Cracking the LSAT: Tips for Maximizing Your LSAT Score

Presenter: John Rood

Founder, NextStep Test Preparation

Our webinar will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m., EST. You are invited to type in questions prior to the start of the webinar.

What We’ll Cover

• The role and impact of the LSAT • Skills that the LSAT will assess • Examples of LSAT question types • Strategies for maximizing your LSAT score • Q and A

Our Presenter

John Rood • Founder of Next Step Test

Preparation • Six years of experience working with

500+ LSAT students • Graduate of Michigan State and the

University of Chicago

Charles Roboski • Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Michigan

State University College of Law • Has served as a director or dean of admissions at five law

schools prior to Michigan State, including Notre Dame Law School and The Ohio State University College of Law

• Has reviewed more than 45,000 applications for admission

4

Insights About Law Admissions

1. Does this candidate have the ability to succeed academically at our law school?

2. What qualities, skills, or experiences does this applicant possess that we consider to be important to the study/practice of law?

3. How does this candidate compare to others?

Questions Asked by Law College Admission Committees When Reviewing an Application for Admission:

LSAT and academic record are primary

Personal statement, resume are

primary

All facets of the application, but with significant consideration given to the

LSAT and undergraduate record in light of national and school’s applicant pool

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) • The LSAT has predictive value

• The LSAT as a common measure

• Admission Committees rely on the

highest of multiple scores

• Relied on by many schools when awarding scholarship aid

How is the Test Scored?

Raw Score Scaled Score Percentile Rank

0 - 15 120 0%

37 140 13.0%

45 145 25.8%

55 151 48.3%

60 154 60.0%

70 160 81.0%

80 166 93.4%

90 173 99.0%

• Raw score: number of questions right out of total (usually 99-101) • Scaled score: 120-180 • Percentile rank

Typical Score Distribution

Typical Score Conversion

What does it mean to “study” for the LSAT?

What’s On the Test? Two 35-minute unscored sections

All told, the LSAT takes roughly 5-6 hours including registration and administration.

Four 35-minute scored sections

Logical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning

Analytical Reasoning / Logic Games

Reading Comprehension

Experimental Section (not identified or identifiable)

Writing Sample

Reading Comprehension Like the ACT/SAT, except way harder.

•4 passages covering hard and soft sciences as well as the arts

•26-28 total questions

•The challenge: answer choices are cleverly designed for you to get them wrong

•Significantly harder than 5 years ago

Why is it Difficult?

•Challenging readings…

•Re-written to be less comprehensible

•With strict time limits

•And very narrow answer choices

Outlining the Passage

1. Underline key sections 2. Circle Transition Words 3. Make Paragraph Margin Notes 4. Generate a Main idea

In advanced topics of quantum mechanics, some of these behaviors are macroscopic (seemacroscopic quantum phenomena) and emerge at only extreme (i.e., very low or very high) energies or temperatures (such as in the use of superconducting magnets). In the context of quantum mechanics, the wave–particle duality of energy and matter and the uncertainty principle provide a unified view of the behavior of photons, electrons, and other atomic-scale objects. The mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics are abstract. Professor Smith argues that a mathematical function, the wavefunction, provides information about the probability amplitude of position, momentum, and other physical properties of a particle. Mathematical manipulations of the wavefunction usually involve bra–ket notation which requires an understanding of complex numbers and linear functionals. The wavefunction formulation treats the particle as a quantum harmonic oscillator, and the mathematics is akin to that describing acoustic resonance. Many of the results of quantum mechanics are not easily visualized in terms of classical mechanics. For instance, in a quantum mechanical model the lowest energy state of a system, the ground state, is non-zero as opposed to a more "traditional" ground state with zero kinetic energy (all particles at rest). Instead of a traditional static, unchanging zero energy state, quantum mechanics allows for far more dynamic, chaotic possibilities, according to John Wheeler.

Source: Wikipedia, “Quantum Mechanics,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics; CC Attribution-ShareAlike

Logical Reasoning Half of your total LSAT score (!)

• 2 scored sections, 24-26 questions of (generally) progressive difficulty

• A variety of challenges, such as: • Strengthen the argument • Weaken the argument • Resolve a paradox • Find the logical flaw

• Requires understanding not just of

everyday or “informal” logic but also basic formal or symbolic logic

Logical Reasoning

John never does the dishes. He always ignores them or waits for someone else to do them. This may represent self-involvement or mere laziness, but in either case I don’t think John will make a good husband for Susan. Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) Susan will never be happy with a husband. B) To be a good husband, one must not be self-involved or lazy. C) A good husband must complete all of the household chores. D) To be a good husband, one must do the dishes at least some of

the time. E) Someone who does the dishes at least some of the time is a good

husband.

Prompt

Question

Answer Choices

Printed “Out of Order” John never does the dishes. He always ignores them or waits for someone else to do them. This may represent self-involvement or mere laziness, but in either case I don’t think John will make a good husband for Susan. Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? A) Susan will never be happy with a husband. B) To be a good husband, one must not be self-involved or lazy. C) A good husband must complete all of the household chores. D) To be a good husband, one must do the dishes at least some of the

time. E) Someone who does the dishes at least some of the time is a good

husband.

Prompt (2)

Question (1)

Answer Choices

(4)

Prediction (3)

The term “good husband” is new in the conclusion. The necessary assumption must show that John will not be a good husband because he never does the dishes.

Wrong LSAT Answer Choices John never does the dishes. He always ignores them or waits for someone else to do them. This may represent self-involvement or mere laziness, but in either case I don’t think John will make a good husband for Susan. Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) Susan will never be happy with a husband. • This is irrelevant. We only care about whether John is a “good husband.” Whether other men might

be good husbands for Susan or whether Susan would be happier alone are not at issue. B) To be a good husband, one must not be self-involved or lazy. • Irrelevant. That portion of the argument is actually a red herring. C) A good husband must complete all of the household chores. • Too extreme – we are only discussing the dishes. D) To be a good husband, one must do the dishes at least some of the time. • Correct. E) Someone who does the dishes at least some of the time is a good husband. • Goes the wrong way. We need to know that good husband does the dishes; does the dishes

good husband doesn’t necessarily follow. (This is a common fallacy). For example, someone who did the dishes but never went to work might not be a good husband.

Once you have worked through several hundred Logical Reasoning questions, you will learn to recognize the

pattern of wrong answers.

There are only so many types of logical flaw possible!

You will need to master both “informal” logic as well as some “formal” or symbolic logic

If Amy gets a 180, she must have studied

180 S

We can infer that: Not S not 180

But it would be a fallacy to say that:

Study - 180

And

Not 180 not study

Logic Games

R M M __ __ (G, M, R, Y) S __ __ __ __ (I, L, P, S, T, U, V) I G I P Y P U V V U L and U at least one not M

How does a simple question about dinosaur toys turn into this?

Recent Games

1 2 3 4 5 6 In: __ __ __ ( __ __ ) Out: __ __ ( __ __ )

(A, B, C, D, E) M: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (F, G, H, I, J) W: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 1 2 3 4 5

N: ___ ___ ___ ____ S: ___ ___ ___ ____ E: ___ ___ ___ ____ W: ___ ___ ___ ____

Basic Linear/Ordering games “6 clowns will enter the circus ring on unicycles, one at a time. Each clown will enter the circus exactly once.”

Grouping games “A circus will choose between 7 clowns to enter the ring in a tiny car. At least 3 but no more than 5 clowns must fit in the car.”

Matching Games “Each of 4 concession stands, north, south, east and west, sells at least one of the following items: soda, popcorn, cotton candy, and pizza.”

Advanced/Multi-Axis Linear “5 trapeze teams will perform at the circus. Each team is made up of one man and one woman. The teams will perform one at a time.”

Make Inferences Inference: A deduction that can be made from the basic rules of the game. Most inferences will massively speed up the game and are intended to be found by the test-makers.

1. Combine Rules • A…B plus B…C = A…B…C

2. Recognize Important Variables

• Variables which recur in 2+ rules are often the key to the game

3. Understand Game “Geography” • Where do big blocks go? • What if a given group becomes “full”?

4. Think Through Conditionals

• If there are conditional rules – what if the rule is triggered? What if it is not?

5. Diagram Limited Options • Often, a rule will give only two options for a given variable or block. Writing out each option

can solve 40%+ of the game.

Make Inferences Inference: A deduction that can be made from the basic rules of the game. Most inferences will massively speed up the game and are intended to be found by the test-makers.

1. Combine Rules • A…B plus B…C = A…B…C

2. Recognize Important Variables

• Variables which recur in 2+ rules are often the key to the game

3. Understand Game “Geography” • Where do big blocks go? • What if a given group becomes “full”?

4. Think Through Conditionals

• If there are conditional rules – what if the rule is triggered? What if it is not?

5. Diagram Limited Options • Often, a rule will give only two options for a given variable or block. Writing out each option

can solve 40%+ of the game.

Illustrate the Rules

1 2 3 4 5

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5 -- each only once -- 2nd = 2x 1st -- 3rd < 5th

Sample Test Game #1 Basic setup: you are required to order 5 digits, digits 0-4.

Limited Options

1 2 3 4 5

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5 -- each only once -- 2nd = 2x 1st -- 3rd < 5th

1 2 3 4 5

1 2

4 2

More Inferences

1 2 3 4 5

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5 -- each only once -- 2nd = 2x 1st -- 3rd < 5th

1 2 3 4 5

1 2

4 2

3 0

0 4

0/3 3/4

1/3 0/1

Despite students’ initial horror, Logic Games is the easiest

section on which to improve.

Writing Sample The writing sample is not formally scored and is therefore the least important section on the exam

• 1 writing prompt with two binary choices

• Quick tips: • Write like a high school essay • Make a very clear decision between the two options • Make sure to fill most of the space • Only use words you know how to use and spell

• One practice essay is generally sufficient preparation for

the writing sample

http://lsac.org/jd/pdfs/SamplePTJune.pdf

Take a free practice LSAT. How does your score compare to your targets?

LSAT Prep Options

Self-Study Prep Course One-on-One

Tutoring

• Lowest price (~$200) • Self-paced • Focus on need areas • Roughly 50% of test-

takers report self-study

• Hard to know what you don’t know

• Few resources to answer questions

• Score plateaus • Every point counts

• Generally good materials

• Schedules keep students on pace

• Lack of personal attention

• Valuable time devoted to unnecessary areas

• High cost-to-value ratio

• Costs more than self-study

• Fewer contact hours than a course

• Study plan completely tailored

• Help identifying and fixing weak areas

• Work on concepts until you understand them

What Materials Should I Use?

• The foundation of your prep should be tests from LSAC

• Any reputable prep company will supply you with great material

How Many Tests? Taking full tests or sections under timed conditions is probably the most effective means of studying for the exam. You wouldn’t consider yourself ready to take the test before you’d worked through at least 15 full tests, with at least 10 of those complete, timed tests. There are 68 real LSATs released, ~40 of which are useful.

Upcoming Webinars • Tuesday, October 7, 3:00 p.m., EST: Law School 101: Insights

from Current Students • Wednesday, October 8, 7:30 p.m., EST: Tips for Assembling a

Competitive Law School Application • Tuesday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., EST: Insiders' Guide to

Gaining Admission and Scholarship Aid at US Law Schools

• Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m., EST: Career Options and Market Outlook for Attorneys

• Wednesday, November 12, 7:30 p.m., EST: Expert Advice as You Plan for Law School and a Legal Career

• Wednesday, November 19, 12:00 p.m., EST: Careers in Private Practice and Government

You’re Invited…. On Campus • Friday, October 3: MSU Law Preview Day • Friday, October 24: Lunch and Learn: Tips for Assembling Your MSU Law Application for

Admission • Tuesday, November 11: Admissions Reception with Alumni , Students and Faculty

Virtual Events • Wednesday, October 15: Video Consulting Session • Wednesday, October 22: Video Consulting Session • Tuesday, November 4: Online Chat

admiss@law.msu.edu

or

517-432-0222

Contact MSU Law Admissions for a free copy of our LSAT Prep Guide:

Please type in your questions or follow-up via phone or email. Eamon Ladewski: ladewski@law.msu.edu Charles Roboski: roboski@law.msu.edu Phone: (517) 432-0222

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John Rood john@nextsteptestprep.com 773-257-3391 www.nextsteptestprep.com

Questions

Thank you for Joining Us! Eamon Ladewski: ladewski@law.msu.edu Charles Roboski: roboski@law.msu.edu Phone: (517) 432-0222

John Rood john@nextsteptestprep.com 773-257-3391 www.nextsteptestprep.com