Thinking Lsat

Logical Reasoning predictions rely on the basics: accept the premises, assume the conclusion is false, and don’t read the question first. Ben and Nathan explain how these steps make the section easier and why reading the question first often hurts performance.They also discuss how law schools use seat deposit deadlines to encourage students to accept weaker scholarship offers. The guys warn about the return of student loan collections and emphasize avoiding debt without a solid repayment plan. They introduce “Crushing 1L,” a new tool to help students start law school strong. Then another episode of Personal Statement Gong Show. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 504 on YouTube0:28 – Deposit Deadline Drama - Law schools' admissions offices are sales departments. Changing offers right before deposit deadlines puts pressure on applicants to accept worse deals. It’s all part of the game schools play to leverage scholarship offers to manipulate their GPA and LSAT medians.10:35 – Student

The secret to scoring a 170 on the LSAT? Don’t finish the section—just slow down and focus on accuracy. Ben and Nathan share an excerpt from their new book, The LSAT Is Easy, that breaks down what it takes to reach score milestones. They also unpack common admissions gimmicks, share tips from a departing demon, and host another round of the Personal Statement Gong Show.Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 503 on YouTube0:37 - The LSAT Is EasyBen and Nathan explain why the LSAT isn’t as difficult as it seems. Rushing through questions leads to repeated mistakes, not progress. They encourage slowing down, focusing on accuracy, and carefully solving each question. The episode also introduces their new, budget-friendly book. Improving your score starts with doing questions right, not doing more of them.19:33 – Marketing gimmicks Law schools use tactics like seat deposit deadlines and “priority waitlists” to pressure applicants into accepting full-price offers. Ben and Nathan explain how these

Ben and Nathan break down the newly released U.S. News law school rankings, including an initial error that caused some confusion. They explain why slight shifts in rankings—like Cornell dropping out of the Top 14 or the new Top 17—shouldn’t heavily influence your law school choice. Instead, they stress applying broadly and focusing on schools with the best scholarship offers and employment outcomes.A listener asks if retaking the LSAT is worth it after being rejected or waitlisted by all her top schools. In Pearls vs. Turds, they assess a tip about highlighting adverbs in reading comprehension, noting that understanding their role matters more than marking them up. Then, they offer guidance on handling unanswered questions after timed sections. And what’s the deal with Pace Law School? Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 502 on Youtube0:30 – The New U.S. News Rankings (and a Bit of Confusion)Ben and Nathan unpack the latest U.S. News Law School Rankings, which briefly included an incorr

Ben and Nathan focus on shifting the power dynamic in law school admissions. From controlling scholarship negotiations to spotting misleading admissions practices, they offer practical advice for staying in control and making informed decisions. Sometimes, that means rejecting law schools that aren’t making the cut when it comes to scholarship offers. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 501 on Youtube0:35 – How Often Do Students Reject Schools - If you’re not turning down offers, you didn’t apply to enough schools. Applying broadly puts applicants in the driver’s seat and creates leverage for better offers. Nathan and Ben explain how schools are under pressure to fill their class and how savvy students can use that to negotiate their scholarship offers. They also caution against binding early decision programs, 3+3 tracks, and anything else that limits a student's ability to apply broadly.14:23 – Is the Scholarship Estimator Broken - Two students express concern over their scholarship pr

On Episode 500 of Thinking LSAT, Ben and Nathan tackle the most pervasive myths surrounding the LSAT, law school, and the legal profession. The core of the Demon philosophy shows up again and again in their myth-busting: read for comprehension, solve each problem, and don’t pay for law school. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 500 on Youtube3:46 - Myth 1: Most Students Pay Full Price to Attend Law School Only about 1 in 5 actually pay full price. Law schools use clever marketing tactics to make full-price tuition seem more common than it is. Ben and Nathan emphasize that this is the number one myth that the Demon dispels.12:31 - Myth 2: You Should Only Take the LSAT Once The advice not to retake the LSAT is outdated. U.S. News no longer factors in multiple LSAT scores, and law schools only care about the highest score. You should plan on using all five of your attempts. 26:09 - Myth 3: Learn the Basics Before Attempting Questions The Demon doesn’t force theory first because it’s dull a

 Ben and Nathan kick off the return of Thinking LSAT’s personal statement review segment with a listener's personal statement that had potential. But the statement quickly strays into the weeds, and Ben and Nathan “ring the gong.” Then Ben and Nathan emphasize the importance of securing a full scholarship to minimize risk during a potential economic recession. They also reassure a listener that reapplying with a higher LSAT score won’t hurt her chances. Later, they offer advice on effective LSAT review strategies and discuss the value of LSAT skills beyond the test. Ben and Nathan caution against Seton Hall’s 3+3 program, and others like it. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 499 on Youtube0:27 - The Risk of Law School Debt - Bobby shares a blog post highlighting the risks of taking on law school debt. Ben and Nathan discuss how law schools have evolved from para-professional training programs into elite “finishing schools” detached from the realities of legal practice. This shift h

Law school tuition is designed to exploit the students willing to pay full price, even though very few actually do. This week, Ben and Nathan explain why the more you pay for law school, the more you subsidize your classmates' scholarships.Later on, Ben and Nathan warn students not to confuse understanding with memorization. They caution listeners against taking on significant debt with the hope of loan forgiveness later. And they help a student pick a topic for his personal statement. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 498 on Youtube0:30 - Stuck on Questions - Devin struggles with complex questions no matter how long he spends on the passages. Ben and Nathan hypothesize that Devin may be falling into the trap of memorizing, but not understanding, the passage. 10:24 - Last Few Points - How do you go from a 170 to a 175? One student describes the daunting feeling accompanying the jump in those last few points. The guys advise him to slow down and attempt fewer questions in exchange for b

The clock shouldn’t affect you on the LSAT—but you still need to practice ignoring it. This week, Ben and Nathan advise a student to use timed sections to learn how to take the test like the clock doesn’t exist. Then, the guys explain how to approach the LSAT in an intuitive way. Later, Ben and Nathan encourage a student to try to get high school dual enrollment courses removed from their transcript, and they investigate Baylor University School of Law. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 497 on Youtube 0:30 - It Sure Feels Like Timing Is the Issue  - A student scored a 170 on an untimed diagnostic test. The guys encourage him to complete timed sections in practice to learn to ignore the clock while keeping the accuracy high.  11:30 - You Play Like You Practice - Ben and Nathan encourage students to play like you practice. Read for understanding and learn to do the LSAT intuitively. Diagramming is only going to get in your way. 20:25 - Feeling vs. Performance - One listener expresses dis

If you don’t have a burning passion to do the work of a lawyer, don’t go to law school. This week, Ben and Nathan caution a listener who is considering giving up a successful career to attend law school. Later, the guys emphasize the importance of accuracy when studying for the LSAT. And they encourage students not to write an addendum about an LSAT score increase.Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 496 on Youtube 0:48 - Will My GPA Overshadow My Career Accomplishments? - A non-traditional student considering a career change is concerned that his GPA will hold him back. Ben and Nathan caution him to carefully consider whether law school is the right move. 7:00 - Practice Test Scores Drop - Ben and Nathan assure a listener that their “drop” in practice test scores isn’t a concern as long as their accuracy continues to climb. 9:14 - Letters of Recommendation - A student was asked by their professor to compose a few paragraphs to serve as the basis for a letter of recommendation. The guys e

Don’t Throw Away Your (Five) Shots (Ep. 494)You have five attempts at the official test. Should you use all of them? This week, Ben and Nathan encourage students to plan on taking the test five times, but not to waste their official attempts by signing up before they’re ready. Later, they discuss a student’s question about requesting a sixth LSAT attempt, and they caution applicants not to make excuses when writing appeals. The guys also advise a listener about character and fitness requirements. And they review how students should and should not use AI on their law school applications. Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 495 on Youtube0:35 - April LSAT Sign Ups - Registrations for the April LSAT close on February 27. 3:50 - Am I Ready for April?  - Ben and Nathan advise a listener to prioritize accuracy when evaluating readiness for the April exam. But they also encourage students to take the pressure off any one test by planning to use all of their five official attempts. 16:29 - Readi

Nathan and Ben weigh in on the reports from some test-takers that the February LSAT featured more LG-style questions in Logical Reasoning. The guys also advise listeners on how to bounce back from a disappointing LSAT score. They caution applicants not to overshare in their law school applications. And they consider the importance of the LSAT Writing sample.Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 494 on YouTube0:52 - New LSAT Dates - LSAC just announced test dates for the 2025–2026 LSAT cycle.2:37 - January LSAT Scores - As January test-takers navigate the highs and lows of score release, Ben and Nathan encourage anyone who was disappointed with their score to keep studying and to treat their next official test like any other practice test.13:33 - Is LR the New LG? - Some February test-takers have reported an increase in Logical Reasoning questions that “require” diagramming. Nathan and Ben suspect that these claims are more fiction than fact. You don’t need to diagram in LR.28:30 - Overshar

You don’t conquer the LSAT with fifty-fifty guesses. You do it by carefully solving each question. This week, Nathan and Ben outline their plan of attack in Logical Reasoning, counsel a student who’s feeling unmotivated to study, and identify a common cause of score plateaus.Study with our Free PlanDownload our iOS appWatch Episode 493 on YouTube1:33 - Staying Motivated -An anonymous listener struggles to stay motivated for LSAT study. Nathan and Ben recommend prioritizing quality over quantity and pursuing activities outside of LSAT prep.7:45 - Don’t Apply Late -Law schools’ application deadlines shouldn’t be on your radar. To maximize your chances, apply early and broadly.16:45 - Attack Each Argument -The vast majority of arguments in Logical Reasoning are bad. Excellence in LR comes from attacking each argument and finding flaws.32:31 - Gap-Year Employment -Any work experience can be good work experience. Law schools won’t look down on you for putting a retail job on your résumé.36:10 - Timed Sections vs.

The best LSAT students frequently predict the correct answer. But what do you do if your prediction isn’t there? This week, Nathan and Ben revisit their adaptable approach to prediction. The guys also share test-week advice for a February LSAT taker. They weigh in on binding early deferral programs. And they examine a law school in turmoil. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 492 on YouTube 1:30 - February LSAT Advice - Listener Max looks for test-week advice to help him crush the February LSAT—but Ben and Nathan don’t believe in last-minute tips and tricks. They urge Max not to take the LSAT until he’s happy with his practice test scores. 7:09 - Predictions and Question Types - Nathan and Ben discuss how to predict answers and what to do when your prediction doesn’t appear in the answer choices. Their approach is similar across question types. 24:39 - Learn from Your Mistakes - You don’t need to look for big lessons in every mistake.Your review should always address these two questi

Always read the fine print on your scholarship offers. This week, Nathan and Ben examine a low-ranked law school that reduces roughly two-thirds of its conditional scholarships every year. The guys also discuss the competitiveness of this year’s application cycle. They dismiss the idea that the LSAT is harder than it used to be. And they weigh the importance of law school rankings in deciding which school to attend. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 491 on YouTube 0:35 - A Competitive Cycle - Nathan and Ben check the numbers for this highly competitive application cycle. They speculate about what might be causing the upward trend in applicants and LSAT scores. 19:05 - Is the LSAT Getting Harder? - After every LSAT, some test-takers complain that their official LSAT was more difficult than their practice tests. They’re imagining it. The LSAT is as difficult as it’s ever been: not very. 24:28 - Ask of the Week - The guys highlight Elizabeth’s insightful Ask Button explanation about u

The law school application cycle is far from over, but some disappointed applicants are starting to wonder: “What did I do wrong?” This week, Nathan and Ben point out some potential red flags that may have hurt one listener’s applications. The guys also explain how to develop speed on the LSAT, caution applicants against oversharing in optional essays, and bemoan the confusing state of ABA 509 reports. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 490 on YouTube 1:22 - Tips from a Departing Demon - LSAT Demon student James writes: “Don't give up! Fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to the Ark and it’s starting to rain!” 3:16 - Disappointing Cycle - An anonymous listener wasn’t offered the scholarships they expected. Ben and Nathan try to figure out what went wrong. 20:44 - Slow Down to Speed Up - The guys assure listener Adriana that speed will come naturally if she sticks with her accuracy-first approach. 25:56 - Optional Essay - An anonymous listener considers emailing law sch

Drilling is great, but you need to do timed sections too. This week, Ben and Nathan highlight the importance of timed practice and explain how to manage negative emotions from practice test scores. The guys also discuss letters of recommendation, reading speed in RC, and online law schools. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 489 on YouTube 1:05 - 175 or Bust? - Listener Andria is committed to pursuing a 99th percentile LSAT score. Nathan and Ben applaud Andria’s zeal but question her insistence on attending a top-ranked law school. 10:57 - Letters of Recommendation - Older applicants may struggle to obtain academic letters of recommendation. Can they get by with letters from professional acquaintances? 19:58 - RC Pacing and Stress - Listener Maya is stressed about spending too much time on the first passage in RC. Ben and Nathan implore Maya to ignore the clock and to stop trying to finish sections. 31:40 - Timed Section Fear - Many LSAT students avoid taking timed sections. Nathan

Can you trust your pre-law advisor? Not necessarily. This week Ben and Nathan criticize schools that mislead pre-law students about their law-school prospects. The guys also share simple tactics for ignoring the clock on the LSAT, and they calm a listener who’s frustrated by their progress in Reading Comprehension. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 488 on YouTube 1:28 - Fighting Bad Habits - Ben and Nathan share some tips for regaining your composure when you catch yourself rushing on timed practice. Here’s a simple one: breathe. 7:37 - RC Blues - Listener De’Andre wants to improve faster in Reading Comprehension. Nathan and Ben instruct De’Andre to stop looking for shortcuts and to work on understanding one sentence at a time. 17:24 - What’s the Deal with…? - The guys pass judgment on the University of Kansas School of Law. 1:06:09 - 3+3 Program - An anonymous listener declines some unhelpful guidance from their prelaw advisor. 1:12:22 - Word of the Week - We accept as an axiom th

Do law schools look unfavorably at applicants who retake the LSAT? This week, Ben and Nathan insist that any downsides to retaking the LSAT are negligible, while the upsides can be life-changing. The guys also dispel the myth of “overthinking,” rail against obscurantist 509 reports, and probe Ben’s alma mater: George Washington Law. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 487 on YouTube 3:49 - Law School Exams - A long-time listener describes how studying LSAT Logic Games helped prepare them for law school exams. 13:30 - T14 Scholarships - The guys discuss a T14 law school’s deceptive messaging about scholarships. 21:59 - Overthinking - LSAT students often blame their mistakes on “overthinking.” But you’re far more likely to miss a question because you didn’t think about it enough. 32:21 - Ask Button - Nathan and Ben celebrate the LSAT Demon Ask Button team. 34:47 - Retaking with a High Score - Ben and Nathan revisit a recent discussion about the potential downsides of retaking the LSAT

Nathan and Ben dig into newly released admissions data and discuss the impact of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban. Later, the guys advocate greater transparency in law school pricing, assess JD-Next as an alternative to the LSAT, and investigate the ascendent Texas A&M School of Law. Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 486 on YouTube 4:25 - New Law School Enrollment Data - The ABA just released law schools’ Standard 509 disclosures for 2024. Ben and Nathan discuss what the numbers mean for URM admissions following the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban. 14:55 - Scholarships - ABA 509 reports now define full-tuition scholarships as “scholarships that cover tuition and mandatory fees.” Listener Emma wonders if this definition allows law schools to obscure their scholarship numbers. Nathan and Ben consider solutions to law schools’ discriminatory pricing model. 31:20 - JD-Next - Some law schools now report the number of enrolled students who took JD-Next, an alternativ

Good lawyers aren’t afraid to pause when they don’t understand something. They read and reread until they figure it out. This week, Ben and Nathan discuss why this lawyerly trait is crucial to mastering the LSAT. Later, the guys reject a purported downside to retaking the LSAT. They speculate about AI’s impact on the legal profession. And they consider the value of paying for the prestige of a top law school.  Study with our Free Plan Download our iOS app Watch Episode 485 on YouTube 1:46 - Every Word Matters - LSAT beginners and veterans alike make most of their mistakes because of sloppy reading. Ben and Nathan urge listeners to read like lawyers: every word matters. 23:32 - Pearls vs. Turds - Will law school admissions officers brand you as a “perfectionist” if you retake the LSAT? Would that label hurt your admissions chances? 34:41 - AI and Law - Listener Charlie worries about AI’s impact on the legal profession. Nathan and Ben argue that AI will empower attorneys, not replace them. 44:47 - Pay for Pre