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Learn about Paul's LSAT prep strategy that got him a 178
Score and how it can benefit YOU.

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Paul, an LSAT winner, describes his preparation strategy

in his own words.

I prepared on my own without the aid of a class or private tutor. Between the diagnostic and
the actual test, I raised my score over twenty points and now attend a top-15 law school.

LSAT LOGICAL REASONING

This was the most difficult section for me, which was unfortunate since it is also the most
important, comprising half of the test.

So I devoted a good deal of my study time to it, particularly in analyzing the questions that I got
wrong.

I discovered that the most common mistake for these questions are simple misreading--there is
a big difference, for example, between "could be true" and "must be true." I got into the habit of
marking key words like those both while reading the questions and while reading the
passages.

I also brushed up a little on my formal logic by looking through an old cognitive science
textbook of mine--though you can get the same information from some LSAT prep books.

It also really helps to know the different types of questions. The Princeton Review LSAT
Workout has a really good list of these different types and how to spot them, as well as
common mistakes for each one.

LSAT ANALYTICAL REASONING

I know that some people hate this section, but it was actually my favorite!

I like to look at these problems as games. If you think of them that way, and see solving each
one as a fun challenge, then you'll be motivated to practice, practice, practice.

I also found that it was helpful to just practice using the "thinking muscles" that you need for
these sorts of problems--by doing Soduku! You use many of the same skills (ordering,
elimination, etc.) that the AR section tests. Or even closer, you can get books of "logic
problems" that are pretty much the same types of logic games as on the LSAT, but maybe a
little more fun.

I found that I was better at some types of problems than others, so I picked up the LSAT Logic
Games Bible to practice the ones that gave me trouble.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing about solving these problems is to DRAW A DIAGRAM. All of the
prep books will tell you that, and the section directions even suggest it, but I cannot emphasize
enough how important and helpful this is.

I also found it extremely helpful to write out all of the "clues" in a symbol-based shorthand so
that it was easy to see at a glance how they related. This section is usually considered the
most "learnable," and even though I started out pretty good at it, I was still able to get better!

LSAT READING COMPREHENSION

This section was always the most annoying to practice, because it's just so tedious and boring
to read these long passages.

It was always really tempting to me just to skim them, because it wasn't the "real" test, but I
forced myself to break that habit. If you don't do the best you can on every practice, you won't
be able to figure out where you actually need to improve. Not to mention that you can get in
bad habits for when you take the actual test!

When I did RC problems, I found it helpful to skim through the questions first, marking a
keyword in each one (main point, purpose, strengthens, weakens, assumes, etc.) that indicates
what kind of question it was, so that I had an idea of what to look for when reading the passage.

I used a highlighter to mark important parts of the passage--specifically themes or main ideas--
and if I could, made note in the margins of things like structure, tone, purpose. I often found
myself getting bogged down in the passage, re-reading sections that confused me, or
agonizing over difficult questions. I found this to be a bigger problem than in the other two
LSAT sections. Try not to do this! Remember that every question is weighted equally, and if
you don't get to the easy ones, those are lost points!

I would recommend glancing at each of the four passages when you first begin the section and
doing them in an order from what you first perceive as easiest to hardest--whether just based
on the subject matter, or difficulty of the language, etc.

HOW I PREPARED FOR THE LSAT

My first step was to take one of the official LSAT tests provided in the LSAT Bulletin that you
get when you register for the test. (If you haven't registered yet, you can also use one of the
tests from the LSAC-released Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests books).

I took the test under as close to real conditions as I could, in a quiet room, timed. My score was
a 155. While respectable, I knew that this would not get me into the schools that appealed
most to me, so I decided to buckle down and study. I had about three weeks before my test
date.

I spent about two hours every day (with a few off here or there) for those three weeks working
on my preparation. What I found to be the most helpful, especially at the beginning, was to
analyze the tests that I took and figuring out what I did wrong with each incorrect answer. After I
did this a couple of times, my practice scores catapulted into the 170's.

I used the Barron's LSAT Prep book, as well as an official LSAT PrepTest book. I eventually
got the Logic Games Bible as well to help me out with the types of analytical reasoning
problems that gave me the most trouble. Though as it was mostly reading and I did all of my
diagrams on scratch paper, I sold this one after I finished the LSAT. (I wouldn't recommend
planning on doing this with most prep books, though, as it is good practice to mark up the
questions.)

One thing that I would not recommend as far as books go is getting the versions that have CDs
with electronic versions of tests. There is really no point in doing practice LSATs on the
computer; to me, it's important to make your practice test experience as close to the real thing
as possible.

The hardest part for me was motivating myself to actually work every day. If you're someone
who would have real difficulty doing this, then it actually might be in your best interest to take
an LSAT class. Not because the information presented will be any better, but just because it
will force you to prepare--for some, this might be worth the $1000.

I didn't use a private tutor either, but I had friends who consulted one for a day after they had
finished most of their preparation, just to help with the parts of the test that gave them the most
trouble.

I always tried to take practice tests under as realistic conditions as possible, and I nearly always
practiced doing the writing section as well. My score steadily rose throughout my practice tests,
and then stayed pretty steady, hovering in a three point range. When I finally took the LSAT, it
was just about what I expected--a 174, which was only one point lower than the highest-scored
practice test I'd ever done.

MY TEST DAY EXPERIENCE

I didn't take any practice tests or do much studying the day before the test, just tried to
decompress a little, and went over some basic strategies. I also made sure that I mapped out
the location of the test site (using both MapQuest and a real map--you can't be too careful!)
and figured out exactly how long it would take to get there. If you live close enough, I would
highly recommend going there at some point just so that you're sure. After all, if you get lost
and end up late, you can't take the test for another three months!

Because the test site was pretty far from where I lived, I planned to get there about half an hour
early to account for any bad traffic, etc. I didn't have any problems at all, so I took that extra
half hour to go over basic test-taking strategy (but didn't cram!).

When I took the LSAT, the rules weren't as strict, but now you have to be especially careful
about what you bring into the test site. There will be a list with your registration materials, but
don't forget that you need a clear, ziplock bag because you can't bring in purses, bags, etc.
And don't forget your ID! Double-check before you leave the house that you have everything
you need.

I was very nervous as I took the test, but because I'd done so many real practice tests, at least I
knew just what to expect. I had to guess on more questions than I was comfortable with, and I
left convinced that I'd done horribly. Though I think that almost everyone thinks that. You
really shouldn't cancel your score unless something out of the ordinary happened--like if you
were sick, or there was some disruption, etc. If the problem is just that you think you could
have done better, you are probably better off waiting to see how you actually did.

It really is an agonizing wait for your scores… but at that point, there's nothing you can do. I for
one was really pleased with my score. I felt that I'd worked hard for it but without sacrificing too
much.

So, that was how Paul did it.

Paul was a student of my-prep and employed the exclusive strategies to
increase his score dramatically.

You can find detailed strategies for each of the LSAT sections, and tips for
scoring 170+ in the ebook   Ways of the LSAT Winners.

This guide was originally prepared exclusively for students who take private
coaching from my-prep.

Now it is being made available for anyone who is aiming at 170+ score on the
LSAT

Learn about the Common LSAT pitfalls and how to avoid them.

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