How would you define the LSAT in your own words?

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for taking the time to post your question!

The LSAT is the Law School Admission Test, so it’s a qualifying standardized test that you need to take as part of your application process for law school. It’s more skill based than content based, so it wants to gauge how well you will do in the analytical environment of law school by testing your reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning.

Hopefully that gets you moving in the right direction! Feel free to reach out for a lesson if you have any questions beyond that! :)

Answer 2

The LSAT is a skills-based test measuring the cognitive abilities and skills necessary for success in law school AND in a career as a lawyer.

The importance of seeing it as SKILLS-based, not CONTENT-based cannot be overstated. In this aspect, it is fairly unique among standardized tests for requiring virtually no mastery of any particular knowledge or external content, such as the mathematical facts and formulae or the rules of grammar found on other big exams like the GRE or GMAT. Rather, it is a test of:

1. Reading Comprehension, particularly that of academic and legalistic texts.

2. Logical Reasoning, particularly as is used in making logical inferences as well as in the analysis, critique, strengthening, weakening, or dismantling of written arguments.

What little content you WILL have to learn includes:

---key terms relating to the structure of an argument

---the precise logical meanings and implications of certain words like "all", "most", "some", "none", "necessary", "sufficient", etc.

---elementary logical syllogism as seen in the use of conditional statements and contrapositives.

---basic logical fallacies, such as the idea that correlation does not necessarily imply causation, etc.

There is also a written essay assessment. This is not factored into your main LSAT score (on a scale of 120 - 180), but it is sent to your schools, so there is no reason to do poorly on it. 

*******Up until mid-2024, there was also a section known as "Logic Games" (formally referred to as the Analytical Reasoning section), which is NO LONGER ON THE LSAT.*********

Due to the unique skill-centric (not knowledge-centric) nature of the test, the key to success lies in mastery of techniques. Having a good set of strategies and practicing them ad nauseum is EVERYTHING. It is equally important to develop your mental stamina, focus, and pacing.

For more advice on how to prepare for the LSAT, reach out for a free consultation.