Law School News and LSAT Strategy

Navigating the LSAT Reading Comprehension section can be challenging, especially when encountering "exception" questions. These questions require you to identify the one answer choice that doesn’t match the given reasons or examples in a passage. The video “Finding the Exception to a LSAT Reading Comp Purpose Using LSAT PrepTest 158 Section 1, Question 13” provides a step-by-step approach to tackling these tricky questions.

Weaken questions in LSAT Logical Reasoning can be tricky, as they require you to find the answer choice that most directly undermines the argument’s main point. The video “How to Weaken an LSAT Logical Reasoning Argument Using PrepTest 158 Section 3, Question 7” explains an effective approach for identifying and selecting the right answer to weaken an argument. Here’s a breakdown of how to tackle these questions confidently on test day.

Understanding Weaken Questions in Logical Reasoning

In weaken questions, the prompt often asks which answer choice would most seriously weaken or challenge the argument’s conclusion if it were true. The goal is to identify an answer that introduces a doubt or undermines the argument, rather than finding an answer that is merely irrelevant or neutral. This type of question demands that you understand both the argument’s structure and the assumptions on which it relies.

In the example from LSAT PrepTest 158, Section 3, Question 7, the argument revolves around an ethics code violation. Dr. Ferris gives a patient a medication, Medication A, claiming it will help with sleep, even though it doesn’t have known sleep-inducing properties. Yet the patient’s sleep does improve. The task is to find an answer choice that weakens the conclusion that Dr. Ferris violated the ethics code.

 

Step-by-Step Approach to Weaken Questions

1. Highlight the Question Task: Start by clarifying what’s being asked—in this case, to find the option that most seriously weakens the argument. Recognize that you’re looking for the choice that undermines the ethics code violation claim.

2. Identify the Conclusion: Read the paragraph carefully to pinpoint the conclusion. Here, the conclusion is that Dr. Ferris violated the ethics code by misleading the patient about the medication’s effects.

3. Make a Prediction: Consider potential ways the argument could be weakened. For example, if it turns out that Medication A has side effects that can indirectly lead to sleep, then Dr. Ferris’s claim may not be as deceptive as it initially appears.

4. Evaluate Each Answer Choice:

   • Eliminate Strengtheners: Some choices may actually strengthen the argument by reinforcing the idea that Dr. Ferris was deceptive.
   • Check for Relevance: Discard answers that don’t directly relate to the conclusion about Dr. Ferris’s conduct.
   • Select the Best Match: In this case, Choice C introduces the idea that Medication A indirectly induces sleep by reducing discomfort, which would mean Dr. Ferris’s claim isn’t entirely misleading. This directly weakens the ethics violation claim.

Practical Tips for Weaken Questions

• Stick to the Argument’s Scope: Avoid answer choices that introduce irrelevant information or stray from the argument’s context.
• Confirm with Process of Elimination: For best results, eliminate choices that strengthen or have a neutral effect on the conclusion.
• Trust Your Prediction: Having a “real-life” prediction in mind can help streamline the process of identifying the correct answer.

Final Thoughts: Improving Weaken Question Accuracy

By following these strategies and using prediction to guide your answer selection, you’ll be better equipped to handle weaken questions on the LSAT. This method ensures you stay focused on the conclusion and assumptions, helping you tackle Logical Reasoning questions with greater confidence and efficiency.

The LSAT Logical Reasoning section frequently challenges test-takers with “parallel flaw” questions, where you must identify a flawed argument that mirrors the structure of a given passage. These questions can be among the most time-consuming, but with a clear strategy, they become much more manageable. The video “How to Identify and Recognize LSAT Parallel Flaws Using LawHub Logical Reasoning Drill Set #3” explains a step-by-step approach to solving these tricky questions. Below is a comprehensive guide based on the video.

The LSAT Logical Reasoning section is designed to test your ability to evaluate, strengthen, and critique arguments effectively. One of the common question types you’ll encounter asks you to identify an answer that most strengthens an argument. In the video “How to Strengthen a LSAT Logical Reasoning Argument Using PrepTest 158 Section 3, Question 11,” a detailed process for tackling strengthen questions is outlined. This blog post provides a concise breakdown of the video’s key insights and strategies.

When tackling LSAT Logical Reasoning questions, one of the most critical skills to develop is identifying the main conclusion of an argument. This essential step not only helps you understand the argument’s purpose but also guides you in eliminating incorrect answer choices efficiently. In the video “Identifying a LSAT Logical Reasoning Conclusion Using Official PrepTest 158 Section 2, Question 1,” viewers get a practical, step-by-step approach to isolating conclusions in Logical Reasoning questions.

For LSAT hopefuls, the Reading Comprehension section can feel like a maze of complex details. Success often hinges on one key skill: identifying the main idea of a passage. In a recent video tutorial, “How to Identify a LSAT Reading Comp Passage Main Idea Using LSAT PrepTest 158 Section 1, Question 1,” viewers learn how to pinpoint the main idea efficiently—a critical technique for high scores. This blog post dives into the insights shared in the video and offers a practical strategy for tackling main idea questions with confidence.

For LSAT test-takers, reading comprehension can be a make-or-break section, often filled with dense, detail-laden passages. One critical strategy is the "up-front reading" method, which helps you focus on the main ideas and author's purpose without getting bogged down in every detail. This blog post covers insights from a video analyzing LSAT PrepTest 158’s first reading comprehension passage, with a step-by-step guide on how to approach such passages effectively.

As we've previously written about, this summer, the LSAC quietly ended its partnership with Khan Academy and all free official LSAT prep materials are now available only at lawhub.lsac.org. Four official PrepTests are now offered, but these PrepTests do not offer explanations. So, it might be a good idea to save them for closer to your test day as a measure of how you're performing, instead of as a tool for learning and improving.

However, another resource, the official "Drill Sets", includes an extra 168 practice problems and the vast majority of them have never been included in prior LSAT prep materials.  This article is based on our YouTube playlist on Lawhub's logical reasoning drill set #1.

One of the more astonishing things about preparing for the LSAT since the test went fully digital is how many online resources act as if it were still delivered as a pen and paper exam. Question explanations and how-tos talk about physically underlining or printing out multiple versions of a PrepTest when the test has been fully digital for five full years! In this article, we're going to talk about how you can get the most out of the 50+ LSAT PrepTests available from lawhub.lsac.org by executing the process known as a blind review for the current, computer-based version of the exam that is comprised solely of Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections.

With the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) retiring the Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section following the June 2024 official LSAT administration, the Reading Comprehension section has gained significance for all law school candidates, since it is now one of only two sections on the test. At the same time, most LSAT preppers have often spent the least amount of time focusing on Reading Comprehension believing that it is the section with the fewest techniques to learn. Unless you are used to reading and highlighting paragraphs digitally that couldn't be further from the truth.

This summer, the LSAC quietly ended its partnership with Khan Academy and all free official LSAT prep materials are now available only at lawhub.lsac.org. Four official PrepTests can be taken for free, but as most LSAT students know, those PrepTests do not offer explanations, and if you're wanting to use those practice materials judiciously, it might be a good idea to save them for closer to your test day. However, another resource, the official "Drill Sets", includes 14 additional passages and nearly 100 practice problems, the vast majority of them have never been included in prior LSAT prep materials.

This summer, the LSAC quietly ended its partnership with Khan Academy and all free official LSAT prep materials are now available only at lawhub.lsac.org. Four official PrepTests can be taken for free, but as most LSAT students know, those PrepTests do not offer explanations, and if you're wanting to use those practice materials judiciously, it might be a good idea to save them for closer to your test day. However, another resource, the official "Drill Sets", includes an extra 168 practice problems and the vast majority of them have never been included in prior LSAT prep materials.

In March, and with little fanfare, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) announced that major changes are coming to the long ignored LSAT Writing Sample. While this update to the exam may seem insignificant compared to the retirement of Logic Games as part of the 2024-2025 LSAT testing year that starts in August, this new writing sample format could lead to a scored writing section as soon as the 2025-2026 LSAT testing year!

Rejoice! The LSAC official Lawhub online practice resource has released composite preptests utilizing the new test format that will be live as of the August 2024 administration after Logic Games are retired following the June 2024 LSAT administration. Test takers logging into the free (or paid) interface are now greeted with the following options:

As a result of a lawsuit filed against the LSAT in 2019, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) agreed to retire the Logic Games section of the exam within five years. Taking full advantage of that timeframe, last October, LSAC announced that the section would be removed from the exam following the June 2024 administration of the test. Now, law school applicants targeting round 1 applications in 2024 are confronted with a unique option - take the exam with Logic Games or without.

If you’re looking to apply to law school in the near future, then you’re probably already thinking about the LSAT. You may have even already taken the LSAT once or twice, or perhaps you’ve taken a practice test. If you have, you should know that your score isn’t static. You may have earned slightly different scores on different versions of the test. Not only will your LSAT score fluctuate somewhat from test to test, but you can also do a lot to improve your score over time. 

When students come to us wanting to improve their LSAT score, we often use a 10-point increase as a benchmark for an initial goal. Something we’ve notice over time is that most students fail to recognize A) how significant a difference a 10-point increase can make in your law school eligibility, and B) how much work it takes to increase your score by 10 points. 

The LSAT score ranges from 120-180. Scoring right in the middle equates to the 46th percentile, meaning you’re scoring better than 46 percent of test-takers. While 160 may not sound much different from 150, an LSAT score of 160 actually equates to the 82nd percentile. That’s a huge increase in your competitiveness compared to a 150.

While 10-point LSAT increases do require a serious investment of time and energy, they’re definitely not impossible. In this article, we’ll provide 10 powerful tips for boosting your LSAT score by 10 points.

If you’re planning on going to law school in pursuit of a legal career, then you must know by now that a major hurdle you’ll have to clear is performing well on the LSAT, which is the main admissions test used by law schools. Most aspiring lawyers spend months on their LSAT prep, and a whole industry has been built up around it, including LSAT prep materials, LSAT prep courses, and one-on-one LSAT prep tutoring. 

But no matter what path to conquering the LSAT you take, just about everyone has to start at the same place: the LSAT Diagnostic Test. The LSAT Diagnostic Test is basically a way of referring to your first attempt at taking an official LSAT test in an effort to gauge your starting position and to design your approach to LSAT prep. 

Taking this first step is difficult and often intimidating. The LSAT can be a highly challenging and demanding test, and getting in the right mindset just to sit down and take it can feel overwhelming. But there’s no way around it—if you want to maximize the results of your LSAT prep so you can earn the best possible score, you’re going to have to take an LSAT diagnostic test.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about taking an LSAT diagnostic test, including how to approach it, how to make sense of your results, and how to apply them going forward. 

If you’re prepping to take the LSAT, then you’re probably already aware that one of the biggest challenges ahead is learning to tackle the LSAT logic games. When you first start studying for LSAT logic games—which on the official test are called “Analytical Reasoning” questions—they can seem totally unpredictable and impossible to study for.

However, when you spend enough time with different LSAT logic game explanations, you might realize that the vast majority of LSAT logic games can be broken down into a few different types of games. This is one of the benefits of working with an LSAT logic game tutor. LSAT logic game tutoring can help you learn the most powerful strategies for tackling virtually any LSAT logic game.

The most common and most basic form of LSAT logic game is the sequencing game—sometimes called the ordering game. And that’s the one we’re going to cover in this post.

Here we’ll present you with a sample sequencing game, and we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to make sense of it and to answer all the questions accurately. 

Once the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the LSAT changed its testing structure from in-person to entirely virtual. That means everyone who’s taken the LSAT for the last three-plus years has taken it virtually. Now, however, much of the world is returning to some semblance of normalcy, and the LSAC (the organization that designs and administers the LSAT) is following suit by bringing back in-person testing starting in August 2023.

 

However, the LSAT has also opted to continue offering the virtual testing option. This means that LSAT-takers are now faced with the choice of taking the test in-person and taking it virtually. So how do you know which option is right for you? In order to help you figure that out, we’ve come up with a list of key questions you should ask yourself to help determine whether you should take the in-person LSAT or the virtual LSAT.

If you’re dreaming of a legal career, then you already know just how impactful your LSAT results will be on your education, your job prospects, and everything else. There’s a good chance, then, that you’re doing everything you possibly can to study for the LSAT, including devoting all your time and sacrificing things like sleep, exercise, and fun. This level of intensity is supported by the online “grind” culture of aspiring lawyers and other professionals who insist you should be devoting every ounce of energy to studying if you want to succeed.

However, such an approach is highly misguided, and is all but guaranteed to lead to study fatigue, burnout, and possibly even collapse. Rather than prepping constantly, you should be focused on prepping healthfully, intelligently, and well. In this article, we’ll offer ten tips for achieving a balanced LSAT prep regimen so you can avoid burnout and actually maximize results. These tips are based on actual evidence gathered from a study of grad students studying for standardized tests.

If you’re an aspiring lawyer, then you probably know that the LSAT is one of the most important stages in your journey to a legal career. Getting the best score you possibly can on the LSAT will determine what law schools you get into, how much financial aid you receive, and even what kinds of internships and jobs you qualify for. 

With so much on the line, many people devote several months, or in some cases even a whole year, to their LSAT prep. But not everyone has the kind of time. Sometimes people find themselves with only a few weeks to prep for one of the most important tests of their lives. 

The LSAT is famous for being impossible to cram for. So if you don’t have that much time to prep, does that mean you should just give up and accept whatever score you get? 

No! With the right approach, it’s possible to significantly improve your LSAT score in as little as a month. In this article, we’ll take you through the one-month LSAT study plan, so you can make the most of the time you have. 

 Ask just about anyone taken the LSAT what the hardest part of the test was, and there’s a pretty good chance they’ll say it was the Logic Games. If you’re prepping for the LSAT and you’ve already started struggling with the Logic Games, you can at least take comfort in knowing that just about everyone who takes the test goes through the same challenge.

But the truth is, Logic Games don’t have to be especially hard or intimidating. What makes them stand out is mostly just that they’re unfamiliar to us. They don’t necessarily require a level of skill or intelligence that most people don’t possess. But our minds naturally stop processing information well when we encounter information we’re unfamiliar with.

The good news is that you can develop familiarity with the LSAT Logic Games pretty easily if you try, because they all tend to fall into one of a small number of types. In this article, we explain what those types are and how to recognize them. Once you’re able to correctly identify which type of Logic Game you’re dealing with, you’ll be able to draw on the stablished strategies for that game type.

For many aspiring law students, the LSAT can be such a major hurdle that it blocks out almost every other dimension of the law school admissions process. But let’s say you’ve finally finished going through the process of studying for and taking the LSAT. You’re probably longing to sit back and relax, but there’s still a ways to go in your law school admissions journey.

One crucial next step will be officially deciding which law schools to apply to. With nearly 200 ABA-accredited law schools in the US alone, this is can be an extremely daunting and complex decision. That’s why we’ve prepared this article, which can serve as a primer to help you make the best decisions for yourself about which law schools you should apply to. 

Most students who apply to law school are driven by some combination of the desire to build a career where they can do meaningful work in the world, and the hope of being paid well in the process. However, as law schools become increasingly expensive, simply attending law school represents a major financial hurdle. Many law students leave law school with over $100,000 in debt, all to attain the degree that will allow them to start earning money as lawyers.

For decades, the LSAT has been one of the stablest and most consistent institutions in the landscape of higher education. The test’s structure, subject matter, and format have remained largely the same over that time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced even the LSAT to adapt.

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test used by law schools to evaluate the critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning skills of applicants. A high score on the LSAT can increase your chances of being accepted into a top law school, and many students wonder if hiring an LSAT tutor is worth the money. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of hiring an LSAT tutor and provide some tips to help you make an informed decision.

One of the best ways to prepare for the LSAT, or any standardized test, is to do actual LSAT problems, review the correct answer, and analyze why you answered the way you did.

In the following article, we’re going to work through an LSAT logical reasoning problem using our virtual whiteboard tool to explain how to approach a real LSAT logical reasoning problem created by LSAC.org. You can either read this article or watch this LSAT logical reasoning video on YouTube.

If you’re thinking of applying to law school, then you’re probably aware that the biggest hurdle in your near future is getting the best possible score on the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT. The LSAT is the universal assessment for law school applicants in the United States and elsewhere, and it’s a major part of what law schools consider when they decide on your application.

A competitive LSAT score increases your likelihood of being accepted into the best law schools, receiving generous scholarship offers, and snagging the most coveted jobs after graduating. Working with a tutor is one of the most surefire ways to improve your score, so hiring one is clearly a wise investment. Considering that there are no universal standards to which LSAT tutors must adhere, it’s your responsibility to make sure you hire someone who is sufficiently qualified. To aid you in your search, we’ve compiled five key tips.

Applying to Law Schools is a lengthy and intimidating process. In addition to requesting your academic transcript (not to mention earning that transcript in the first place), obtaining recommendation letters, and writing your personal statement, it is also necessary to prepare for the LSAT. In the eyes of most admissions officers, your performance on the LSAT serves as a strong indicator of your future performance as a student of the law. Learning how to get a high LSAT score therefore increases not only your likelihood of being accepted, but also of receiving a generous scholarship. With this in mind, the question of how much to invest in LSAT test prep deserves serious consideration. Ultimately you might be wondering, should you hire an LSAT tutor?

So, you want to be a lawyer? Congratulations! Attending law school – and eventually practicing law – is a fantastic way to expand your strengths, enrich your academic life, engage in meaningful dialogues, connect with pressing, modern-day issues, and ignite your intellectual spark, all while working to change the future in a meaningful way. 

In the wake of COVID-19 standardized testing cancellations worldwide, this week the LSAC announced that the in-person April LSAT has indeed been cancelled. This second consecutive LSAT cancellation has prompted the creation of an alternative LSAT-Flex exam that will be available only to LSAT candidates who had previously registered for either of the now-cancelled March or April exams. All April registrants will be automatically registered for the LSAT-Flex, unless they proactively choose a different LSAT date by April 15. Currently, the next three in-person LSAT exam administrations are scheduled for June 8, July 13, and August 29.

If you’ve received offers of admission from multiple law schools, congratulations! While the more difficult part of the application process is out of the way, another big decision awaits you. Deciding where you end up going to law school could dictate the course of your career. Do you prefer getting your JD at a campus where the weather is warm year-round? Or do your priorities lie towards ensuring that your classrooms are divided into small sections for discussion? As you go over your acceptances and pick your favorites, consider the following factors when deciding how to choose a law school that is right for you.

While the LSAT Logical Reasoning section may seem to have an infinite number of potential scenarios and prompts, the vast majority of the problems found in the section follow basic rules governing argumentation that date back to the time of the Roman Empire. The key to succeeding on this section is following some consistent basic steps that will allow you to understand first what the question is asking you to do, second what the conclusion of the argument is, and lastly to predict what the answer should do to appropriately address the question task. This skill is the subject of today’s video tutorial with our Director of Online Tutoring – Stefan Maisnier.

This week, we will focus on an example of how to setup an analytical reasoning (logic games) question. Our practice question will be from the June 2007 LSAT.

This week, we will focus on an example of how to setup an analytical reasoning (logic games) question. Our practice question will be from the June 2007 LSAT.

This week, we will focus on an example of how to setup an analytical reasoning (logic games) question. Our practice question will be from the June 2007 LSAT.

This week, we will go over a practice problem from the Logical Reasoning Section of the June 2007 LSAT.

This week, we will go over a practice problem from the Logical Reasoning Section of the June 2007 LSAT.

A common question type you will see for a logic game in the logical reasoning section will be non-conditional questions. Non-conditional questions can be viewed as the...

You may have heard that there are various types of questions for the logic games within the logical reasoning section of the LSAT. But what are these types and how do...

This week we will focus on some general tips and tricks on how to attack the reading comprehension portion of the LSAT. This section can seem intimidating as the...

This week we will review how to diagram an argument in the logical reasoning section of the LSAT. You may have heard about diagramming logic games, but how would you...

This week, we will focus on how to improve your time on the analytical reasoning (logic games) section of the LSAT. You have probably heard the importance of...

The Reading Comprehension section tests your ability to read and understand lengthy passages. In order to truly master this section, there are a few things to keep in...

There are three major types of Analytical Reasoning, or Logic Game, questions. These include sequencing, grouping, and matching games. This week we will talk about how...

The LSAT Analytical Reasoning, or Logic Games, can seem daunting if you walk in without a game plan. This week we will briefly discuss diagramming to give you a solid...

The logical reasoning section can be one that you feel like you could only truly perfect if you had all of the time in the world. So, this week we will focus on time saving tips and tricks that will ensure that you get the best score possible. The first step is simple, just carefully read through the question. Before taking a look at the answer choices, try to come up with a possible answer in your head and maybe even quickly write it down. You can read a variety of scenarios on how to “pre-phrase” your answer on Powerscore. Once you have your pre-phrased answer, read through each answer choice. Since you pre-phrased your answer you know what you are looking for in the answer choices, so either in your head or on your exam say if the answer choice could be viable or not. Once you have eliminated any that are completely wrong, go back and carefully read the 2-3 options that may be correct and find the one that is the most accurate. Practice this technique and by the time your LSAT rolls around, you will be breezing through the logical reasoning section and can spend the extra time focusing on the harder questions.

In order to truly master the logical reasoning section on the LSAT you must first master the different types of questions that you may encounter. Learning to identify...

The LSAT is famous for its tight timing. Check out this timer by Alpha Score to practice your timing. Surprisingly enough, the way you bubble your answers on the LSAT holds some importance. You have to use every second to your advantage. Although it may seem counterintuitive, bubbling in bulk will actually save you precious time. As you work your way through a section, circle your answers in the test packet itself. When you reach the end of a page, turn to your answer sheet and fill in answers for that page in bulk. This way you are not wasting time moving between the test booklet and your answer sheet. Of course, you have to be very careful to pay attention to which bubble you are filling in and if it correspond to the answer you circled. When you have about five minutes left, start bubbling answers one at a time, even the questions you are skipping. If you skip a question, make note of it by making a light dash mark by the number, but fill in a bubble regardless. This is just in case you run out of time before you have time to go back and address it. A total guess is always better than a blank!

The Argument Section on the LSAT requires a brain in critical thinking mode. This article by Magoosh outlines why it is such an important section. You must be able to identify the author’s conclusion, or the point they are trying to make, as well as the evidence used to support that argument. In this article we will focus on the evidence, also called the author’s premise. Let’s consider this example:

The Argument Section on the LSAT requires a critically trained brain. Most importantly, you must be able to identify the author’s conclusion, or the point they are trying to make, as well as the evidence used to support that argument. In this article we will focus on the conclusion. Stay tuned for next week's tip on identifying the author's evidence, or premise.

The Argument Section of the LSAT, also known as the logical reasoning section, is made up of 24 to 26 arguments. Helpful LSAT course sites like 7Sage usually include an...

With the new year comes new habits, and create these new habits around how you will approach and attack the LSAT. This week, spend a few hours each day reviewing logic games. This section can seem daunting to some, but in reality it is the easiest to master if you just can get a little faster at them and master the rules. Through some trial and error, here is what I found to be the most efficient way to complete a logic game. Two overarching ideas to keep in mind: (1) stay organized and (2) write legibly. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to decode your own handwriting and thoughts while already facing something as mind-consuming as a logic game. First, read the question and then diagram on the right side of the page where the individual questions are. This will save you precious time from scanning back and forth. Make sure you label the diagram you create for each question as well, helping you stay organized, and ensuring they are not too large or complex. The biggest tip to remember though is to simply memorize the rules. The LSAT questions, minus a few outliers, follow a set fact-pattern and rule that has been established already. Spot these rules, memorize these rules, and know them like the back of your hand. Keeping all of this in mind you can make the logic games your best section in no time.

The Arguments Section of the LSAT, also known as the logical reasoning section, tests an important skill: your ability to read critically and closely. Here is a good ...

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) is a monolithic and conservative entity befitting a gatekeeper of legal academia. However, it’s beginning to be forced to change with the times in the face of some significant challenges. The number of LSATs administered annually has declined by more than a third this decade from 170,000+ at the end of the 2009-10 testing year to fewer than 110,000 during the 2016-17 testing year. Then came the news that, beginning with applications submitted in the fall of 2017, Harvard Law will accept the GRE as an acceptable alternative to the LSAT for incoming applicants.

Logic puzzles.  You probably ran across them back in elementary or middle school—those weird brainteasers that asked you to do things like sort out which five kids lived in which five houses and liked which five fruits and that sort of thing.  And you’d get clues—like “Alice lives next to the boy on Maple street”.  Or “the girl who likes pears has never met anyone who prefers citrus fruits” (some great examples are in this video by The LSAT Trainer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7mUPexyLZE) Games like these have a way of generating enthusiasm or dismay, and while some people can happily spend hours on them, others tend to shred the paper in cognitively contorted frustration.  So what on earth are such puzzles doing on a law exam?  And how can you navigate your way through them?

This June, the LSAT announced that during the 2018-19 school year the number of LSATs will expand from four to six administrations annually. This is undoubtedly excellent news for test takers who will obviously appreciate the added scheduling flexibility. However, there is an even bigger benefit for prospective law students looking to improve upon a previous score – beginning with the September 2016 exam there will no longer be any limit on the number of LSATs a test taker can record over a two-year period. The Law School Admission Council has announced these changes as part of an ongoing effort to reduce the barriers to entry into law school.

1.  Failing to Demonstrate a Genuine Interest in the Law

Many applicants to law school, especially ones who are trying to go K-JD, are fighting an uphill battle from the outset. This is because law school admissions officers harbor a healthy dose of skepticism that such applicants have seriously reflected on why they want to attend law school and if it is indeed the right move to make rather than a seemingly safe, default next step. If your personal statement for law school sounds exactly like your college personal statement and doesn’t paint a clear and compelling picture of why you want to go to law school, you’re going to be in a tough position.

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To get the most out of studying for any standardized exam, you need to completely own the preparation process. If you are working with an LSAT tutor, then yes, he or she should be an expert, and he or she should guide you. However, you are ultimately in control. Engage fully in designing your study plan to get the most out of the process.

Before the law sits a gatekeeper. To this gatekeeper comes a man from the country who asks to gain entry into the law. But the gatekeeper says that he cannot grant him entry at the moment. The man thinks about it and then asks if he will be allowed to come in later on. “It is possible,” says the gatekeeper, “but not now.” --Franz Kafka, “The Law”

Let's face it.  Law school is not known to be a nurturing environment.  Over 30 years later, the 1970s novel-based TV series, The Paper Chase, in many ways still reflects the reality of the law school experience. Law school tends to be a competitive, no-nonsense environment.  Grades, class rank, and law review status still determine a student's post-law school job prospects.