LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

How to reach LSAT enlightenment

tl;dr: Mindfulness meditation can increase your score.

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When everything finally CLICKED for me on the LSAT, I felt like Neo in the Matrix:

It was awesome!

I could spot LSAT tricks before they were coming and even "freeze time" to tackle tough questions, just like Neo stopped bullets.

35 minutes per section was suddenly MORE than enough time!

I had achieved "LSAT Zen."

Once you can do this, the LSAT becomes...

So. Much. Easier.

But how can YOU achieve LSAT Zen?

More specifically, how can you avoid test anxiety AND improve focus/concentration?

It can be as simple as 5 min/day of sitting and doing NOTHING.

I'll be honest.

I used to think meditation was just a spiritual thing. I didn't think it had measurable, practical benefits for standardized tests.

Then, I read about a scientific study in the New York Times. It specifically focused on the connection between mindfulness meditation and test scores.

tl;dr Those who meditated improved far more than those who didn't.

Obviously, as LSAT experts, we should always be skeptical of studies.....

but there's not much harm in trying it for yourself.

So I did.

Nothing terribly weird happened, and I didn't turn into a yogi and move to India.

But I did notice (subjectively, at least) increased concentration and focus, reduced stress, yadda yadda.

Find out all the details (including how-tos) in this article:

The LSAT, Meditation, Concentration, and Focus ------>

Zen-fully yours,

Steve (LSAT Guru)

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 Cheat Sheets
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.

why the difference between LSAT assumption Qs matters

tl;dr Because the "negation test" only works on necessary assumption questions.

*********************

You might ask.....

But WHY does it only work on necessary assumption questions, oh wise LSAT Lord Steve?

The reason, young grasshopper, is that these questions are asking COMPLETELY different things.

It's apples and oranges:

LSAT necessary vs. sufficient assumption Qs

Necessary assumption questions are a VERY specific type of "must be true" question.

THAT'S why the negation test works on those types of questions.

(Sufficient assumption questions ask for something completely different - which I'll cover in a future email)

If you're like, "hold up, buddy, I don't even know that the negation test IS...."

Don't worry.

I did an entire write-up showing you what it is, and how to use it (with examples!)

How to Use the Negation Test on "Assumption" Qs ---->

Until next time,
Steve

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.

bad LSAT books

One of the most egregious wastes of time is long-winded LSAT books that take HUNDREDS of pages to explain the basics.

I'm looking at YOU, LSAT books:

Stressing about having to read bad LSAT books is a waste of time.

Actually reading bad LSAT books is an even BIGGER waste of time!!!

When I was studying, I felt like I absolutely had to read every single page of these books - it was overwhelming, to say the least.

Since then, I've written LSAT guides that explain those concepts in a tenth of the time (and pages).

Enough ME-time, though.

Let me give YOU something.

Because what's sometimes more important than getting the concepts (no matter the number of pages you READ)...

is getting the proper LSAT mindset.

Part of that comes from doing lots and lots of actual LSAT questions (no magic pills for this, sorry).

But in order to make the most of them, you need to review them with the correct mindset.

So let's take a look at the strategies of top-scoring test-takers in....

How to Develop the "LSAT Mindset" ----->

Sincerely,

Steve Schwartz - Mindset Master

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.

why this guy is scoring in the 120s

Check out these Google auto-suggestions for "the LSAT is..."

"the LSAT is bullshit"
"the LSAT is hard"
"the LSAT is easy"

These represent common Google searches by a low-scoring LSAT taker (let's call him Horatio). He keeps scoring in the 120s and blames the LSAT for being "bullshit" or for being a scam.

(Thank God the LSAT Unplugged community is more rational than Google auto-suggestions and YouTube commenters.)

But, honestly, the biggest reason most other people (i.e. those who don't use my material) get low LSAT scores is because their attitudes suck.

Look at those Google and YouTube screenshots again. They're filled with what's wrong with the LSAT, as if the admissions process owes you anything just because you want to go to law school.

If I'm the LSAT-makers, I don't give a shit about this.....

I'd care about:

How can YOU prove you're worthy to go to law school?

We fix this by helping you get a kick-ass LSAT score....by asking, instead --

"how to increase my LSAT score"
"how to improve my LSAT score"
"how can i improve my LSAT score"
"how can i increase my LSAT score"

No matter what method of LSAT preparation you choose, it requires making a significant investment in yourself.

When students reach out to me for coaching, the first thing I do is to let them know that my coaching is not for everyone. It requires dedication and discipline.

My students and I work together intensively, and their lives transform.

I work by invitation and referral only, and my LSAT coaching is a serious financial investment. But this opportunity will cost you more than just money. You must be ready to invest your time and energy. You must be ready to commit to this process and make it such a powerful force in your life that it will allow you to achieve incredible results like those below. The kind of change that has a lasting impact into law school and beyond.

You can find out out more about what it takes to succeed (and the kinds of sacrifices involved) in the stories of my previous students who got HUGE score increases.

I put together a book of their advice.

You can get it right now (for free).

Just click this link:

101 Tips to Improve Your LSAT Score

Enjoy!
Steve Schwartz

P.S. All the tips in that book are from former students who wrote LSAT Diaries to share their stories. Just click the links within the book to learn more about each one.

Meet a guy who wrote LSAT questions (+ a free book)

after becoming a Q-list celebrity by running America's #1 LSAT Blog....

I found a lot of doors suddenly opening for me.

And I've met some strange (yet awesome) people.

I mean a guy who's written actual LSAT questions.

uber-nerd and writer of actual LSAT questions!

It might sound like the worst way ever to spend a Saturday night....

but if you care about understanding the LSAT like a boss, it's worth the sacrifice.

Once this guy and I found each other, it was instant LSAT Love.

We talked for hours, and I interviewed him about every LSAT topic under the sun - life, the universe, and everything.

Then, I organized our conversations into a book.

And I'm giving it away for free.

Get your copy here:

Behind the Scenes with a Former LSAT Question Writer ----->

Sincerely,

Steve - LSAT Lover

P.S. Obviously, I got the dude's #, so if you have any other questions, just reach out, and I'll add his responses to the book's next edition.

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.

This guy accused me of spamming him

- and he was completely wrong!

In fact, he made some LSAT-style logical flaws when he ASSUMED I was responsible for the law school spam he was getting.

Here's what he sent me:

click display images if you can't see the email

You clearly sold (or gave) my email address to a law school -- John Marshall. I am extremely careful with this email address and don't get spam on it. I have never received an email from a law school institution and received one from John Marshall within two hours of making a purchase on your blog. I trusted your service to keep my email address confidential.

Sincerely,

"Jim"

So, he mistakenly assumed that because one thing came before another.....

the first thing CAUSED the second thing!

Click through to see my complete takedown of that flawed logic (and his reaction to the takedown!)

LSAT Logic and Law School Spam --->

Have fun!

Steve

P.S. I hate law school spam as much as you do and wish they'd finally stop sending ME emails! :)

P.P.S. Here's what one student sent me in response to my last article about "study drugs":

Personally, I have used them in my preparation in both learning logic game methods, how to best approach the other sections best, as well as in taking actual practice tests. I found that in learning methods and preparing myself with test taking skills, using study drugs was not an entirely positive. I believe having a more calm and free mind was useful in the preparation stage.

However, when it came to actually performing on the practice tests I found that using study drugs allowed me to work quickly and efficiently. Thus, the time limit was less of a factor. Specifically in regards to logic games. I also seem to recall strategies and set ups much more efficiently as well.

I have not done reading comprehension with and without study drugs so I am unable to offer my opinion on that section. I do believe it may be better not to use them because while I do the comp sections with them I seem to try and skim through too quickly and find myself constantly backtracking. A slower paced mind may read slowly but comprehend more efficiently.

And here's another response I got:

I am prescribed adderall but take it more on an as-needed basis. When I take it I do extremely better on PTs and able to concentrate better over all. Seriously I average 5-6 scaled points higher when I take it.

My summary: Maybe they help for Logic Games, but probably better to avoid them for Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension (75% of the test!)

BUT...if you were prescribed it legitimately (not because you faked it), it could help.

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.

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