-
An essential for LSAT prep Dec 8, 2003 (286 of 288 found this helpful)
I began studying for the LSAT in July. On my first practice tests, I was scoring around 160. When I finally took the test in December, I got a 174. This is how I did it.
In preparing for the LSAT, I have used a wide variety of study guides--10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests, 10 More Actual Official PrepTests, Kaplan's LSAT 2004, Kaplan's LSAT 180, Princeton Review's Cracking the LSAT 2004, and REA's Best Test Prep. The only bad one among them was REA's; the rest were quite helpful. This book was the conerstone of my preparation. If you want to do well on the LSAT, this is the way to study:
Your first two purchases should be Kaplan's (or Princeton's, if you prefer) most current LSAT guide and 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. Kaplan's book will give you a good intro to the test, along with 3 full tests with a detailed analysis for each question. The PrepTest book will give you plenty of real, recently-administered LSATs to take, though without question analysis. Just getting used to taking the test is the most important part of the preparation process, and between the two books, 13 full tests should be plenty.
If, after 4 or 5 tests, you're noticing your scores plateau around 165, and you want to bump them up, get Kaplan's LSAT 180. It is full of the toughest questions that Kaplan's crew could come up with (along with a few nasty ones you might see adapted from real questions on LSAC's PrepTests), and strategies on how to approach them. The regular, yearly guides are a great way to start studying, but they will only take you so far. LSAT 180 can take you the rest of the way, as its name implies. You should be warned beforehand though--these are THE TOUGHEST questions you will find anywhere. If you can handle these, most of the actual test will seem like cake.
If you burn through all of Kaplan's Tests--including the free online one--and all 10 Actual tests (Like I did), you can always get the older 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. It's still good prep; the only difference is that the tests are older--December '92 is the oldest; September '95 is the most recent. Some minor things have changed: the older tests are a little harder, which means a lower raw score here translates into a higher scaled score; the wording of questions is different; and some of the types of logic games that are on the newer tests aren't on these. However, if you've taken all the tests in the more recent book, and you know what to expect to see on the actual test, taking the PrepTests in this book is a good way to keep your practice going.
Also, both LSAC.org and Amazon have individual PrepTests available for $8 apiece. You can get all the most recent tests--sometimes right up to the one most recently administered. These aren't as good a deal as the books of 10, but seeing the most recent material--even if it's just 1 or 2 tests--is worth it. Though I haven't taken it, I've heard that PrepTest 31 (June 2000) has the most difficult Logic Game ever on it... that might be worth checking out. *****UPDATE***** I took PrepTest 31. The CD game was thoroughly underwhelming--I didn't even think it was the hardest game on the test. Maybe that's just me.
Anyway, that's about it. If you want to prepare for the LSAT as thoroughly and effectively as possible, this is the way to do it.
-
Highly Recommended Book Jan 4, 2004 (139 of 142 found this helpful)
In training for the LSAT, I used only official preptests sold by LSAC. Many past reviewers recommended studying multiple books, like those available by Kaplan or Princeton Review. I have found that Kaplan and other study aides add to the confusion many test takers experience, and Kaplan even admits that its study guides do not help 40% of those who buy the books.
If you want to do well on the LSAT, this is the way to study:
Your first purchase should the 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. The PrepTest book will give several of real LSATs to take, though without question analysis. All of the answers are given, but they are not explained. I find this to be a bonus, because I believe that a test taker can learn more from figuring out why the answer is what is, instead of just going by the problematical answers Kaplan gives. Kaplan's answers have a tendency to be too long and lack an accurate answer. It is similar to when a person is talking but they are not really saying anything.
Just getting used to taking the test is the most important part of the preparation process. If you finish all ten tests, get the older 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests.
DO NOT buy Kaplan's LSAT 180. It is full of the toughest questions that KAPLAN could MAKE UP. These questions are so bogus that they lowered everyone in my study group's score: we all had scores over 170 before this book. On one page, Kaplan gave two complete different explanations for two questions that were the exact same type of question. Kaplan's answers to MADE UP questions are lacking judgment. Kaplan is simply too lazy to buy official questions.
Also, both www.LSAC.org and Amazon have individual PrepTests available for $8 each. Get the latest tests: these aren't a good buy like the books of ten, but seeing the most up to date material - even if it's just 1 or 2 tests - is worth it. If you are not in a hurry, you can get the tests free of shipping from LSAC, and they have the MOST RECENT tests, while Amazon tends to lack the two most recent tests.
Specifically, get the June 2000 (PrepTest 31) exam. This contains the notorious "CD Game," the second game, which is commonly considered the most complicated LSAT logic game ever.
BUT...
If you REALLY want to, go ahead and pay in the thousands for a LSAT class prep course, like those offered by Kaplan and Princeton Review. I do not suggest doing that, but confidence is essential for acing the LSAT. If you feel that taking an over-priced prep course will boast your self-assurance, feel free to do so.
-
LSAT Preparation - #3 most important set of tests you'll buy Nov 27, 2005 (57 of 57 found this helpful)
You should only buy this book if you're planning to take 20-30 PrepTests before you take the real LSAT. You should make all of the most recent preptests (39+ are currently available in individual test booklets) and "The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" (29-38) a higher priority than this book.
This book contains modern LSATs (post December 1995). Even though the tests are from the last 10 years, or so, you'll still notice some slight variation between these tests and the real LSAT you'll take. That said, it's an excellent study aid and it's cost effective.
This book contains:
PrepTest 19; June 1996
PrepTest 20; October 1996
PrepTest 21; December 1996
PrepTest 22; June 1997
PrepTest 23; October 1997
PrepTest 24; December 1997
PrepTest 25; June 1998
PrepTest 26; September 1998
PrepTest 27; December 1998
PrepTest 28; June 1999
-
Essential, If Not Complete Dec 19, 2003 (21 of 21 found this helpful)
"10 More Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" is absolutely essential to studying for the big exam. I've been working with Arco and Kaplan's books, which both feature sample tests and some exercises. However, they're inadequate in preparing you for the nature of the real test questions. "10 More...Preptests," being actual LSATs, actually do give you a feel for the test's real questions.
The only complaint I have is that there is no explanation key but it's a minor complaint, since I have had to look over my answers and figure out for myself why my answers were wrong. Of course, this helps, as it forces you to examine the questions more thoroughly than you normally would.
My recommendation is to use this book in conjunction with a study guide (Kaplan has a good one). Study the test-taking techniques and do the exercises in the study guide, THEN test your skills with this book.
-
Buy the newer "10 Next AO LSATs" if you are buying just one Aug 20, 2004 (15 of 15 found this helpful)
I splurged and bought all three of the big books in the Law School Admission Council's "10 Actual, Official LSAT" series. (The first is "10 Actual, Official LSAT", followed by "10 More Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" and most recently "10 Next Actual, Official LSAT Preptests"). All three books contain offcially released, actual LSATs. All are great for practicing for the real thing. One might argue, however, that by default, "10 Next Actual, Official LSAT Preptests (ISBN: 0942639898) is now the one to buy, simply because the tests are newer and therefore are more likely to reflect LSAC's latest thinking on question format and difficulty. Other reviewers have suggested that the LSAT seems to be recycling the structure, if not the precise problems, of so-called logic games from older tests. So it probably pays to buy this or one or both of the older test collections too, provided you have the time to study that many tests. One wonders why logic games are so important a part of this test, when every lawyer I know says they are unlike they type of legal reasoning they employ in their practice of law. But as long as they stay there, if you want to do well on the test you have to, quite literally, "play the game."