With the September LSAT test just around the corner and the new format of the LSAT in full swing, here are some test day predictions and tips!
But first, a recap of what’s happened in the world of the LSAT over the past few months. First, LSAC got rid of the Logic Games Section and replaced it with a second scored Logical Reasoning Section.
Second, the unscored writing section (now called LSAT Argumentative Writing) is now more open-ended and allows for the incorporation of real-world experience and values. Good news: If you already have a writing sample on file, you don’t need to take it again. But if you don’t have one, read up on the changes and get a sample outline.
What Will Be on the 2024 September LSAT?
Logical Reasoning
Yes, there are now two scored Logical Reasoning sections. However, substantively, it should be similar to what you’ve seen on past practice tests and exams. The overall distribution of questions should remain intact. This means the most common question types will be weaken, strengthen, necessary, soft must-be-true, and flaws.
Notably, all of these question types except for soft must-be-true will have you identifying and working with flaws. So, focus on figuring out what is wrong with the argument before going into the answer choices. Focus on what the argument fails to prove in the conclusion and why the support wasn’t enough on those questions. The right answers will always relate to the flaws.
Overall, the difficulty curve on the September LSAT should largely track what you’ve seen on prior tests. The first ten questions should be relatively easy, with a bump up in difficulty around question 11 and a steeper bump in difficulty around question 16. If you’re trying to tackle all the questions, allocate more time for later questions that are more complex and have trickier trap answers.
That said, the LSAT also has been known to throw the occasional curve ball at you. Don’t be surprised if there is a tough question early on and don’t panic if one seems particularly challenging. You may want to skip these early tough questions and come back at the end. If you run out of time, guess on any you don’t get to, as you don’t lose points for missed questions.
More LSAT Help
🧠 An Introduction to the LSAT Logical Reasoning Section
❓ The Best LSAT Guessing Strategies
Reading Comprehension
There will only be one scored Reading Comprehension Section on the September LSAT. However, you might get a second experimental Reading Comp Section or an experimental third Logical Reasoning Section. These experimental sections can show up anywhere on the test. So, treat each section as if it’s scored. If you are dreading two RC sections, assume you will get two so you’re not demoralized if it happens.
As with Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension generally ramps up in difficulty, but difficulty tends to be more subjective and based on personal interest or knowledge of the topic. I’d expect a mix of subject matters on test day—likely one legal, one arts, one science, and one social science passage.
Identifying the subject of the passage early on can often inform what to expect for the rest of the passage. For example, science passages often center on explanations of phenomena or scientific discoveries. Arts passages tend to focus on artists’ unique contributions or art movements. Finding the purpose or what the author cares about early on can allow you to put the other paragraphs into proper context, which in turn allows you to determine which facts or more or less important.
More LSAT Help
📖 How To Approach Reading Comp on the LSAT
📖 Nailing the Author’s Attitude on RC
Final Thoughts
The LSAT is predominately a test of logic and composure. Substantively, it tasks you with identifying relationships between things. What is being used to support a claim? How are two things similar or different? What falls under the umbrella of a broader principle or topic?
If you can identify those relationships and describe their impact, you’re most of the way to acing everything they’ll throw at you. Psychologically, though, the LSAT is testing your ability to stay calm and focused throughout.
If you encounter a particularly tricky science passage or an arts passage on the September LSAT with sophisticated vocabulary you’ve never seen before, they aren’t testing your knowledge of those topics. They are testing your ability to keep reading and seek out context clues that allow you to infer the meaning.
Similarly, if they give you answer choices for a Logical Reasoning question that are a convoluted mess, they are testing your ability to objectively judge the other four answer choices. If all four are wrong, go with the convoluted one.
Most significantly, each question is only worth 1 point, and the test is on a curve. This means, if there is an absolutely brutal question, most test takers likely missed that question and getting that one wrong won’t meaningfully impact your score. Don’t let those tough questions impact your performance on easier questions and stay focused on the task at hand and you’ll be able to thrive on test day!
P.S. Decided to reschedule your September LSAT? Or simply getting familiar with the test before your test date later this year? We can help maximize your prep time!
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