Introduction

Welcome to LSAT For Dummies, 3rd Edition! This book contains updates to familiarize you with the LSAT’s Digital format so that you’re comfortable with taking the test on a tablet. Even though the delivery is modern, the content of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) hasn’t changed. You may have heard horror stories about the LSAT, especially about the infamous “logic games.” Yes, the LSAT is no walk in the park, but it’s not the hardest test in the universe. It doesn’t require you to brush off your math and science texts from high school, and it doesn’t expect you to remember anything from your history classes. It really just expects you to be able to read and analyze. If you can read carefully and quickly and then apply what you’ve read, you already have the skills you need to succeed on the LSAT.

This book helps you refine those skills and apply them to the particular tasks on the LSAT. If you go through this book and work through a healthy number of practice questions, you should have a good idea of what awaits you on test day.

About This Book

First, allow us to tell you what this book can do: This book introduces you to the LSAT and helps you get a handle on how to take it. It describes the three types of multiple-choice sections — analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension — and provides guidance on how to handle them, with plenty of practice questions and explanations. It also touches on the writing sample, which is unscored but still merits a bit of attention. The first three chapters discuss some basics of law school admissions, test-taking strategy, and other logistical entertainment.

On to what the book can’t do: This book doesn’t give you a bunch of tricks to help you “crack” the LSAT. The LSAT isn’t a nut; it’s a test, and to do well on it you have to apply your natural intelligence and experience. We give you plenty of advice on how to approach each question type to maximize your talents and train your mind to think in the most effective way.

Included in this book are three full-length practice tests, which you can use to try out the tips and techniques we provide throughout the chapters. The difficulty levels and thought patterns on the practice tests are similar to those on real LSATs. Actual LSAT test-prep instructors and LSAT-takers assisted us by massaging and tweaking the questions to make sure that they’re equivalent to the real LSAT questions. You can get real and valuable practice by using the questions in this book. But the fact is, no one makes real LSAT questions but the real Law School Admission Council (LSAC). If you want real LSAT questions, get yourself some LSAT PrepTests, which are real LSATs administered in previous years. That’s the most authentic practice you can find, and we highly recommend it. (You can order these official tests in text or digital form from the LSAC website: www.lsac.org. They come with answers but [in most cases] not explanations, so they’re great practice, but to figure out why your answers are right or wrong, you should work through this book first to get a sense of how the questions work.)

To help, we italicize any new LSAT-related terms that you’re likely to be unfamiliar with the first time we use it.

Because this book is a test-prep, you probably want to read most everything here. Besides, we worked really hard on this book! However, if you’re pressed for time or just have a short attention span, you can skip the sidebars and any text marked with a Technical Stuff icon without missing out on too much.

Foolish Assumptions

We make a few assumptions about you, the reader (we hope you don’t mind):

  • Call us crazy, but we’re guessing you’ve signed up to take the LSAT or you’re at least seriously considering taking the LSAT.
  • We know, of course, that you’re not a dummy. You’ve likely received or are in the process of receiving an undergraduate degree and are no stranger to thinking analytically. You simply need guidance regarding how to apply your already sharp skills to the unfamiliar question types on the LSAT.
  • Our third and final assumption is that you’ve chosen this book for one of several reasons — the fabulous For Dummies reputation for providing information in an easily accessible format, the price, or the attention-grabbing yellow-and-black cover — but mainly because you think you want to go to law school, and the LSAT is the primary way to that destination.

Icons Used in This Book

This book, like all For Dummies books, uses icons to help you spot important tidbits of information and break up the monotony of otherwise plain and ordinary pages. Here are the icons you’ll encounter in this book:

Tip This icon marks useful bits of information that may come in handy when you study for or take the LSAT.

Remember This icon reminds you of valuable strategies to keep in mind as you work through the test content.

Warning This icon marks stuff to avoid, potential mistakes, and traps for the unwary.

Example This icon identifies practice questions that demonstrate how to apply specific techniques.

Technical stuff This icon highlights extra tidbits of info that enhance your reading but aren’t essential to preparing for the LSAT.

Beyond the Book

By now we’re hoping that you’re impressed with the wealth of content contained in this book. But to quote your favorite infomercials: Wait! There’s more!

In addition to what you’re reading right now, this book comes with a free access-anywhere Cheat Sheet that includes tips to help you prepare for the LSAT. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and type “LSAT For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

You also get access to four full-length online practice tests and approximately 500 flashcards. To gain access to the online practice, all you have to do is register. Just follow these simple steps:

  1. Register your book or ebook at Dummies.com to get your PIN. Go to www.dummies.com/go/getaccess.
  2. Select your product from the dropdown list on that page.
  3. Follow the prompts to validate your product, and then check your email for a confirmation message that includes your PIN and instructions for logging in.

If you don’t receive this email within two hours, please check your spam folder before contacting us through our Technical Support website at http://support.wiley.com or by phone at 877-762-2974. 

Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the practice material as often as you want — simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the access code a second time.

Your registration is good for one year from the day you activate your PIN.

Where to Go from Here

If you bought this book, you must have some plan — definite or tentative — to take the LSAT. But just buying the book alone won’t help you much. To get the full benefit, you have to open it up, read it, and work the problems.

There are two approaches you can take:

  • Read all the explanatory materials, work your way through all the practice problems, and then take the practice tests at the end and see how you did.
  • Take one of the full-length tests to see how well you do. Score your test. Then study the sections that give you the most trouble, concentrating on the questions you find difficult.

It’s up to you. You’re the one taking the test, and you’re the one who has to decide what you need to study and how much time you want to allocate to the process.