Happy New Year from Blueprint Prep, and congratulations to 2023’s first LSAT takers! The first test of 2023 is officially behind us, and we’re back to break it down for you. 

The First Test Post-Field Study

This is the first test administered since LSAC conducted the Analytical Reasoning Field Study in December. The Field Study was noteworthy for a couple of reasons: first, it was the biggest move LSAC has made toward replacing Logic Games (LG) since they surprised a subset of test-takers in June 2022 with an unusual experimental section. Second, it reminded everyone that LSAC refuses to call this section “Logic Games” (come on, really? It’s okay to admit that the people have chosen a better name). 

Logic Games … Better Than the Hunger Games?

Despite these signs of progress on the development of a new section, the games we all know and love (to hate) are still here to stay for the foreseeable future–and January testers can vouch for that. Complaints about a tough LG section were widespread on social media after the test, with most students pinpointing the fourth game as the source of the difficulty. “Never seen a game like that fourth one in my life,” noted one student online. 

On Logical Reasoning and Reading Comp

Luckily, the Logic Games section seems to have been offset by milder Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension (RC) sections, according to students who sat for the test. This is a slight break from the pattern set by the fall exams (August, September, October, and November), when most students complained about unusually challenging RC sections instead. 

Finally, while most test-takers reported smooth test day experiences, a small (but concerning) number found themselves unable to take the test at all due to what appears to be a glitch in Proctor U’s system: at least a dozen students claimed to have logged on to find that their testing locations had been changed to LSAC’s headquarters in Pennsylvania, meaning that their tests were now scheduled for time zones in which they did not live. Some discovered the mistake in time to correct it and sit for the test, but others sadly did not.  

If You’re Still Studying

February test-takers, remember: double check your testing information (including the time zone, the date, and any relevant rules or regulations) both the day before and the day of the test.

January is the last test accepted by many law schools for Fall 2023 admission, so if you’re aiming to apply this cycle, we encourage you to use the time “off” between test day and score release day to ensure that the rest of your application materials are ready to submit! And for those of you taking the test in February, there are just three weeks remaining to practice. You’ve got this–and everyone at Blueprint Prep is here to help (if you need a study break, I highly recommend our latest article on LSAT question types as TV show characters). 

We hope that you’ll let us know how you’re feeling on score release day and beyond! We extend our sincerest congratulations again to the January testers. We know how hard (and downright scary) the test can be. But you did it anyway!!! You’re all heroes to us.