<p>Being someone who has been studying for the LSAT for the past couple of months, I figured I’d toss out some novice advice. Before anything, before you pick up a book or register for a class, take a diagnostic under test conditions. Find out where you stand. I took mine and scored a 155…far from the 170 I was aiming for. I set a benchmark goal of wanting to average 170 on the practice tests b4 I took the real test in June of 08 (ya, I know, I started early).</p>
<p>Many people debate which way of studying is better, but the consensus that I’ve heard from such boards as lawschooldiscussion.org is that self-studying is just as effective as enrolling in a program, plus it is much cheaper. I for one do not have $1,300 to drop on a program, however if you are DISCIPLINED, meaning you can devote 2 hours a day to LSAT study, then you don’t need a course. Pick up both the Logic Reasoning Bible and Logic Games Bible. They will teach you the tricks and techniques to help you succeed. I have been reading the LRB and am just 3 chapters in yet I’ve seen my Reasoning score increase from an average of 16/25 to 21/25. </p>
<p>Finally, after reading both the LRB and LGB go back and pick up every test the LSAC has administered. You can buy them, plus the answer guides, and go through all 50 of them!!! This may seem like a tall task, but it will pay off when you get to the test and realize you’ve done tons of others just like this one. The fact is if you’re an average student (3.4-3.6) and you wanna get into a T14 law school, you’re gonna need a 169+. Just some tips, for those who would like to add more feel free :).</p>
<p>that’s basically what I read as well. Forget Kaplan or princeton review books. Just buy the bibles, do as many prep tests, and read scientific mags to improve RC.</p>
<p>“you do realize that the test is changing with June 07 administration. So I think you may need to modify your plan”</p>
<p>How so? Should I “modify” by not doing practice tests and not reading the two best LSAT prep books? RC is changing on the new LSAT, not LR/LG. Good luck if you wanna start studying from the june 07 tests on, cuz you’re gonna have about 3 to study from if you take it in june 08…</p>
<p>Certainly I’m sure sybbie’s advice was meant to have you add to, not decrease, your study burden. The test is different now and you should make sure to access relevant materials. Kaplan and PR will both issue books and you should utilize those. The LSAC is unlikely to release their tests that quickly (they might post a sample or two online), which magnifies the importance of using materials from private companies.</p>
<p>That’s not to say you now need to take a class. It means that you should at least buy their books.</p>
<p>Sybbie, I think you gave him very valuable advice and thank you for your continued input across these forums.</p>
<p>How CAN you change? They are only changing the reading comprehension section? The only way to study for that is to read intense non-fiction books. It’s agreed upon that LR + LG are the hardest and most important sections, and also the easiest to study for, whereas with RC you either get it or you don’t.</p>
<p>You can’t seriously be suggesting that you walk into the LSAT and take their new RC section blind. Yes, you’ll have 3/4 of the test down, but that still leaves 1/4 of the test.</p>
<p>And “you either get it or you don’t” is an approximation. Every point matters and being familiar with the section will be a big deal.</p>
<p>My information may be incorrect, but I’ve actually heard from more than one source that the change to RC is not as significant as many make it out to be. There are four passages in RC, and people have told me that only ONE of the four passages will be different (i.e. the two shorter passages;comparison).</p>
<p>So it’s one of the four passages, or 1/16th of your overall LSAT. That’s still 6% or so. When every point matters, it’s important to be familiar.</p>
<p>It’s not as great as people make it out to be. Jesus haha… 1/16th of your overall LSAT. The section is called Reading Comprehension, either you Comprehend what you are reading or you don’t. You either comprehend two shorter sections in comparison or you don’t. If you can do the old RC it’s the same thing except split up into 2 smaller ones but you still have to comprehend the reading?? It’s a joke to think that you can study for RC…Read alot, that’s how you study.</p>
<p>lol @ people criticizing laxattack; his intentions are only to help by giving advice to those who are new. stop being so critical. he is right about not being able to study for the new change, but only be fimilar with it. ha.</p>
<p>But that’s all we’re suggesting: be familiar with the new section. He objected strenuously enough to this suggestion that I was rather taken aback.</p>
<p>LR and LG are the hardest? Uh, LG is a cakewalk now. LG has gotten easier for years while RC has gotten harder and harder (see PrepTest 50) - if my Feb. test was disclosed, I’d bet money on -0 for LG. If the entire test was LG, I’d have a 180 easy.</p>
<p>“But that’s all we’re suggesting: be familiar with the new section. He objected strenuously enough to this suggestion that I was rather taken aback.”</p>
<p>I believe I did say to take all the previous administered LSAT’s, which, after the June 07 test, will include the one comparative reading passage. If you have another way of “being familiar” to the new, unseen section I’m all ears. Essentially the new will not be that diff from the old. You still have to read a section and comprehend the meaning of it. It’s the same as the old RC except one passage will be split into two, and you will have to answer questions which ask about points in conflict and agreement. To know how to answer these you, like every other RC passage, must know how to comprehend it. Read lots of NF and take all the practice tests.</p>
<p>“He objected strenuously enough”…what the f u c k is this? A Few Good Men?</p>