A Short LSAT Study Guide for Students
As stated above, an LSAT is a test that students wishing to pursue law are subjected to as a criterion for admission. In essence, the examination aims at assessing an individual’s ability to think, comprehend situations appropriately and to read and express themselves proficiently which are the basic skills that any good lawyer should be endowed with to ensure a successful career ahead.
This test is necessary to ensure that all the candidates join the law school are well equipped with the necessary skills required as they practice law including: ability to express one’s idea boldly and using appropriate words that are respectable and related to the case in question, ability to decipher situations and intentions and express them in a way that other people can make sense of the whole scenario and most importantly is the ability to think rationally yet logically hence one can make informed decisions regarding any case he or she is to handle.
The LSAT test dates vary according to the law school one intends to join but usually are administered six times every year. On average the LSATs are scheduled to be done within three and a half hours (excluding breaks) and is divided into a number of sections taking thirty-five minutes each.
The administering body in charge of the LSATs is the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) which is tasked with ensuring that the test is accurately standardized and covers all the key areas to be assessed and that the same test is administered in all the law institutions. The LSAC also has to ensure that only those candidates that pass the LSAT test go ahead to study law. Studying law without taking the exam and qualifying is a very serious offence, punishable by law.
There are no restrictions for attempting the LSATs, that is, anyone wishing to pursue law is allowed to undertake the exams. It is administered to all persons worldwide wishing to pursue law and it is administered in English which is somewhat a universal language used in most courts of law which makes proficiency in the language the only prerequisite for taking the exams. To prepare for the exams, you can either study the subject yourself or turn to some of LSAT prep courses offered online. You can try several methods – from studying on your own to taking the courses or even resorting to LSAT private tutoring – choosing the best LSAT prep method is up to you, only getting the knowledge is what really matters.
What is LSAT study guide and how it can be useful
The LSAT study guide is a publication that provides you with everything there is to know about the exams and gives you a much simpler way to prepare for the test in a more relaxed mood. As mentioned earlier, the test is aimed at assessing one’s ability to think logically and comprehend situations accurately and hence a good study guide should be geared in ensuring that you gain mastery of these skills. The LSAT study guide has the following key LSAT sections:
- Analytical reasoning – in this case, you have to determine whether a given statement could be or is true after evaluating a number of facts that relate to the said statement. It is therefore necessary for you to be able to analyze all the facts given appropriately and visualize the order of stated events to be able to decipher the correct answer. An important feature in this section is the if-then or conditional statement which will necessitate you to make conclusions from the information provided where the conclusion depends on the variable information. You must also be able to recognize logical equivalents which describes the truth between two different statements. You should also be able to make inferences from any information provided requires adequate comprehension of the information and taking keen consideration into all clues that will point you towards coming up with an accurate conclusion.
- Logical reasoning – this section mainly helps you to sharpen your critical thinking skills. Here, you are provided with a short pattern and required to draw meaningful and appropriate answers to questions given. The trick is to be able to take apart all the events in the passage and decipher what they are actually portraying. Mostly the questions asked will require you to find strengths and weaknesses in the author’s argument, his or her way of reasoning, method or reasoning or arguing, parallel reasoning, key points and assumptions, paradox and inferences.
- Reading comprehension – basically assesses one’s ability to read and understand a passage which is tested through the individual’s ability to answer questions related to the passage accurately. It may seem easy but be sure that the passage will have complex words and a twisted argument structure. For you to handle this section appropriately, you will have to identify the central theme of the whole passage, identify ideas that can be derived directly from the passage and those that are inferred or rather you can conclude on your own after proper understanding of the passage.
- Writing sample – here, you will be asked to write a short essay on a given topic. The topic is given in the form of a debate motion where you will have to choose a side wisely that you can comfortably support and remember to discredit the other side using concrete evidence that cannot be disputed. All the sides of the question are correct depending on how well you can support them hence it is prudent that you choose a side that you have strong detailed points to support with.
How to prepare for LSAT – basic points to consider
As you prepare to take the LSAT, it is prudent that you understand the importance and the weight of the exam hence sufficient preparation is key in ensuring success. You will find the test a piece of cake with appropriate preparation. Here are some points to consider when preparing, and using them may be the best way to prepare for LSAT, no matter if you study solely on your own or use somebody’s help to learn the subject:
- Method of study – you have to understand the method you study best; is it by reading yourself, by being tutored or is it through watching onlineLSAT tutorials.
- Make a study plan – helps you to be time conscious while ensuring that you cover all the examinable areas.
- Research on most frequently asked questions – this is where the study guide comes in. it is important that you make yourself conversant with all the areas that are mostly asked in the LSAT examination.
The LSAT should not scare you from your dream of becoming a law practitioner! With the mastery of the appropriate skills and knowledge you will pass the test and get yourself to your dream law institution.
