The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a standard test required for admission to programs by most law schools in the United States, Canada, and other countries. It measures analytical thinking, logical reasoning and reading comprehension skills and is considered an integral part of the law school application process. But despite its importance, the LSAT can be a daunting test for many law students. But fear not. We have prepared a detailed guide to help you understand the LSAT. In this article, we’ll share our best strategies for mastering each section and give you the tools you need to excel on test day.

Logical Reasoning:

The Logical Reasoning section is one half of the LSAT and consists of two 35-minute sections with approximately 25 questions for each section. The goal of this section is to measure a candidate’s ability to analyze, evaluate, and complete arguments as they identify existing reasoning errors. Here are some tips to improve your performance in Logical Argument:

1. Focus on understanding the structure of the argument: This will help you quickly identify the argument’s assumptions. A high-quality LSAT prep book goes deeper into how to do this effectively.
2. Pay attention to unfamiliar vocabulary: Some LSAT questions use language you may not be familiar with, and tripping over a difficult word can distract you. This is why building a solid vocabulary is so important.
3. Beware of “difficult answers”: don’t fall for answers that seem right at first glance but contradict the basic message of the passage. Remember the main point of the passage when answering the questions.

Reading Comprehension:

The Reading Comprehension section assesses the ability to read a passage quickly, understand clearly, refine the central argument, and answer follow-up questions. Although this part can be complicated, effective preparation can go a long way.

1. Build Your Reading: Practice reading passages of the same length as the LSAT before the exam. This will help you increase your stamina, eliminate distractions, and focus as you answer the questions.
2. Take breaks while solving: Don’t try to read a passage and answer all the questions at once. Take some time to clear your mind and tackle each question one at a time, starting with the one you’re most comfortable with.
3. Pay attention to the author’s tone/voice: Knowing how the author’s tone/voice changes throughout a passage is one of the surest ways to determine the main point of a story in a passage.

Analytical Reasoning:

The Analytical Reasoning section tests the candidate’s ability to organize information and relationships, draw conclusions from uncertain data, recognize when a principle may be applied to solve a new problem. Your reasoning skills and your ability to master the material provided are counted here.

1. Use diagrams: To solve more complex logic problems, be sure to read the question first before creating a visual diagram.
2. Don’t get stuck: Try not to get stuck in a puzzle. Remember to always focus on other questions that are a little less difficult, scrap paper can sometimes give you clues on how to solve more difficult questions.
3. Understand the rules: This may involve trial and error, but cover all the rules of a quiz and make sure you fully understand them before answering. Of course, you want to avoid incorrect assumptions.

Undetected error:

The LSAT is not scored simply on the number of questions answered correctly, but on whether you answered the total number of questions correctly (*thus, the reason the strategy the answer above explains why it’s best to use scratch paper to your advantage). Remember to spot errors and if you answer each question along with time to review if it comes back to avoid a “negative” rating going undetected.

Conclusion:

The LSAT is certainly a tough exam, but an approach that focuses on speed, knowledge of expectations, rigorous practice, ongoing preparation, and relaxation/habit strategies can makes a significant difference. Law school entry requirements vary, but mastering the LSAT will greatly improve your chances of getting into the law school of your choice with a reasonably complete profile of law school admissions criteria.