Introducing The Lsat

Introducing The LSAT – An Information Primer John Richardson, B.A., LL.B., J.D. This is a short compilation of the most common questions and concerns “Law School Bound” students have about the LSAT and its role in the admissions process. It will also provide you with information about LSAT Preparation books, courses, seminars, tutoring and workshops in Toronto, Ontario, the rest of Canada and the U.S. In addition to the information here please you will find information on our four sites affiliated with the Richardson Prep Centre: http://www.prep.com http://www.prelawforum.com http://www.lawschoolbound.org http://www.prelaw.ca http://www.lsatstudygroup.com http://www.lsatlogicgames.com http://lsatbooks.wordpress.com http://prelawforum.wordpress.com http://lawschoolbound.wordpress.com Facebook Groups: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2338673922 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7644906956

Outline Of Frequently Asked Questions FAQs Organized By Category: 1. What Is The LSAT, Where Does It Come From And What Role Does It Play In The Admissions Process? 2. How Do I Register For The LSAT And Why Should I Take The LSAT Early? 3. About The LSAT - Exact Upcoming Dates

4. About The LSAT - What Does It Test? What Counts? What Is Experimental? 5. About The LSAT - How Is It Scored? What Does The Score Mean? Do All Questions Count The Same? Is There A Guessing Penalty? Can I Cancel My Score? 6. LSAT Preparation - "Success Favours The PREPared Mind!" 7. About LSAT Books ... 8. About LSAT Preparation Courses ... 9. Richardson - Law School Bound - Our Experience - Since 1979 10. Richardson - Free LSAT Strategy Seminars 11. Find An LSAT Course Anywhere In North America 12. Contact Richardson - Law School Bound 1. What Is The LSAT, Where Does It Come From And What Role Does It Play In The Admissions Process? Q. What is the LSAT? A. The letters LSAT stand for “Law School Admission Test.” The test is required and is part of the admissions process for almost every law school in North America. The LSAT is the same in both Canada and the United States. Q. Who administers the LSAT? A. The LSAT is developed and administered by a company called “Law Services” based in Newtown, PA. They may be found at: http://www.lsac.org (215) 968-1001 A free sample LSAT is available for download. Q. What kind of LSAT score is required for admission to law school? A. Although the LSAT is very important, it is only one part of your application file. (For applicants in the regular applicant category, your grades will be more important than your LSAT score.) There is no established passing or failing LSAT score and each school is free to decide what score will satisfy its admission requirements. For example, there is at least one school that treats the LSAT as

fifteen percent of the decision and there is another where the LSAT counts for almost fifty percent of the decision. 2. How Do I Register For The LSAT And Why Should I Take The LSAT Early? Q. How do I register for the LSAT? A. Complete information about the LSAT and registration may be found at: http://www.lsac.org The best way to register is online. There are deadlines for registration and since the most popular test centers (for example Toronto) fill up quickly, you should register as early as possible. Q. How many times may I take the LSAT and is there a fee? A. There is a fee. Under the current rules you are permitted to take the LSAT only three times in any two year period. Q. When may I take the LSAT? A. At present the LSAT is available to be taken 4 times a year – usually in June, October, December and February. Q. Is there a date by which I am required to take the LSAT? A. Different schools may have different admissions policies and procedures. You should research these deadlines on a school by school basis. Q. When would it be advisable to take the LSAT? A. The deadline for the application to Ontario law schools is Nov. 1. There is no reason to delay until that time. We recommend that you take the LSAT when there is the least conflict with other academic commitments. Q. Would you recommend taking the LSAT in June? A. In a perfect world, June is the perfect time for the LSAT. Most students are finished school in May making May a perfect time to prepare. Should you need to take the LSAT again – October is the perfect second time. If you cannot take the LSAT in June, we strongly recommend that you take the LSAT in October. 3. About The LSAT – Exact Upcoming Test Dates What follows are test dates for 2009 – 2010 Monday June 8, 2009 Saturday September 26, 2009 Saturday December 5, 2009 Saturday February 6, 2010

The above information comes from Law Services. It may also be found at: http://www.lsac.org/LSAT/test-dates-deadlines.asp

4. About The LSAT – What Does It Test? What Counts? What Is Experimental? Q. What does the LSAT test? A. The short answer is that the LSAT is multiple choice test of reading and reasoning in context. The reading and reasoning skills are tested in the context of three question types – Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games), Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. Q. What is the format of the LSAT and how many questions are there? A. The LSAT is composed of five thirty-five minute sections. Four of these sections contribute to your LSAT score and one is experimental (meaning it does not contribute to your score). The four sections that count are (in no particular order): 1. Logical Reasoning 24 – 26 questions 2. Logical Reasoning 24 – 26 questions 3. Reading Comprehension – 26 – 28 questions 4. Analytical Reasoning – 23 – 25 questions Regardless of the exact number of questions in each section the LSAT is composed of 101 questions. LSAT test takers are required to complete a thirty minute writing sample which does not contribute to your LSAT score. Q. Can you tell me more about the experimental section? Why is it there? How is it used? A. The experimental section is an additional thirty-five minute section that test takers are required to complete. It is NOT identified as being experimental. The purpose is so that LSAT can try out future questions for possible use. It will be a repeat of one of the three question types that counts. All questions in the experimental section will be of that one question type. For example, your LSAT might have an additional section of Reading Comprehension. Although all test takers get exactly the same four sections that count – different test takers will receive different experimental sections. Q. Is the LSAT a paper based or computer based test? A. At the present time the LSAT is a paper based, standardized test.

5. About The LSAT – How Is It Scored? What Does The Score Mean? Do All Questions Count The Same? Is There A Guessing Penalty? Can I Cancel My Score? Q. How is the LSAT scored? A. The LSAT is reported on a scale of 120 to 180. Your score corresponds to a percentile ranking. This means that it is a reflection of how you perform relative to all test takers. There is no established passing or failing score. At the risk of oversimplification: First your raw score is determined – the number of right answers out of 101 is counted up. Second – the raw score is then converted to a scaled score which corresponds to a percentile ranking. For example, a score of 151 reflects a performance in approximately the 50th percentile (although is does vary a bit from test to test). Q. Do all LSAT questions count the same or do some count more than others? A. All LSAT questions have exactly the same weighting – they count the same. Therefore, it is essential that you make sure that you first answer the questions that are easier for you (I emphasize “for you” – different people have different strengths and weaknesses.) Q. Is there a penalty for selecting the wrong answer? A. No there is no penalty for selecting the wrong answer. Therefore, it is essential that you put an answer for every question on the test. 6. LSAT Preparation – “Success Favours The PREPared Mind!” Q. Should I prepare? A. Obviously you should be prepared when you take the LSAT. Even Law Services (the creators and marketers of the LSAT) encourage preparation. Q. How much should I prepare? A. You have two preparation objectives. They are: First, to actually be prepared. Second, to feel that you are prepared. Different people have different preparation needs. Q. How early should I start preparing? A. This is a matter of opinion and is subjective. But, it would be a mistake to

presume that you will needs months and months of preparation (although some people may). Our advice is to begin with a period of four to six weeks prior to the test and then to add more time if necessary. (This is another argument for taking the test in June or October.) Q. How should I prepare? A. This is done through a combination of actual LSAT practice questions and additional books and courses. 7. About LSAT Books … Q. What about books that come directly from LSAT? A. At a minimum you should familiarize yourself with the LSAT using actual LSAT questions. They are available for purchase from LSAT and in many university bookstores, Chapters/Indigo and of course online. At present there are approximately 45 actual released LSATs many of which are available for purchase. With few exceptions the actual LSAT tests come with answers but not with commentary. Hence, the need for additional books. Q. What about books that don’t come directly from LSAT but come from other sources? A. There are many LSAT books on the market. You will want them to provide the commentary on the test that LSAT fails to provide with their own tests. Obviously, we would recommend our own: Mastering The LSAT – How To Prepare Effectively And Successfully – John Richardson – ISBN: 0-9696290-3-6. A site that specializes in LSAT Prep Books is: http://lsatbooks.wordpress.com 8. About LSAT Preparation Courses … Q. What about LSAT Preparation Courses? A. A very high percentage of LSAT test takers do take LSAT courses. LSAT Preparation is a large industry. There are many different courses of varying durations, formats and prices. Q. What should I consider when selecting an LSAT course? A. We suggest that in selecting an LSAT course you consider at least the following: - Does the course teach a general approach (see information about courses below) which is firmly rooted in the twin LSAT realities of timing (you will run out of it), LSAT technology (all LSATs must be designed in the same way)?

- The experience level and quality of the teachers (remember that all courses are taught primarily from actual LSAT questions) - Time of day the classes are run (some people are too tired at the end of the day for evening classes) evenings or weekends or both - Duration and format – do you want a longer or shorter course? Both have their benefits. 9. Richardson – Law School Bound - Our Experience – Since 1979 We have taught our LSAT courses since 1979 – making our program one of the longest running programs in existence anywhere. In fact we are aware of only one other program (anywhere in the world) that has existed for as long as we have. Weekend Courses Of Various Durations Our courses are available in Toronto, Ottawa, London, Kingston and other locations in Canada. We offer our courses on the weekends in the format of four, three, two or one weekends. Our pricing is the most competitive in the industry. What Our Course Teaches - The Approach Our course teaches approach. We teach systematic ways of eliminating wrong answers. We teach the identification of right answers. The LSAT is not a test of background knowledge. Rather, it is a test of reading and reasoning. It is important that a score on say the June test has the same meaning as a score on the October test. To achieve consistency, every edition of the LSAT must measure the same things in approximately the same ways. As a result, LSAT questions are the "end product" of specific rules of design. Our course exploits this design requirement. We teach specific principles of approach that will allow you to "identify" the answers to LSAT multiple choice questions. These principles INCLUDE (but are not limited to): • diagramming techniques • the recognition of ways that LSAT test designers make wrong answers seem attractive

• the recognition of ways that LSAT test designers make right answers seem unattractive • the best order to attack LSAT questions • reading "between the lines" in reading comprehension • avoiding "clutter" in logical reasoning 10. Richardson - Free LSAT Strategy Seminars In order that you may meet our instructors and learn more about our programs, we offer numerous free LSAT strategy seminars. A directory of dates may be found at: http://www.prep.com/law/lsatstra.html 11. Find An LSAT Course Anywhere In North America Ontario – Canada: Richardson – Law School Bound offers LSAT Preparation Courses and Seminars in Toronto, Ottawa, London and Kingston and in some other parts of Canada. http://www.prep.com http://www.richardson-prep.com Canadian provinces outside of Ontario: For information about LSAT courses offered by other providers outside of Ontario visit: http://www.prep.com/law/lsatprepdirectory.html U.S.: For information about LSAT Preparation Courses offered across the U.S. visit: http://www.getprepped.com 12. Contact Richardson – Law School Bound Information on our LSAT preparation programs is available at: http://www.richardson-prep.com http://www.prep.com http://www.lawschoolbound.org

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