the LSAT, but it didn’t go well, and you want to improve on your retake

you feel like you won’t be able to translate your understanding at home into “real-world” conditions

you’re on the fence as to whether or not you should take it because you have major test-taking anxiety

anxiety starts kicking in at the first section, and even if you manage to calm down, you still can’t finish in time because you had to keep rereading

Join now and set yourself up for LSAT Test Day Success.

Forever yours,
LSAT Steve

P.S. Reach out and share your experiences with test day, proctor enforcement, etc.

Logic Games + Logical Reasoning vs Reading Comp

In response to student questions about focusing on Logic Games and Logical Reasoning more than Reading Comprehension:

RC is certainly the toughest to improve upon significantly - you get more bang for your buck focusing on LG and LR - no question about it.

But there are strategies for RC also - so when you have some time or want to change it up, make sure to review the RC-related lessons - you'll pick up some strategies (on what to do and what NOT to do) that will likely be major game-changers without much additional effort.

Law school character + fitness disclosures

I haven't heard of law schools performing background checks on applicants or asking for supplemental documentation, but it's important to answer these questions as honestly and fully as possible. It could come back to hurt you later when you apply for admission to the bar if you don't disclose.

Be concise and matter of fact - don't make excuses or blame others - take responsibility and show how you've changed.

LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

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