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
• 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 LSAT and academic
academically at our law record are primary
school?

2. What qualities, skills, or

experiences does this
applicant possess that we Personal statement, resume
consider to be important to are primary
the study/practice of law?
All facets of the application, but with
3. How does this candidate significant consideration given to the
compare to others? LSAT and undergraduate record in
light of national and school’s
applicant pool 4
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 Typical Score Distribution

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%

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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 Two 35‐minute unscored

sections
Logical Reasoning Experimental Section (not identified or
identifiable)

Logical Reasoning
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

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
New either case I don’t think John will make a
terminology in good husband for Susan.
the conclusion!
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
R M M __ __ (G, M, R, Y)
this?
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

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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 ‐‐ each only once

‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th

1 2 3 4 5

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Make inferences – limited options

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5 ‐‐ each only once

‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th

1 2

1 2 3 4 5

2 4
1 2 3 4 5

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More inferences…

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = 5 ‐‐ each only once

‐‐ 2nd = 2x 1st
‐‐ 3rd < 5th

1 0/3
2 3/4
1 2 3 4 5
4 0 Despite students’ initial
horror, Logic Games is
2 4 0/1 1/3 the easiest section on
1 2 3 4 5
which to improve.
3 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:

• You were unprepared for the exam (avoid this outcome)

• 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.

• 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) Week 3
• Review of diagnostic test
• Introduction to logic games • Review homework questions
• Basic diagramming, section strategy, and • LG — grouping games
question ordering • LR — assumption questions
• Linear games • Homework: 1 LG section timed, 2 LR sections timed, 1
• Introduction to Reading Comprehension, including RC section timed; full preptest
section strategy and passage outlining
• Homework: 2 LG sections untimed, 2 RC sections Week 4
untimed
• Review homework questions
Week 2 • LR — predicting answer choices
• LG — sequencing and matching games
• Review homework questions, especially LG • Homework: 2 LG sections timed, 2 LR sections timed,
diagramming full preptest
• LR intro — argument structure and basic approach
• LG — advanced linear games Week 5
• Introduction to formal logic and conditionality
• Homework: 2 LR sections untimed, 1 LG section
• Review homework questions
untimed, 1 RC section untimed
• 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 Week 9
• Review homework questions
• RC — question types and difficult questions • Review homework questions
• LR — parallel reasoning questions and advanced • Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
formal logic • Homework: 2 full preptests; review
• LG — unusual game types; advanced thinking on
deductions Week 10
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review
• Review homework questions
Week 7 • Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Review homework questions • Homework: 2 full preptests; review
• RC — advanced timing drills and section strategy
• LG — timing and perfecting mental processes — using Week 12
each second productively
• Homework: 2 full preptests; review • Final review of strategy for each section
• Writing sample
Week 8 • Review homework questions
• Review homework questions • Deep‐dive on problem‐areas
• Deep‐dive on problem‐areas • Homework: 2 5‐section preptests; review
• Homework: 2 full 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 Prep Course One‐on‐One

Tutoring
• Lowest price (~$200) • Generally good • Study plan completely
• Self‐paced materials tailored
• Focus on need areas • Schedules keep • Help identifying and
• Roughly 50% of test‐ students on pace fixing weak areas
takers report self‐ • Work on concepts
study until you understand
them

• Hard to know what • Lack of personal • Costs more than self‐

you don’t know attention study
• Few resources to • Valuable time devoted • Fewer contact hours
answer questions to unnecessary areas than a course
• Score plateaus • High cost‐to‐value ratio
• Every point counts

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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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