LSAT Notes

What is the LSAT®?

  • The LSAT® (Law School Admissions Test) is a standardized test by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC®).
  • It tests reasoning, reading, and logical thinking skills.
  • Studying requires working through questions, drills, and practice tests.
  • It is not mostly a knowledge test but knowledge of test attributes is needed.
  • Natural aptitude varies, but improvement is guaranteed with effort and consistency.

LSAT Structure & LSAT Scoring

  • The LSAT has four sections: two scored Logical Reasoning (LR), one scored Reading Comprehension (RC), and one unscored LR or RC section.

    • 4 sections total, 35 minutes per section, 10-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd section.

  • Logical Reasoning tests argument analysis.

  • Reading Comprehension tests understanding and application of information.

    • 2 scored LR sections, 24-26 questions per section.
    • 1 scored RC section, 4 passages, 5-8 questions per passage (27-28 questions total).

  • The fourth section (LR or RC) is unscored, unknown until writing.

  • LSAT Argumentative Writing® section is separate and doesn’t count towards score; it assesses argument construction with 50 minutes allotted.

  • Total time: 2 hours and 30 minutes (without accommodations).

  • LSAT scores range from 120 to 180.

  • Raw score converts to the LSAT scale.

  • Average LSAT Score = 153. MINIMUM COMPETITIVE SCORE = 160.

Studying for the LSAT

  • Take a Diagnostic Test to reveal basepoint for improvement and to identify strengths/weaknesses.
  • Don’t Overstudy: Commit to 1-2 hours/day.
  • When you’re studying…Study! – Full focus and effort, no distractions!
  • Embrace the Journey of self-improvement.
  • Don’t Compare Yourself to others; it’s a personal journey with different strengths/weaknesses.
  • No Music to mimic test day conditions.

Practice Tests

  • Practice tests are most crucial for learning how to deal with difficulty in the moment.
  • Essential skills include bouncing back from difficult questions and moving on.
  • Practice tests simulate time pressure, test length, and structure of a real LSAT.
  • Begin by studying basics, then move to practice tests.
  • Don’t take the LSAT prematurely; study until target score is achieved.

Blind Review

  • Blind Review involves reviewing marked questions to understand why you fell for the wrong answer
  • Steps to Blind Review:
    1. Keeping track of unsure questions during a section.
    2. Reviewing marked questions and change the answer if you can.
    3. Submit practice test and review both original and Blind Review score.

My Study Guide

  • Study Philosophy:
    1. Understand the structure of the test.
    2. Learn the basic skills necessary for success.
    3. Learn how to solve Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions.
    4. Practice, practice, practice, and take as many practice tests as possible.
  • Stage 1: LSAT Logic and Arguments
    • Introduces the LSAT, its structure, and purpose.
    • Provides basic skills for understanding and excelling in scored sections; focuses on argument structure and LSAT logic.
  • Stage 2: Logical Reasoning
    • Breaks down LR question types, strategies to answer LR questions efficiently, as well as how to approach an LR section as a whole.
  • Stage 3: Reading Comprehension
    • Provides a comprehensive guide for mastering Reading Comprehension. Focuses on the spectrum of question types, paragraph styles, overall reading strategies.

LSAT Logic

  • LSAT logic involves understanding and interpreting conditional logic.
  • Translate logical statements into “If X, then Y” (X → Y) format to simplify it.
  • Create a study schedule to keep yourself accountable.

Sufficient and Necessary Conditions

  • X represents the sufficient condition while Y represents the necessary condition in a logical statement.

Examples

  • "Mike is always at work when Harvey is." can be translated as "If Harvey is at work, then Mike is at work" or Harvey \rightarrow Mike
    • If Jim is late to work, then Dwight will tell Michael. Jim \rightarrow Dwight
    • If Jesse doesn’t help out, then Walter won’t meet his work quotas. Jesse \rightarrow Walter

Contrapositives

  • Contrapositives are two logically equivalent statements; they represent the same logical statement but do so differently.
  • Finding the Contrapositive Example:
    1. Swap: X → Y becomes Y → X
    2. Negate: The negation is the logical opposite of a statement. The negation of “X”would be “not X”.
    • X \rightarrow Y and \sim Y \rightarrow \sim X are contrapositives of each other.
  • Be careful with negations! When you think of the logical opposite of “good”, you may think it is “bad”. But this isn’t true. The negation, or logical opposite of “good” is “not good”.

Example

  • If Harold isn’t scared, then Louis isn’t mad equates to “If Louis gets mad, then Harold will be scared”.

Logic Translation Rules

  • Rule 1: Following If, when, where, whenever, wherever, all, every, any, the only represents X (sufficient condition).
  • Rule 2: Following Only, only if, only when, only where, must, always, requires represents Y (necessary condition).
  • Rule 3: Either the X or Y condition surrounding Unless, without, until represents X when negated.
  • Rule 4: Either the X or Y condition surrounding No, not, none, cannot, never, not both, when negated, represents Y.

Rule Examples

  • Phil can get a dog only if Clair approves it = If Phil can get a dog, then Clair approves it.
  • Every time Jake makes a mistake, he blames Charles = If Jake makes a mistake, then he blames Charles.
  • Saul will not speak to clients without Mike present = If Saul speaks to clients, then Mike is present.
  • None of the bosses will attend Jim’s barbeque = If they are a boss, then they will not attend Jim’s barbeque.

Translation Practice

  • Various statements and examples are provided for translation into "If X, then Y" form (see original document for the statements and examples).

LSAT Logic Chains

  • Translating logic is crucial for understanding chains of LSAT logic.
  • Example: Mike is always at work when Harvey is. Harvey \rightarrow Mike. Louis cannot be happy when Mike is at work Mike \rightarrow \sim Louis. Every time Louis is not happy, Harold gets scared. \sim Louis \rightarrow Harold .
    • This can be combined to If Harvey is working, Harold is scared.Harvey \rightarrow Harold
  • If you have to change lanes or directions while working through a logic chain, then the two conditions are unrelated.
  • You have to go against the direction of the arrow (without negating a condition as you would do to find the contrapositive), then it will not form a valid relationship.

LSAT Language

  • Or: “Harvey or Louis will attend the dinner” includes that both could attend the dinner.
  • Some: More than 0% with the possibility of 100%. 0\% < Some \leq 100\%.
  • Most: More than 50% with the possibility of 100%. 50\% < Most \leq 100\%.
  • All: 100%. All = 100\%.

Negation of terms:

  • Negation of Some: Not Some, or in other words, none. (0%)
  • Negation of Most: \%0 =< Not Most =< 50\%. (less than or equal to 50)
  • Negation of All: Not All \ (0\% \leq Not All < 100\%).

LSAT Argument Structure

  • LSAT arguments have three parts: context, premises, and conclusion.
    • Context: Background information.
    • Premises: Evidence to support a conclusion.
    • Conclusion: Main point the argument is trying to make.
  • Context is not always required when constructing an argument, but it is often included in arguments on the LSAT to try to throw you off or waste time understanding
  • Indicator words can help identify parts, but aren't always present.

Common Premise Indicator Words

  • Since…
  • For…
  • Seeing as…
  • Given that…
  • As indicated by…

Common Conclusion Indicator Words

  • Therefore…
  • Implies that…
  • We can conclude that…
  • It follows that…
  • Consequently…
  • Accordingly…
  • As a result…
  • Hence…
  • So…
  • Thus…

Example

  • "Only Harvard law students have access to the Harvard law library. Elle has access to the Harvard law library. Therefore, Elle is a Harvard law student."

Argument Flaws

  • A flaw represents a “gap” between premises and conclusion.
  • Conclusion cannot be justified by premises alone.
  • The argument doesn’t say that you have to be a senior partner to have access. Therefore, the flaw in this argument is that it assumes that because Louis is not a senior partner, he must not have access to the financial records.

Argument Example

  • "Harvey Specter is a senior partner at the law firm Pearson Hardman. Only senior partners have access to the firm’s financial records. Therefore, Harvey must have access to the firm’s financial records."
    • Can be corrected by swapping “Only senior partners…” for “All senior partners.