LSAT 101: an Introduction to the
Law School Admission Test
Our webinar will begin at 7:30 p.m., EST
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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
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Insights about Law
Admissions from:
Charles Roboski
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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
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Questions Asked by Law College Admission Committees
When Reviewing an Application for Admission:
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?
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
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The Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
• The LSAT has predictive value
• The LSAT as a common measure
• Admission Committees typically rely on
the highest of multiple scores
• Relied on by many schools when awarding
scholarship aid ‐‐ and a difference of just
a few points can have a significant
impact on the aid provided to you
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How is the test scored?
• Raw score: number of questions right out of total (usually 99‐
101)
• Scaled score: 120‐180
• Percentile rank
Typical Score Conversion
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%
Typical Score Distribution
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• The LSAT in Law School Admissions
• What’s On the Exam?
• How Should You Prepare?
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What’s on the test?
Four 35‐minute scored sections
Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
Two 35‐minute unscored
sections
Experimental Section (not identified or
identifiable)
Writing Sample
Analytical Reasoning / Logic Games
Reading Comprehension
All told, the LSAT takes roughly 5‐6 hours including registration and administration.
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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
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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
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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?
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Logical reasoning
New
terminology in
the conclusion!
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?
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Logic Games
How does a simple question
about dinosaur toys turn into
this?
R
S
M M __ __ (G, M, R, Y)
__ __ __ __ (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
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Make a basic diagram and illustrate the rules
Sample Test Game #1
Basic setup: you are required to order 5 digits, digits 0‐4.
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5
1
2
‐‐ each only once
‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th
3
4
5
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Make inferences – limited options
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5
1
‐‐ each only once
‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th
2
1
2
1
2
3
4
5
3
4
5
4
2
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More inferences…
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5
1
1
2
1
‐‐ each only once
‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th
2
0/3
2
3
3/4
4
5
4
0
4
0/1
1/3
2
3
3
4
5
Despite students’ initial
horror, Logic Games is
the easiest section on
which to improve.
0
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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
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• The LSAT in Law School Admissions
• What’s On the Exam?
• How Should You Prepare?
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Step 1: Take a free practice LSAT. How does your score compare to your
targets?
http://lsac.org/jd/pdfs/SamplePTJune.pdf
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What skills do I need to build?
Logic.
Ok, and reading, and time management, and tolerance
for pressure.
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What materials should I use?
Good question.
• Only use real LSAT questions. This
eliminates every book <$20.
• A lot of distinctions without
differences in prep materials
• Any reputable prep company will
supply you with great material
• The foundation of your prep
should be tests from LSAC
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How many tests should I take?
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.
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How many times should you take the LSAT?
Once.
You should absolutely not take the LSAT unprepared to “see how you do.” That’s the
function of free diagnostic exams taken at home.
Most law schools officially accept the highest LSAT score; however, they see all the
scores. Consider a student with a single sitting of 160 versus a student with a 143, 157,
and 160.
Further, students are permitted to take the exam only three times in a two‐year period.
(it is now very hard to get an exemption).
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Will you improve on a retake?
Students improve an average of 2‐3 points on retakes, according to LSAC data.
You should consider retaking the exam if:
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You were unprepared for the exam (avoid this outcome)
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Something disastrous happened on the day of the exam (mis‐bubbled, had the flu,
etc)
•
You scored 3+ points lower than the average of your last 3 practice exam scores
•
You can point to a specific deficiency in your LSAT prep (only studied with bargain
LSAT prep books, did not understand formal logic, etc.)
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Ideal Prep Calendars
Ideally, students take 3‐4 months to prepare for the exam.
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•
5+ months is too long – you will run out of material
Less than a month is not enough time to reach your top score
If you are applying for 2015, plan to take the LSAT in June or September of 2014.
There is still time to study for the June LSAT if you start tomorrow and devote
significant time to your studies.
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A basic 3‐month study plan
If you are working with a tutor or taking a course, a professional will recommend a study
plan for you.
If you are studying on your own, consider the following outline:
Month 1:
• Take a diagnostic exam; purchase prep books and at least 20 past LSATs
• Work through methodology material
• Work through many untimed sections
Month 2:
• Review methodology books when necessary
• Take timed preptests
• Review preptests thoroughly
Month 3:
• Take several complete preptests every week
• Review preptests thoroughly
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A basic 3‐month study plan
Week 1
• Introduction to the LSAT (if necessary)
• Review of diagnostic test
• Introduction to logic games
• Basic diagramming, section strategy, and
question ordering
• Linear games
• Introduction to Reading Comprehension, including
section strategy and passage outlining
• Homework: 2 LG sections untimed, 2 RC sections
untimed
Week 2
• Review homework questions, especially LG
diagramming
• LR intro — argument structure and basic approach
• LG — advanced linear games
• Introduction to formal logic and conditionality
• Homework: 2 LR sections untimed, 1 LG section
untimed, 1 RC section untimed
Week 3
• Review homework questions
• LG — grouping games
• LR — assumption questions
• Homework: 1 LG section timed, 2 LR sections timed, 1
RC section timed; full preptest
Week 4
• Review homework questions
• LR — predicting answer choices
• LG — sequencing and matching games
• Homework: 2 LG sections timed, 2 LR sections timed,
full preptest
Week 5
• Review homework questions
• LR — strengthen and weaken questions; common
logical flaws
• LG — hybrids
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
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A basic 3‐month study plan
Week 6
• Review homework questions
• RC — question types and difficult questions
• LR — parallel reasoning questions and advanced
formal logic
• LG — unusual game types; advanced thinking on
deductions
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
Week 7
• Review homework questions
• RC — advanced timing drills and section strategy
• LG — timing and perfecting mental processes — using
each second productively
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
Week 8
• Review homework questions
• Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
Week 9
• Review homework questions
• Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
Week 10
• Review homework questions
• Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
Week 12
• Final review of strategy for each section
• Writing sample
• Review homework questions
• Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Homework: 2 5‐section preptests; review
Week 12
• Review homework questions
• Test day tips
• Homework: 1 5‐section preptest; review
• Relax 2‐3 days before test day
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LSAT Prep Options
Self‐Study
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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
Prep Course
One‐on‐One
Tutoring
• Generally good
materials
• Schedules keep
students on pace
• Study plan completely
tailored
• Help identifying and
fixing weak areas
• Work on concepts
until you understand
them
• 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
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Top 10 Tips
1. Set attainable goals and set a study plan
2. Take the exam early
3. Consider prep options carefully
4. Understand logic games diagramming
5. Master basic formal logic
6. Understand the basic structure and mechanisms of
arguments
7. Predict answers
8. Get comfortable with process of elimination
9. Practice smart
10. Prepare for Test Day
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Questions? Care to Learn More?
John Rood
john@nextsteptestprep.com
773‐257‐3391
www.nextsteptestprep.com
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Creating a Road MapJoin
for Us on April 22
Undergraduates Considering Law School
Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., EST
Kevin Freeman, Pre‐Law Advisor and Program Manager for the
Politics, Society and Law Scholars Program at The Ohio State University
Allyson Lowe, Pre‐Law Advisor and Chair of the Department of
Political Science at Carlow University
Karen Severn, Coordinator of Pre‐Law and Pre‐Pharmacy Advising
at Texas A & M University
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Upcoming Webinars Hosted by
Michigan State Law: Summer 2014
Insiders’ Guide to Gaining Admission
and Receiving Scholarship Aid
Legal Careers Panel
Law School 101: View from Current
Law Students
To receive an invitations to
these events, email MSU Law
Admissions at
admiss@law.msu.edu
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Thank you for joining us….
please type in any questions you would like to ask!
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Questions
Admission and Scholarship Questions
Eamon Ladewski
Associate Director of Admissions:
ladewski@law.msu.edu
Charles Roboski
Assistant Dean for Admissions & Financial Aid: roboski@law.msu.edu
Phone: (517) 432‐0222
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