Study the LSAT Everyday
No, that’s not an order, but it is a great idea. Here’s the problem; there’s a limit to how many tests you can work through without completely tuning out and not getting anything out of it. The good news is you can study the LSAT everyday while minimizing your exposure to the actual test.
Quick disclaimer: this is NOT a recommendation to ditch practice tests or strategies. This is a way to supplement your test studying so you are always in LSAT mode.
That said, consider what the LSAT is actually testing. It is a test that evaluates your ability to think logically. You are presented with chances to think logically all the time (though if you’re like me, you may not always live up to the potential). If you identify and use those opportunities, they become excellent chances to study.
Start with reading comprehension. Whether you’re in school or at work, you have to read, probably pretty often. We read for content – to find out what the article is saying. Start reading for perspective as well. As you go through your books and articles, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the one sentence that captures what the author is trying to say?
- How does the chapter/page/paragraph/sentence relate to the author’s main point?
- Is there another side discussed? Does the author refute it? How?
You’ll ask yourself these questions as you work through LSAT reading comprehension, so getting in the habit of answering them will make the test far more intuitive.
You can use the same bits of reading to practice logical reasoning. If there’s an argument in what you’re reading (and there often is; everyone’s got a point to make) add a few questions to your list.
- What is the author using as evidence to make his point?
- What is the author overlooking or assuming that is creating a flaw in his argument?
- What additional bits of evidence would strengthen or weaken the argument?
These six questions cover a large chunk of what the LSAT tests and how it asks its questions. Whether you’re reading a magazine article, blog post, or text book, make it a habit to ask and answer these questions. You’ll start transforming the way you evaluate written works into what the test takers hope it is. No matter what point you’re at in your studying, start reading this way and turn LSAT-style reading into a natural habit for you.