LSAT Prep Sessions Introduction

1. LSAT Prep SessionsIntroduction 1

2. LSAT Outline The LSAT has five multiple-choice sections: Reading comprehension Logical reasoning Logical reasoning Analytical reasoning [Experimental section on one of the above topics] These five multiple-choice sections can be in any order. There is a sixth writing section. Neither the experimental section nor the writing section count toward your score, although schools can view your writing section response. 2

3. LSAT Outline Each section is 35 minutes. There is a 15-minute break between section 3 and 4. So 35+35+35+15+35+35 = 175 minutes = 2 hours 55 min So 3 hours plus the writing section. 3

4. LSAT Scoring LSAT scores range from 120 to 180. 160 170 150 130 140 4

5. LSAT Scoring In percentile terms, an additional correct item matters more near the center of the bell curve because that extra item puts you in above more test-takers. 5

6. Realistic Law School Projections https://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx 6

7. LSAT Tips • Familiarize yourself with the LSAT rules. • Bring a permitted analog watch timing device. • Minimize or eliminate distractions. For example: • Visit the testing center beforehand. • Arrive early. • Eat beforehand. 7

8. LSAT Tips • Optimal test-taking tips can vary by person. • For some persons, it might be best to first read the items for the Reading Comprehension section. • For other persons, it might be best to first read the passages for the Reading Comprehension section. 8

9. LSAT Tips • Get a book with LSATs or use the free online LSAT. • [ISU has access to 2 practice pseudo LSATs at the Testing and Education Reference Center and 2 books of 10 actual LSATs on course reserve.] • Start by taking a full LSAT at your own pace, focusing on getting each item correct. • Try to understand each item you missed or weren't sure of. LSAT items might not repeat exactly, but the item patterns repeat. • It's not a bad idea to occasionally retake the same LSAT. 9

10. LSAT Tips • At some point, start to worry about timing. • Take a full LSAT timed, and then complete the same LSAT at your own pace. Score both response sheets: one score will reflect your timed ability, and the other score will reflect your understanding. 10

11. LSAT Tips Develop a symbol vocabulary, such as: 11

12. LSAT Tips If time is an issue for you, don't check other options after you find the correct option. Transfer responses in batches to the response sheet, to save time. Select an option for each item: there is no penalty for incorrect responses. 12

13. Retaking the LSAT Your LSAT score is a combination of your ability and luck; the luck part includes how well you perform on any guesses that you make. Get a sense of how well you expect to do before the LSAT so that you have an idea of whether you should retake the LSAT (i.e., the bad luck scenario). For example, if you take three practice LSATs and score 159, 160, and 164, and then you score 150 on the real LSAT, then it might be worth retaking the LSAT. But if you score 165 on the real LSAT, then there is less potential benefit to a retake, at least without more practice. 13

14. Game 2 LSAT Prep ClassLogical Reasoning Game 2 14

15. LSAT Logical Reasoning SAMPLE ARGUMENT: [premise] All men are mortal. [premise] Socrates is a man. [conclusion] Therefore, Socrates is mortal. 15

16. LSAT Logical Reasoning SAMPLE ARGUMENT: [premise] All men are mortal. [conclusion] Therefore, Socrates is mortal. [assumption] ? 16

17. LSAT Logical Reasoning SAMPLE ARGUMENT: [premise] All men are mortal. [conclusion] Therefore, Socrates is mortal. [assumption] Socrates is a man. 17

18. LSAT Logical Reasoning Conclusions are not necessarily at the end of a passage or signaled by "Therefore" or "Thus". Socrates is mortal. After all, Socrates is a man, and all men are mortal. 18

19. LSAT Logical Reasoning Each LSAT Logical Reasoning section has 24 to 26 items to be completed in 35 minutes, so that's about 1.4 minutes per item. Our practice LSAT items have been arranged by type of item, to help us see patterns. However, items on the actual LSAT items will not be arranged by type of item. 19

20. LSAT Logical Reasoning 20

21. Game 2 LSAT Prep ClassLogical ReasoningPractice Game 2 21

22. Game 2 LSAT Prep ClassAnalytical Reasoning Game 2 22

23. LSAT Games Often, the first item for an analytical reasoning game is a relatively easy process-of-elimination ("orientation") item. In this case, it might be a good idea to not spend time reading the setup. Instead, if the first item is an orientation item, familiarize yourself with the conditions as you work through the orientation item. Maybe not even draw a diagram until the orientation item is finished. 23

24. LSAT Games It might benefit you to answer logic game items based on how much info is provided. The strategy is to take the new information, apply the general conditions, and then solve the item, possibly building a list of potential solutions that you can use for the more general items. You might also become more familiar with the rules of the game, which could help you solve the more general items. 24

25. LSAT Games Here are items for one particular game: Each of the following could be the fifth valve opened EXCEPT If I is the second valve opened, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT: If L is the 7th valve opened, then each of the following could be the second valve opened EXCEPT: Which one of the following must be true? If K is the fourth valve opened, then which one of the following could be true? If G is the first valve opened and I is the third valve opened, then each of the following must be true EXCEPT: 25

26. LSAT Games If you can typically fully finish only three games, it might make sense to work on the games with the most items and save time for an orientation item from the final game. 26

27. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) Analytical reasoning setups have conditions that restrict the permissible combinations or permutations. Conditions in the setup hold for all questions for that game. Individual questions might have additional conditions that reduce the number of combinations or permutations even further. These additional conditions do not carry over to other questions. 27

28. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) One plan is to draw notations for the setup conditions that you can refer to for each item. Then, for each item, start with the new conditions, return to the setup conditions, and then see what follows from that. 28

29. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) Which of the following is a complete and accurate list of students who can visit Vancouver in March? Hubert Hubert, Lori Hubert, Lori, Regina Hubert, Lori, Regina, Sharon Hubert, Lori, Regina, Sharon, Paul Which student should you check first to see whether they can visit Vancouver in March? 29

30. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) It is important to distinguish items that ask what MUST be true from questions that ask what COULD be true. "Which one of the following could be true?" For this item, four options NEVER work and one option works. To solve, check to see which option works. "Which one of the following must be true?" For this item, at least one option works, but it's possible that all options work. To solve, you need to find the option that must be true not just an option that could be true. 30

31. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) Could P follow H? In this case, check whether P could follow H. Must P follow H? In this case, check whether P can occur before H. 31

32. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) • 3. Which one of the following must be true? • W and Z do not sign with the same agency as each other. • Fame Agency signs at most two of the performers. • Fame Agency signs the same number of performers as Star Agency. • Traugott signs with the same agency as West. • West does not sign with Fame Agency. • For (A), can you make it work so that W and Z sign with the same agency? • For (B), can you make it work so that Fame Agency signs 3 or more performers? • What do you look for for C, D, and E? 32

33. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) • What is the difference between these conditions? • Bob presents at some time before Anne. • Bob presents immediately before Anne. 33

34. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) • What is the difference between these conditions? • There are at most three students on the committee. • There are at least three students on the committee. 34

35. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) "F and G cannot both go on vacation in July." When can G go on vacation in July? 35

36. LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Games) "The day Biff works on his abs is also a day when he will run on the treadmill." Based on this statement, the number of times Biff works on his abs ___ the number of times Biff runs on the treadmill. = < > <= >= 36

37. Logic Games Tips 37

38. Logic Games Tips • You don't need to complete the games in order. • If your practice LSATs indicate that you cannot complete all four logic games in the 35 minutes, consider taking a few seconds at the start of the section to determine which game to leave for last. • Two good criteria for the last game: • Games with only 5 items • For example, do 7-item and 6-item games before 5-item games. • More difficult games • For example, do an ordering-only game before an ordering/grouping game. 38

39. Logic Games Tips You don't need to complete items within a game in order. Leave for later items that would be easier to solve after developing a set of solutions that work. 39

40. Logic Games Tips • Orientation items are relatively simple process-of-elimination items. • The orientation item and the items in level 2 will help you build a set of solutions that you can use to solve the more general pattern items; also, as you solve the level 1 and level 2 items, you will hopefully start to appreciate general patterns and connections between conditions. 40

41. Conditional In/Out Diagrams 41

42. Conditional Manipulations • If R is reduced, U is reduced. • R U • Does this mean that • if U is reduced, then R is reduced? • U R • If it rained, I brought my umbrella. • If I brought my umbrella, it rained. • NOT NECESSARILY! 42

43. Conditional Manipulations • If R is reduced, U is reduced. • R U • Does this mean that • if U is not reduced, then R is not reduced? • ~U ~R • If it rained, I brought my umbrella. • If I did not bring my umbrella, it did not rain. • NECESSARILY! 43

44. Conditional Manipulations Contrapositives of conditional if-then statements are always true. To find the contrapositive of a simple if-then statement with two letters, flip the order of the letters and negate both letters. A B means that ~B ~A is also a rule. A ~B means that B  ~A is also a rule. ~A  ~B means that B A is also a rule. 44

46. Conditional Manipulations Let's consider the contrapositive of complex if-then statements with more than two letters. If A, then B and C. The contrapositive is If ~B or~C, then ~A If I invite Amy, then I invite Bob and Carl. If I do not invite Bob or Carl, then I do not invite Amy. 46

47. Conditional Manipulations Let's consider the contrapositive of complex if-then statements with more than two letters. If A, then B or C. The contrapositive is If ~B and~C, then ~A If I invite Amy, then I invite Bob or Carl. If I do not invite Bob and Carl, then I do not invite Amy. 47