How early LSAT study sessions can kill your score

It’s true - studying for the LSAT right after you wake up is never a good idea, whether you wake up at 5 am or 11 am. Why? Let’s delve into a little sleep science. Believe it or not, there is a real thing called sleep inertia. Basically, your brain needs some time to go from mostly shut off to running at full capacity. We’ve all experienced this in the morning when we’ve put the milk in the cabinet or tried to eat our cereal with a fork. If you try and get some LSAT studying done before your brain is ready, you’re doing more harm than good.

So, how long should you wait? There’s no hard answer, but 90 minutes is a good ballpark figure. If you’re interested in a deep-dive on the subject, you can check out some research that’s been done on the subject: Grogginess, Disorientation On Awakening More Debilitating Than Sleep Deprivation   Of course, if you don’t have time to read the whole thing, I hit some of the more interesting excerpts in this article. So remember, get a good night’s sleep and don’t even think about cracking that PrepTest until after breakfast and a shower. Sincerely, Steve Schwartz, Sleep Scientist P.S. While it’s important to study with your brain on high-alert, it is even more important to keep this in mind on Test Day. If your test starts at 8 am, make sure you are waking up no later than 6 am to give yourself time to wake up. 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 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 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.

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How to fit in LSAT study time (+ still have a life)

Let’s accept a simple fact: Studying for the LSAT is time-consuming. That actually feels like way too much of an understatement. The LSAT is a DEVOURER OF TIME AND FUN. There, that felt more appropriate. As awful as that sounds, it’s good to acknowledge what you’re up against. You’re waging a battle with the LSAT.

And the busier your life is, the less time you practically have to devote to training for it. So my first piece of advice is a simple one: start earlier than you think you need to. 3 months is generally a good rule of thumb, but it’s not a bad idea to give yourself more so you have a cushion. If you’re exceptionally busy, then why not start even earlier than that? LSAT prep is about discovering a new way to think – a more logical way to think - not reciting a bunch of facts or memorizing a formula. You can only benefit from the extra time. When it comes time to hit the books, here are my general thoughts on how to study and when. Naturally, this is just a guideline you should adapt to your specific schedule: If you work full-time or go to school full-time, 15 hours per week of LSAT studying over the course of 4 months might be a good guideline. Here's how you might fit it in over the course of the week: -5 hours on Saturday -2.5 hours per day, Mon-Thurs -0 hours on Friday -0 hours on Sunday If you work part-time or go to school part-time, 20 hours per week of LSAT studying over the course of 3 months might be a good guideline. Here's how you might fit it in over the course of the week: -5 hours on Saturday -3.75 hours per day, Mon-Thurs -0 hours on Friday -0 hours on Sunday If you work full-time, you'll probably have a harder time fitting in your studying because you'll have less unscheduled (free) time. Here's how you might fit in 2.5 hours on a weekday: -.5 hours before starting the workday (may require getting to the office early) -.5 hours during lunch -1.5 hours Again, think of that more as a jumping-off point than a rigid schedule. If you’re figuring out how to fit in studying along with an already busy life, I really recommend going to this article I wrote with even more strategies for fitting in time: Here's the link ----> I know it can get overwhelming, but having a plan can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping your life in order. Til next time! LSAT Steve 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. LSAT 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 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.

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Which LSAT books to use?

Good morning! Or I guess it could be afternoon or evening, I’m not sure when you’re reading this. Last time, I compared studying for the LSAT to getting lost: you might be moving, but if you’re moving in the wrong direction, then you’re not doing yourself any favors. Today, I’d like to extend that metaphor a little bit. If you’re going on a trip, you’re going to need a good map. “But Steve,” you might protest, “I have my phone for that!”.  To which I would like to remind you that Google Maps is still a map.  Speaking of, do you remember the early days of GPS mapping when if you weren’t in a major city, your Garmin might direct you right off the highway and into a cornfield?  Well, bad LSAT study materials are kind of like that. BOOM! Look at that transition! I can bring anything back to LSAT study, it’s a gift. Or maybe a curse, if you ask my relatives during any family function. Apparently, my Aunt Susie isn’t interested in discussing Logic Games. Anyway, I digress. My point is if you are studying with sub-par materials then you are wasting time and energy. There are a LOT of study guides and books out there, and they are not all created equal. Every head of a student re-using a paper they wrote for a different class? That’s essentially what Kaplan’s done YEAR AFTER YEAR. They use the same fake practice tests from a bunch of different prep books, including the GRE and GMAT. The GRE and GMAT are definitely NOT the LSAT and you can’t study for one like you study for the others. But, they re-use the same practice questions anyway! (Note: I reviewed the Kraplan book a bazillion years ago, so it might be different now, but these books typically change so little from year to year that it's not worth my time to review each year. Just...be careful.) The Princeton Review did something just as bad (if not worse). Their Logic Games Workout book uses real LSAT questions that are reworded or reordered. You might think this would make you more prepared, but it actually has the opposite effect. Why? I have a whole article on why this is terrible, but the short answer is if you do the LGW and do poorly, then take an actual LSAT prep with essentially the same questions, of course you’re going to do better. You’ve seen those exact questions! To oversimplify it a bit, it is the difference between memorizing that 5 x 5 is 25 and actually understanding how multiplication works. As soon as you get 9 x 7, you’re going to be stumped. This is getting long, so I’ll keep this short and sweet: Barron’s has been re-using the same test questions for years (like since 1979!). They did finally redid their LG book back in 2014, but from the reviews I’m reading it still has a lot of errors. Here’s the bottom line: read the reviews on anything before you buy it. Do your homework. Buy from a source you trust. You’re spending a lot of time and money on prepping for the LSAT, so spend it wisely. Here are the LSAT materials that I endorse 100%: Best LSAT Prep Books You'll be glad you used them. Study hard, study smart! Sincerely, Steve, the LSAT Librarian 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. LSAT 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 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. Free Stuff | YouTube | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Books | Courses

Finally conquer the LSAT

Quick question: have you ever gotten lost? I’m willing to bet that most (if not all) of you have at some point. I’ve definitely lost my sense of direction on more than one occasion. If I’m being honest, I sometimes have trouble re-orienting myself after getting out of the subway. So, what does this have to do with you and the LSAT? Well, if you’re re-taking the LSAT, then you might’ve gotten a little lost somewhere along the way.

Studying the wrong way really hard is pretty much the same as walking really fast in the wrong direction. You’re going somewhere, but not where you want. And you’ll probably get tired and frustrated doing it. Fortunately for you, I paved the way so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did the first time around. Consider me your guide through a dangerous landscape, leading you into battle. You already have the skills you need to get where you want to go, you just need someone to show you how to get there.   - everything you need to do compiled into one big, easy-to-read list - exactly what to do each day, and in what order - which tests to complete under timed conditions in the middle and end of your prep - the particular articles to read before attempting certain LSAT questions - the specific LSAT questions you should solve at a particular point in time It doesn’t get any easier than that! I’ve got a whole list of these day-by-day study plans. You’ll probably be interested in the Retake one, but there are many other guides to consider instead if this is your first time using one. Regardless of which one you want, you can find them all at the link below: Day-By-Day LSAT Study Plans Happy Studying! LSAT Steve

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LSAT Prep Without Enough Hours In The Day...

Last time you heard from me, I showed you a pretty comprehensive study plan for those of you retaking the exam. I’ll be honest, that guide is super-intense. If you have enough time to study 4-6 hours a day, then it’s perfect. The problem is, there are a lot of you out there who just can’t do that. I totally get it. Jobs, family and all kinds of other things are constantly taking up your day. You can cut down on your socializing but you have to keep a roof over your head and you still want your significant other to be speaking to you after all this is said and done. There’s still hope! I made it a point to create a study guide for those with a crowded schedule too.

What’ll you find here is a guide specifically designed for you, the busy, hard-working student who studied like crazy the first time around, didn’t get the score they wanted and now want to tackle it again. My 3-month retake schedule assumes you already did most/all of what I recommend in my LSAT study schedules for first-timers (building a strong foundation in each section). If you did little or none of the things contained in those schedules, use those instead. This schedule also assumes there are 4 Logical Reasoning question-types that give you difficulty and at least two types of Logic Games that gives you difficulty. (Here's an example of one way you might analyze a Logical Reasoning question in more detail.)   Finally, it assumes you've already seen/used dozens of the most recent PrepTests in your prep the first time around. If something about this schedule doesn’t work for you, feel free to change it to fit your needs. Remember, this guide is meant to work for you, not the other way around. So without further ado, I present to you my LSAT Retake Guide For Insanely Busy People! Good Luck! LSAT Steve P.S. If you find you have more time to study than you though, you can always switch over to my more in-depth plan, which you can find here

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Average LSAT scores *increase*

The reality is if you’re reading this, the upcoming LSAT is not your first rodeo. First of all, there’s no shame in that. Many people aren’t happy with their scores, but they just give up. Some have good reasons, sure, but for many others – it’s because they don’t have the discipline to put in the hard work to study for it again and achieve their dreams of a higher score. So, congrats on being tough as nails! Seriously, if you are willing to go through the process of re-taking the LSAT – to figure out what went wrong the first time around and correct your mistakes, then you have what it takes to get into law school and succeed once you get there. And, your score can increase significantly the next time around. It’s happened for several of my previous students, like Anne, Andy, and Dan. So that’s not some rah-rah motivational speaker talk, it’s just the truth. Now that we’ve established you’re law school material, let’s work on getting you the score to prove it. If you’re able to study full-time, you’re lucky – and the odds are in your favor. I’ve got a great free retaker guide you can follow right here. This guide is super-intense, allowing you to cover nearly every single LG and LR question ever released - but, as always, feel free to modify as necessary. And, if you’re not lucky enough to be able to study full-time – that’s ok, too. Most people can’t, but they can still get huge score increases, too. Next time, I’ll share some tips on how to to study, whether you’re working, in school, or have other things keeping you busy. Of course, you can always drop me a line if you have any specific questions. Let’s do this! LSAT 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. LSAT 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 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.

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The 5 Hardest LSAT Reading Comprehension Passages

Well, it’s time. I think you’re ready. We've been going over these LSAT Reading Comprehension questions for a while now and tackled them from several different angles. However, as I’ve said before the best way to get better at these is to just practice a LOT. In that spirit, here are 5 of the hardest LSAT Reading Comprehension passages I could find.

I’ll share them here in a second, but before I do that, if there’s anything you want to go back and revisit, you can do that with this list of free LSAT RC resources. Ok, ready? Good luck - I believe in you! 5 Hardest LSAT Reading Comprehension Passages Sincerely, Steve “Reading Comp Killer” Schwartz P.S. Next time, I’ll share one of my favorite LSAT Test Day strategies.  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. 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.

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August LSAT-Flex Email from LSAC

First, a summary:

LSAC announced the August 29 LSAT will be an LSAT-Flex. Like other LSAT-Flex administrations, it will not be disclosed. Most will take it on Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Target score release date is September 18 at 9AM Eastern.

Unlike other Flex administrations, there will be a score preview option for first-time test-takers (for a fee - $45 if you pay before the test, $75 if you pay after the first day of the test).

You must complete LSAT Writing to receive your score and opens 8 days before the LSAT.

***

LSAC email text sent to August LSAT test-takers:

"Because you are currently registered for the August 29 LSAT, we want to share several important announcements about the August test:

Given the continuing COVID-19 emergency, we will offer the online, remotely proctored LSAT-Flex in August, instead of the in-person LSAT scheduled for August 29 in the U.S. and Canada. The LSAT-Flex gives candidates the opportunity to earn an LSAT score and continue their law school journeys despite COVID-19 restrictions on travel or public gatherings. The August LSAT-Flex will be administered starting Saturday, August 29. Most test takers will test on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, with a small number of tests occurring later in the week based on specific remote proctoring requirements. Due to the demands of the LSAT-Flex administration, this will be an undisclosed test. We are targeting Friday, September 18 as the score release date.

The second half of this email provides more detail on next steps, assistance, and familiarization resources.

In response to requests and feedback from test takers, we have created a new score preview option for first-time test takers who wish to see their score before deciding whether or not to keep it as part of their LSAC transcript and report it to schools. Score preview will cost $45 if you sign up prior to the first day of testing for a given test administration, or you may sign up during a specified time period after testing has concluded for $75. First-time test takers who sign up for score preview will receive their scores at the same time other test takers receive theirs (assuming they have completed their LSAT Writing and have no holds on their accounts), and will have six (6) calendar days to decide if they want to cancel or keep their score. If they take no action their scores will be added to their LSAC file and released to schools at the end of the six-day period. This feature will be available for purchase starting around August 1.

Note: First-time test takers who have an approved LSAT fee waiver will receive score preview free of charge.

You can learn more about the score preview option at our website: https://www.lsac.org/…/tak…/lsat-scoring/about-score-preview

In response to feedback from our member law schools, we are reinstating the requirement that all test takers must have a completed LSAT Writing sample on file before they will receive their score for the August LSAT-Flex or future tests. The writing sample has been a required part of the LSAT for decades, and law schools expect to see your LSAT writing sample when they review your application. Indeed, many schools have reported that they find the writing sample even more valuable due to the improved readability of the online LSAT Writing format introduced June 2019. To help candidates complete the writing portion of their test, we will now open LSAT Writing eight (8) days prior to every test administration. Candidates may complete their LSAT Writing at the time and date that is most convenient to them but must have a completed writing sample in their file in order to see their score or have their score released to law schools.

Note: Candidates only need one writing sample. August (or future) test takers who already have a writing sample on file from a previous exam do not need to complete a new LSAT Writing sample.

For more information about LSAT Writing, see https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/about-lsat-writing

What you need to do next

Because you are currently registered for the August 29 LSAT, you may take the August LSAT-Flex or opt out and receive a coupon which can be applied to any future test between October 2020 and April 2021. Please visit your LSAC account and submit the online form with your choice. If we do not hear from you by July 15, you will be automatically registered for the August LSAT-Flex on or about July 16. Note: You may withdraw from the August LSAT-Flex any time up to August 21, 2020 and receive the coupon. After the August 21 deadline, coupons are not available.

LSAC is working to help every test taker have the equipment and other resources they need to take the LSAT-Flex. If you do not have the necessary equipment or an appropriate place to test, you can make note of your situation via the same online form in your LSAC account no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Sunday, August 9, 2020. We will work with you to try to address your needs.

Because the August LSAT-Flex is an online, remotely proctored test, we are able to offer a variety of test start times for you to choose from. We will open the scheduling sign-up process in mid-August, so that you can select the available time that works best for you. We will send more information and instructions prior to that time.

In the meantime, we encourage you to visit our LSAT-Flex Frequently-Asked-Questions page, where you can find more information about the LSAT-Flex, including answers to your questions about the test’s format, security, and technical requirements, as well as how best to prepare.

If you want to familiarize yourself with the format and content of the LSAT-Flex, we recommend using the free Official LSAT Prep practice tests available on LSAC’s LawHub.

If you are a first-time test taker and wish to purchase the score preview option described above, keep an eye out for an announcement of its availability on or about August 1. And remember that if you have not previously completed an LSAT writing sample, you must complete LSAT Writing before we can release your score to you or to any law schools.

Stay safe and stay focused on your legal education journey — the world needs your voice and your advocacy now more than ever!"

LSAT Score Preview (via LSAC) I August LSAT-Flex

LSAT Score Preview (via LSAC) - first available for the August LSAT-Flex:

"In response to requests and feedback from test takers, we have created a new score preview option for first-time test takers who wish to see their LSAT score before deciding whether or not to keep it as part of their LSAC transcript and report it to law schools. This feature will be available starting with the August 2020 test administration and all subsequent test administrations, and will be available for purchase starting around August 1.

What it costs: Score Preview will cost $45 for candidates who sign up prior to the first day of testing for a given test administration, or $75 for those who sign up during a specified period after their given test administration. (Please note: First-time test takers who have an approved LSAT fee waiver will receive Score Preview free of charge.)

How it works: First-time test takers who sign up for Score Preview will receive their scores at the same time other test takers receive theirs (assuming they have completed their LSAT Writing and have no holds on their accounts), and will have six (6) calendar days to decide if they want to cancel or keep their score. If no action is taken, their scores will be added to their LSAC transcript and released to schools at the end of the six-day period."