LSAT Prep Book Recommendations

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Here's the moment you've all been waiting for: my LSAT prep book recommendations.

Happy holidays to everyone. There WILL be more tips next week too, don't worry - not everyone is on vacation. :D Recommendations below. Stay warm!

PrepTests 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56
by LSAC

Each are only sold individually, as LSAC has not yet published a book of ten exams containing them. Because the exam has changed in recent years, you'll need several of these to study effectively.

When to use: after you've completed the other PrepTests.

The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests
by LSAC (older edition)

Contains PrepTests 29-38 and is the newest book of ten. It's essential that you get your hands on these in order to study effectively.

When to use: during exam prep.

10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests
by LSAC (older edition)

Contains PrepTests 19-28.

When to use: during exam prep.

10 Actual Official LSAT PrepTests
by LSAC (older edition)

Contains most PrepTests from 7-18. Only worth doing if you're studying far enough in advance that you'll have enough time to do the most recent exams as well.

Note: These exams are really old - from 12/92 - 9/95. Don't be concerned if some of the games are a bit difficult. You'll rarely see these types on recent exams.

When to use (if at all): in early stages of preparation to familiarize yourself with the exam.

The Official LSAT SuperPrep
by LSAC (older edition)

Contains a few exams you can't find anywhere else: 2/96, 2/99, and 2/00. The explanations within are the biggest selling point, but most people find them to be confusing and technical.

When to use (if at all): in early stages of preparation.


June 2007 LSAT exam (PDF)
by LSAC

Free sample exam. Treat it as if it were PrepTest 52.5 when making your study schedule.


Logic Made Easy: How to Know When Language Deceives You
by Deborah Bennett (older edition)

Although not explicitly written for test-prep purposes, this book contains several logical reasoning-type questions and reviews several common fallacies. The author is clearly familiar with the LSAT, and this makes the book more relevant for our purposes. I highly recommend reading this because it is clear, full of simple examples, and concise. You can skip the parts on the history of logic.

American Scientist's review.

When to read: Before you begin LSAT prep or when you need a break from practice exams.

Informal Logic: A Pragmatic Approach
by Douglas N. Walton (older edition)

Clearly explains and demonstrate multiple examples of valid and invalid arguments. Walton is obsessed with logical fallacies and covers many of the common ones appearing on the LSAT.

When to read: Before you begin studying or when you need a break.

Elementary Logic: Revised Edition
by William V. Quine

At 144 pages, it's short and sweet. It's also the first-ever logic textbook (originally published 1941, revised 1980). It discusses many basic issues (necessary/sufficient, etc.) relevant to LSAT logic. If you have the time/inclination, feel free to look it up, but it's by no means necessary.

When to read: Before you begin studying or when you need a break.

How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method
by George Polya (Older editions)

Simple advice on problem solving and logical thinking. It's useful because it gives you a framework to identify and analyze the relationship between evidence and conclusion. Wikipedia, this summary, and the following will probably be enough for you.

The book gives you some questions to ask yourself about any Logic Game or Logical Reasoning Stimulus:

1. What information is unknown/provided? Does the evidence/premise satisfy the conclusion?
2. How is this game/stimulus similar to others you've done? Questions do tend to come back in future exams (with different topics, of course).
3. Does a restatement (the contrapositive) of the argument help?
4. What inferences can you make?
5. How can you use these inferences?

Another nice summary.

When to read it: Before you begin studying or when you need a break.

The Little Luxe Book of Sudoku: 335 Easy to Hard Puzzles and The Little Black Book of Sudoku: 400 Puzzles
by Will Shortz

Number puzzles exercise your brain and get it ready for the logic games.

When to use: Before you begin studying or when you need a break.

That's it - see you next year!

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Next week: How to study for a retake (or what to do when you've already used too many PrepTests)...

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LSAT Test Center Reviews

Have you booked your exam date for February or June yet? Read about what others have experienced at their LSAT test centers.

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10 Ways to Get Ready for the Morning of the LSAT

(I've also written several more LSAT Test Day Tips posts - check them out!)

For those of you taking the LSAT this Saturday, chances are you'll be free of it forever - congratulations! For the rest of you, file this away until your turn comes, whether it's in February or June of 2009 and beyond.

THE DAY BEFORE

1. Check out your test center.

If you haven't done so already, take an hour or two to drive out to the test center. It'll familiarize you with the location and neighborhood, reducing anxiety. Printing out the directions is one thing, but seeing the road itself is another.

2. Plan what to wear.

I'm not saying the LSAT is a fashion show. I'm talking strictly about functionality here. Wear multiple layers of clothing that makes you feel comfortable - your favorite t-shirt/sweatshirt are good choices. You don't know if the test center will be hot or cold. Don't bring a hoodie, though. I had to stash mine in a park outside the test site when I took the LSAT because the security wouldn't let me bring it inside, and there's nowhere in the building to leave banned items.

3. Plan what to bring.

Prepare your clear plastic bag with new sharpened No. 2 pencils, some energy bars, a banana, water, valid photo ID, printed admission ticket, one logic game (see #9), and an analog wristwatch, which you will be able to keep on your desk throughout the exam. It's important to bring a watch because there might not even be a clock in the room. You might also want to bring a newspaper to read on the way there. Check LSAC's test day rules for what's allowed, as the rules seem to change each year. Note that the official rules do not permit you to bring a cell phone, so think about how you can deal with this.

4. Don't study.

If you've spent a reasonable amount of time preparing, you either know or it you don't at this point. So take the day off. Go for a run, watch a movie, have dinner with family or friends. Try to think about the world after the LSAT (yes, it exists!).

5. Go to bed early and set two alarm clocks.

Make sure to get enough sleep so you'll have plenty of energy on test day. Avoid consuming anything with caffeine after 3PM.


THE DAY OF

6. Wake up early.

You should already be on an early schedule and getting enough sleep - especially if you've been taking practice exams at the time of day when your test will be.

7. Eat healthy, and eat a lot.

Some people advocate eating a light breakfast. However, I believe eating a full meal is important because you'll be sitting at one of those desks for several hours. Test center mishaps are more common than they should be, and some students report spending up to 7 or 8 hours in the test room. While this isn't likely to happen to you, it is possible. You'll probably be there for at least 4.5 - 5 hours. You don't want to be hungry when you already have enough to worry about. Eat foods with protein, and avoid coffee unless you absolutely need it.

8. Allow extra time to get to the test center.

Traffic delays can happen at the most random of times. Arrive early to make sure you get all the time you're permitted, and make sure your mode of transportation is reliable. If you're driving, have the phone number of a taxi handy in case you have car trouble (especially for December/February test-takers).

9. Do one logic game.

Immediately before walking inside the test center, re-do your "favorite" logic game, one you've done before and fully understand. Doing these logic games questions will increase your morale and get your brain in LSAT-mode so the first question you're doing that day isn't the first question of the actual exam.

10. Relax.

The LSAT is just a test. Sure, it matters, but if something goes wrong, you can always retake it or cancel your score.

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Is 10 hours a day too long to study for the LSATs?

(I've also written several more LSAT FAQ posts - check them out!)

This is a question I received from a student recently. The answer, of course, is "yes." Your mind is incapable of processing that much information at once. Even if it were, you can't keep up that kind of study schedule for more than a week or so anyway. Here's how you should study: at a relaxed pace over a period of 2-3 months. It's much more effective, and less stressful, than studying intensively over a period of one week, which might lead to burnout.

A few more questions I've received recently, and my answers to them, are below. Keep them coming!

Do you get a score just for signing your name on the LSAT?

Yes. You'll get a 120 just for signing your name. I'm sorry to say this score won't get you into many law schools. You'll need to answer at least a couple of questions to do better than that.


How many practice tests does it take to increase my LSAT score?

Results vary from person to person. Doing exams 29-54 would be ideal if you have the time. Otherwise, focus more on the recent ones. Exams prior to exam 29 tend to contain some more unusual logic game types like Pattern games. Only focus on those types if you've already mastered the more common game types.


My brain hurts from doing the Logic Games. How can I increase my brainpower?

Sudoku and crossword puzzles are both great tools to improve your spatial reasoning because they help you learn to move pieces of a puzzle around. However, they're really only worth doing if you're planning to take the LSAT several months from now. Otherwise, focus on LSAT logic games and do sudoku/crosswords for fun only if you actually enjoy them. Eating breakfast every day, maintaining an overall healthy diet, and exercising regularly will help get the juices flowing to your brain, too. Also, don't do drugs.


Will you take the LSAT exam for me? I'll pay you.

Anyone willing to take the LSAT for you is probably not smart enough to get you a good score. Aside from being unethical, it's risky and simply not worth it. If you deposit $10 million in a Swiss bank account for me, I'll consider it, though.

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Should You Retake the LSAT? Seven Questions to Consider

Many students contact me after they've taken the LSAT once or twice already, and they ask me if they should retake it. In response, I ask them the following seven questions to determine if retaking the exam is in their best interest.

1. Do the law schools to which you are applying average multiple LSAT scores?

Because most law schools no longer average multiple LSAT scores for applicants, retaking it is more advantageous than it used to be. The highest LSAT score will be the only score that they consider in forming your "admissions index" (a combination of your LSAT score and Grade Point Average which is unique to each law school).

2. Will retaking it delay the review of your application?

Law schools practice rolling admissions. This means that admissions officers review completed applications upon receiving them. This means that the earlier you submit a completed application, the better. Think about whether or not your LSAT score after retaking it will be high enough to counteract the disadvantage of applying later in the admissions cycle.

3. Did something out of the ordinary happen on test day or the few days beforehand?

If you had to deal with an illness, family/personal issue, test center mishap, or another issue that impacted your performance the first time around, retaking it may be in your best interest.

4. How did your performance on practice exams compare to your actual LSAT score?

Think about your performance on practice exams prior to the original score and your overall level of comfort with standardized tests. If your actual LSAT score was at least a few points lower than your practice exam scores, you have the potential to achieve a score that more accurately reflects your abilities.

5. Do you have enough time to study again?

Getting your brain back into "test mode" will require a significant investment of time and effort. Can you study in the morning or evening during the week? Can you study on the weekend? Make a study schedule for yourself between now and your test date to determine if you'll have the time to adequately prepare.

6. How did you study for it the first time?

Take a look at the materials that you used to study the first time around. If you didn't use books containing real LSAT exams, then this may have caused you to get a lower score than you deserved. If you studied from real LSAT exams, but you didn't do enough of them, or you didn't spend enough time reviewing incorrect answers, then you might not have fully understood why you were getting certain questions wrong.

7. Do you believe that you're capable of a higher LSAT score?

Law school is "kind of a big deal." If you believe that you're capable of a higher score, your investment in studying again and retaking the LSAT will pay off when you gain acceptance to a better school, receive scholarship money, and, ultimately, snag a better job when you graduate.

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