Although you can only work on one section at a time, you are not required to answer questions in the order that they are given. In fact, it is to your advantage to plan the order in which you will answer the test questions. You can optimize your score by postponing the most difficult questions and working on them only if time allows.

2. Record Answer Choices in Groups

Answers are always recorded on a separate “bubble sheet” which is specially formatted for the test. Recording the answers one at a time as you finish each question is too time consuming. When you finish a puzzle in Analytical Reasoning, or an essay in Reading Comprehension, or two facing pages of questions in Logical Reasoning, you should fill in the answers as a group before continuing. This saves valuable time and gives you a short mental break before advancing to a new activity

3. Avoid Distractors

In order to optimize your score, you must avoid answer choices that are specifically designed to be confusing. Such answers are called “distractors.”

The test designers make distractors seem attractive by inserting tricky language into the question stem, or by wording the answer so it differs only slightly from the correct choice.

Here are two reliable ways of avoiding distractors:

A. Physically Eliminate Wrong Answer Choices

The LSAT instructions tell you to select the best answer from five choices. A better instruction would be to eliminate the four choices that are not the best.

People are much better at deciding between two choices than selecting one of five choices. Test-takers who read all five answers and think about each one before making a choice actually have a greater chance of choosing the wrong answer. You are much less likely to be distracted from the right answer if you eliminate wrong answers.

You do this by crossing out wrong answers in the test booklet as you go through the five choices. Some test-takers hesitate to mark up their test booklets, but you must remember that no one else will see your test booklet. This strategy will also help you if you run out of time and are forced to guess.

B. Guess Strategically and Never Leave Answers Blank

There is no penalty for guessing on the LSAT, so you should always guess when you are left with no other option. However, there are many myths surrounding how to guess on questions when time has run out.

The truth is that there are no differences between the various last-ditch guessing techniques. The answers on the LSAT are randomized, so no strategy is any better than another. If you prefer to guess all C’s, go ahead. In fact, you can use any method for guessing as long as it does not waste time.

If you see that you are running out of time, leave three minutes for guessing at the end of the section. Although it is difficult to force yourself to stop answering questions, you have a better chance of increasing your score by guessing.

As you go along, you should make notes in the test booklet and eliminate wrong answers. If you are forced to guess, always look at the notes beside the questions you could not answer.

Choosing the right referee

When choosing a referee (the person who will write the letter of recommendation), many applicants begin with their undergraduate instructors. However, you might want to consider providing a more rounded impression of your accomplishments by submitting a letter from someone else in your life. This could be a former employer, religious advisor, supervisor in community service activities, or even a political figure for whom you have worked in the past.

Obviously, you should choose someone who will provide a positive report of your performance. This may mean asking someone who is not very well known in his or her field, but whose letter will be more convincing than a lukewarm recommendation from a more prominent person.

Although it is inappropriate to pressure someone into writing exactly what you want, it is not unreasonable to provide a summary of your association with that person to serve as a reminder. For example, if you’re asking a professor for a letter of recommendation, write a short description of the assignments that were part of your coursework, especially if some time has passed since completing the course. You may also want to outline how your experience with that professor might contribute to your future law studies.

Most personal statements include a useful description of the applicant’s background. However, to be outstanding, your personal statement must show evidence of special effort and determination.

Highlighting your academic performance in university or college is one way to demonstrate your strengths. Another way is to emphasize some of the challenges you have overcome in life. In particular, you should describe those accomplishments that best illustrate your ability to follow through on long-term commitments. This will help convince the committee that you have what it takes to succeed in the school’s law program and beyond. You might be reluctant to describe your accomplishments, but remember that your goal is to “sell yourself” to the school.

Finding the ideal mix of academic, work, and life experiences for your personal statement may require some real soul-searching. Organizing the information necessary for your statement can also be a challenge. This section will help you create a persuasive statement that will highlight your strongest points.

Writing a “Self-Account”

You should begin by writing a “self-account” of your experiences. This self-account should include anything from your background that might improve your chances of being admitted to law school.

For most people, the best place to start is with their schoolwork. Now, it may be that you were not even thinking of law when you selected your undergraduate courses, or perhaps you specifically chose courses that would boost your prospects of getting into law school. It doesn’t really matter. Your main concern at this point is to demonstrate how your academic experience will help you succeed in a law program. Be sure to describe any special academic projects for which you went beyond the normal expectations of the instructor.

Next, take account of your involvement in extra-curricular activities. List any organizations and societies such as student government, special academic projects, community involvement, athletics, volunteer work, and tutoring – all of these will add depth to your application. You should also mention important people in your life who have helped guide your achievements.

Your self-account needn’t be organized in any particular order, since it will only be used to help guide the process of writing your personal statement. Simply “brainstorm” your ideas and write down any useful information in point form. Be sure to think about the following points where:

• · Academic background and accomplishments
• · Involvement in organizations and in the community
• · People who have played important roles in your accomplishments
• · Successful long-term commitments
• · Any related professional experience
• · Difficulties that you have overcome successfully

Next, review the points you wrote down and eliminate the ones that seem less relevant. This can be tricky at first, but as you go through your list, you will gain a wider view of everything you have accomplished. This will make the elimination process easier.

You should then select the major points from your college or university experience to highlight in the statement-there may be two or three points, but you can choose more. Then choose at three major points that are not strictly academic or career-oriented. Finally, double-check all of your points for accuracy.

The process of drawing up your “brainstorming” list will probably suggest useful ways of organizing the information in your personal statement. You should now be ready to begin writing your personal statement.

Elements of the Personal Statement

At many law schools, admissions committees have replaced personal interviews with the personal statement. Consequently, this document gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your writing ability, in addition to highlighting your accomplishments.
Given the significance of the personal statement, it very important that it be relevant, persuasive, and well-written.
Be Relevant

Applicants are often asked to address specific questions in their personal statement. Some law schools simply ask for a list of your accomplishments and qualifications, beginning with the most recent academic year. Other schools focus their questions on your career goals and motives for wanting to practice law.

Since each law school may ask you to respond to a different set of questions, don’t assume that you can write one generic personal statement for all of your applications. For each application, read the questions carefully and ensure that you answer each one directly while providing all the necessary details.

When reading calendars and faculty guides, look for areas in which each school specializes. Then, select points from your “self-account” that seem most relevant to that school. For example, if a certain school mentions its longstanding commitment to public service, it would be useful to highlight any volunteer work you might have in your personal statement.

Likewise, you should mention your interest in a particular area of law with reference to the school’s involvement in the same field. Also mention your interest in special programs that are available at the school, such as legal clinics or law reviews.

If you are applying in a “non-standard” category, such as a mature student, a minority status student, or a student with a physical disability, you can explain your situation here, and perhaps mention how the school’s facilities are suited to your needs. Discussion of these issues, however, is a matter of choice, and you should not feel obliged to mention them.
In addition to outlining your personal background and academic credentials, it is important to demonstrate your genuine desire to attend law school.

You should show that you have thought carefully about the decision to apply, and you should outline some of the goals you have for your legal career. The aim is to individualize your statement as much as possible without straying off topic.

In order to individualize your statement further, it would be useful to describe your experiences in a narrative or story form. This way, your statement won’t sound like a dull catalog of accomplishments.

The personal statement also provides you with an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that may have lowered your GPA. These reasons might include family distress, health problems, or personal crises.
Proofread Carefully

Once you have written your personal statement, you should ensure that its length, grammar, and sentence structure are correct. This means that you should:

• · Carefully check for grammatical and spelling errors.
• · Examine your word usage. It is best to use an uncomplicated style and avoid unfamiliar words. You will not make a better impression by loading your personal statement with long words and jargon.
• · If you are asked to write an essay, review the connections and transitions from one paragraph to the next.
• · Ask someone with good writing skills to proofread your document. If possible, have more than one person do this.
• · Pay attention to space or word limitations on standard statement forms, and avoid cramming your text with small font sizes.
• · When you are done, remember to keep a copy of each of your personal statements in case you need to refer to them later.

In many cases, applications are placed in different categories according to their score on the admissions index. Applicants who are almost guaranteed admission are placed in one category; those whose chances are good but not certain are placed in another category, and so on, for marginal admissions and rejections.

Most law schools publish statistics on the number of applications that they receive as compared with the total number of first-year admissions, and also the ranges of LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA’s of successful applicants.

Competition for positions exists along the whole spectrum of law programs. Only a very small percentage of candidates have such high LSAT scores (say, 165 and above) and GPA standings (3.6 and above) that they are practically assured admission to a top law school in the U.S. or Canada. However, even in this preferred group (which makes up only about 5% of applicants), competition for places at particular schools is still going to be quite tight.

Law schools often try to have a diverse combination of first-year students. This would not be possible if they admitted only those who score highest on the LSAT or those who have the highest GPA’s.

The important thing to remember is that your suitability for admission may be judged according to the impression made by any part of your application, given that there might be many other candidates who will have a similar GPA and LSAT score applying to the same school.

· the school’s location
· financial-aid criteria
· part-time study opportunities
· reputation for quality instruction
· student access to faculty members
· specialized curriculum areas and scope of instruction
· policies concerning minority and gender equity
· facilities for disabled students
· support services for new students
· quality of the law library
· up-to-date communication technologies
· promotion of clinical or external programs
· international program opportunities
· summer employment, career placement, and development services for graduates

This information is usually found in law school calendars and brochures. Be sure to review carefully the factors that are important to you when identifying potential schools.

Your initial score is called the raw score, and is the number of correct answers out of approximately 101 questions.
Your raw score is then plotted on a normal curve and reported on a scale of 120 to 180, with 150 being the median. This new score is your scaled score.

Your standing-relative to all test-takers in the previous three years-is reported as a percentile ranking. This score indicates the percentage of candidates who scored below you on the test.

Canceling Scores

There are two ways to cancel your LSAT score. The first is to fill out the cancellation section of the answer sheet that you receive on test day. If you decide to cancel your score during the test, pay close attention to the instructions for doing so. Once you have submitted your answer sheet, it is impossible to have your score reported if you should later change your mind. You should receive confirmation of the score cancellation within four or five weeks.

The second way to cancel your score is to send a written request to LSAC within nine days of the test. This can only be done by mail or fax because the request must include your signature. See the LSAT Information book for further details and for the cancellation address.

The law schools to which you apply will be informed of all of your previous cancelled tests when they receive your LSAT score record.

2. We then write a paragraph that provides some reasons in support of our choice.

3. The next paragraph anticipates some counter-arguments to the chosen alternative and argues against them.

4. The last paragraph demonstrates how our choice partially fulfills the competing guideline, and ends with a re-cap of the conclusion.
Let’s look at how we would write an essay using this template. Suppose that we defended the eagle as our choice for the town’s emblem.

In first paragraph, the position we have chosen is presented as the introductory statement:

The Western eagle is the preferred choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons.

Not only do we make the position we are going to defend clear in the first sentence, but also introduce our preference in the first three words.

The second paragraph outlines three reasons for our choice:

First, the Western eagle is a proud bird that projects a clear sense of nobility. Second, eagles have a historical connection with the town that dates back to the town’s first coal mine. The Eagle Bluff mine provided the town with fuel and prosperity for over eighty years. Third, the eagle is a magnificent bird that would make a fitting subject for an imposing statue for the Town Square.

The third paragraph anticipates one or two counter-arguments to our position and provides a rebuttal for each. It may read like this:

Some may say that the Western eagle has not been seen around the town since the turn of the century, and is therefore not a contemporary symbol of local familiarity. However, as the national emblem of the United States, the eagle is very familiar to the general public. Moreover, the use of the eagle as emblem may revive the old legend about the discovery of the Eagle Bluff mine. The site of the mine could be then reopened as a tourist attraction.

The last paragraph shows how our choice partially fulfills the competing guideline, and ends the essay with a re-cap of the conclusion.

Admittedly, the eagle is a historical and not a contemporary symbol. However, it does embody the qualities of courage and determination. These qualities are as relevant in contemporary times as in the past.

Therefore, since the eagle is a noble bird, has historical significance for the town, and would make an excellent statue for the Town Square, it should be chosen.

Please notice that the re-cap of the conclusion summarizes some of the reasons previously outlined for our choice.

Here is a version of the complete writing sample. You might be amazed at how simple the actual writing task can be. But this is all that is expected from you on the LSAT. You need to defend a position effectively within a very short time frame.

The Western eagle is the preferred choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons. First, the Western eagle is a proud bird that projects a clear sense of nobility. Second, eagles have a historical connection with the town that dates back to the town’s first coal mine. The Eagle Bluff mine provided the town with fuel and prosperity for over eighty years. Third, the eagle is a magnificent bird that would make a fitting subject for an imposing statue for the Town Square.

Therefore, since the eagle is a noble bird, has historical significance for the town, and would make an excellent statue for the Town Square, it should be chosen.

Word count: 229
An Alternative Essay Template

Some of you may not like the choice of eagle as emblem. Not to worry. Here is another essay that uses the same template, but argues for the ever-popular muskrat instead.

1. Again, the essay again begins with a clear statement of our chosen alternative.

2. We then state one reason for choosing our alternative. We then anticipate a counter-argument to our choice, and provide a rebuttal to this counter-argument.

3. We then state another reason, another counter-argument and another rebuttal.

4. Finally, as with the other template, we show how our choice partially satisfies the competing guideline and re-cap the conclusion.

Here is a version of the complete writing sample using the alternative template.

The Blacktail Muskrat is the best choice as emblem for the town of Uxbridge for three reasons. First, muskrats are very familiar, as they are often seen in the streams around the town. Second, a slightly unconventional emblem might appeal to the town’s growing younger population more than traditional symbols. Third, the popular tune “Muskrat Boogie” has publicized the town in other parts of the country.

Since the muskrat is a contemporary symbol that is already connected in people’s minds to the town, it is the natural choice for the emblem.

Word count: 242

Time Management

Next, let’s look at the question of time management for the Writing Sample:

The first 5 to 7 minutes of the section should be spent going over the assignment and planning your essay.

You begin by reading the Writing Sample statement carefully and selecting which of the two alternatives you will defend.

Your next step is to make a quick outline of the essay on the scratch paper provided.
Tips for Creating an Outline

Constructing an outline for the essay is important because it gives you an opportunity to organize your ideas. The outline should not be long. You may use two or three word descriptions, just to help you remember the ideas when you write the essay itself.

To begin the outline, write in the each step of the essay template on the scratch paper provided.

1. State your choice:

Conclusion – choose the eagle.

You then write three reasons for your choice. In this case, you’d write:

Reasons:
It is noble
It has historical importance – Eagle Bluff mine
It is a magnificent bird – would make good statue

2. You then think of possible counter-arguments and rebuttals to them.

Counter arguments:
The eagle is not a familiar local bird
The eagle is not contemporary
Rebuttals:
The eagle is the American national emblem, so it is familiar nationally
The mine could be re-opened as tourist attraction

3. Finally, you need to think of how your choice could partially satisfy the competing guideline.

Competing Guideline:
Eagle embodies contemporary qualities: courage and determination

This whole process should take around 5 to 7 minutes.

You then spend 18 to 20 minutes writing the essay. If you find yourself running out of time, it is more important to finish the essay than to state all of your counter-arguments, or to address the competing guidelines. Never leave the last part of the essay hanging without a conclusion. An unfinished essay is more likely to be noticed than one that is missing a single possible counter-argument.

We recommend that you spend about 3 minutes at the end proofreading. This is necessary because the markers only look at each essay for a very short time. You should try to eliminate all of the obvious errors in spelling, composition and grammar. Since you don’t have room to double-space, it is always better to print legibly. The aim is to make your essay as easy as possible for your marker to read.
Grammar and Style

With practice, the task of producing the Writing Sample becomes quite formulaic. You should try to write two or three Writing Sample practice essays, giving yourself exactly 30 minutes for each.

When you write the essay, pay close attention to grammar and style. The grammar of the essay should be conservative and uncomplicated. If a sentence does not sound right, simplify it immediately.

The essay should be written in a formal style. This means that you should not be using the first person. Expressions like “I think that” “It seems to me…” or “I believe” should be avoided.

The Writing Sample is not the place to show off your prose style. Since there is a much greater chance of making errors in grammar and syntax with long sentences, stick to short declarative sentences. In keeping with the formal tone, your vocabulary should also be direct and plain.

Let’s look at two sentences that might be used in an essay about the choice of the town emblem.

The first sentence is:

What’s wrong with the muskrat? A lot – no nobility, an unpleasant appearance, the image of a scavenger.

The second example is:

What objection can we make to the muskrat’s image? First, it is not a ‘noble’ animal, as we usually understand the term. Second, the muskrat looks unpleasant. Third, it is a scavenger.

The first example is grammatically incorrect. The sentence “A lot – no nobility, an unpleasant appearance, the image of a scavenger” does not have a verb. The loose style of writing in the first sentence may be all right for a lively magazine article, but it is not suited to the formal style of the Writing Sample.

The second example, though it may seem a little stiff, describes the objections to the muskrat in a way that is perfectly grammatical.

It is important that you use parallel structure in constructing your sentences. Also, the connecting words First, Second, and Third clearly indicate parallel structure within a paragraph.

A compound sentence should use the same grammatical structures in each of its elements.

For example, consider the sentence: The muskrat travels short distances either to find food or when avoiding predators.

This should be revised as: The muskrat travels short distances either to find food or to avoid predators.

Since the Writing Sample is a formal essay, you should always avoid colloquial language. Slang expressions, abbreviations, idioms, and clichés should be avoided as well. For example, do not write, “The bottom line is that the eagle is way better”.

On the other hand, your writing style should not be elaborate or pretentious. Use a plain, direct, formal style that will convey as much of your meaning as possible in the short space provided. Avoid using unfamiliar words. It is not a good idea to stretch the limits of your vocabulary in the Writing Sample.

Your use of punctuation should also be conservative. It is certainly possible to write a solid essay using only periods and commas. This is what you should do unless you are absolutely clear on the correct use of the dash, colon and semi-colon.

You should proofread for spelling, as mentioned before, and use American or British spellings consistently. If you write color with a ‘u’ in one place, write neighbor with a ‘u’ if it is used elsewhere in the essay.

As you can see, the Writing Sample activity is quite repetitive and straightforward. The tasks listed in our templates can be applied to any topic. So now, all you need to do is to decide on the template that you are going to use, settle on some connecting words, and write about 3 essays using your chosen template. For most people, this should provide adequate preparation for the LSAT Writing Sample.

One website that can help to narrow the field of law schools is the Boston College On-line Law School Locator. It provides a matrix of median GPAs and LSAT scores of first-year students at accredited law schools and is based on data from the 1998-99 MAPLA Law School Admissions Profiles.

You will notice that this matrix does not include information on all law schools in the United States or any in Canada. Information regarding Canadian law schools is provided at the end of this section.

Using the Online Law School Locator to help you choose prospective law schools is a worthwhile strategy. Many career and pre-law advisors recommend a method of choosing law schools that is similar to the one explained in the Boston College website. When using the matrix, it is a good idea to consider three possible categories of potential law schools:

· Competitive Schools
· Outside-Chance Schools
· Safe-Bet Schools

Competitive Schools

The matrix will help you determine those schools where you have a competitive chance of being admitted. Since the matrix is based on the admission medians of GPAs and LSAT scores, your chances of being admitted to a competitive school – one corresponding to your GPA and LSAT score – are roughly 50:50. At least half of your applications should be sent to schools in this category.

Outside-Chance Schools

The matrix should also be used to find your “outside-chance” schools. These schools are one or more categories above your standing. When applying to them, you will have to persuade the admissions committee that your previous experience – be it personal, professional, or academic – deserves special consideration.

Safe-Bet Schools

The “safe-bet” schools are at least one category below your GPA and LSAT standing. It is important to remember that your “safe bet” may well be someone else’s “outside chance,” so he or she will be working extra hard to persuade the admissions committee. For this reason, you must take the same care in preparing applications to these schools as with the others.

Other Considerations

When deciding where to apply, you will have to balance your chances of being admitted with other reasons for wanting to attend a particular law school.

For example, you may have friends or relatives who are alumni at a certain school, or perhaps you wish to attend the same institution where you completed your undergraduate studies. There are often financial considerations that can override your decisions and, in other cases, you may believe that your career prospects will be enhanced if you attend a particular school.

These are all valid considerations, but they should be weighed against your actual chances of being admitted. It is not wise to concentrate all of your energies on one or two “outside-chance” schools at the expense of the others.

Admission to Canadian Law Schools

Detailed information on Canadian law schools can be found in the Canadian edition of the LSAT Information and Registration Book. The Council of Canadian Law Deans website is another useful source of information regarding Canadian law schools.

The matrix below is based on admissions data provided by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) for Canadian law schools from 1998-99. It is a useful reference for finding your relative position among applicants.

It should be noted that not all Canadian law schools release admissions information in a format that allows for comparison. Therefore, those schools have not been included in the matrix.

Median GPAs and LSAT Scores of Students Admitted to Canadian Law Schools

This section consists of four reading passages ranging in length from 400 to 500 words. These passages usually refer to topics in the humanities, the arts, social sciences, philosophy and law, and they are followed by 5 to 8 questions.

The questions test your ability to read quickly, recognize argument patterns, identify main premises, and make inferences based on your overall reading comprehension.

Reading with speed and accuracy is a complex and highly individualized skill. Fast readers usually find this to be one of the easier sections, while slow readers are likely find it difficult to get through all of the passages and questions in 35 minutes.

Students who score well on Reading Comprehension when practicing on past exams should probably stick to their present reading techniques. Those who do not score well on this section will have some work to do in order to change their reading habits.

Many people take the LSAT for the first time without preparing at all. Their attitude is usually something like this:

“I’ll take the test and see how I do. If things don’t work out, I’ll take it again.”

This might sound like a good idea, especially if you hate practicing for days or even weeks for an exam. But is it the best way to approach the LSAT?

Definitely not. The problem is that, when you apply to a law program, the school receives ALL of your reported LSAT scores. Even worse, many schools average your scores, which means that a low test score can come back to haunt you, even if you are more successful on your second or third attempt.
Smart test-takers won’t risk a low score. They are determined to prepare for the LSAT, so they head to their local bookstore in search of study materials.

2. Studying with Test-Prep Books
If you’ve already shopped around for test-prep books, you know that there is no shortage of LSAT titles on the market. As you stand before a huge shelf full of test-prep books, you might begin to think that the hardest part of preparing for this test is choosing the right book.

While almost any test-prep book will give you a basic idea of what to expect from the LSAT, many of them use simulated questions to teach their techniques. This is a major drawback since simulated questions are never as good as the real thing. As a result, they can easily give a false sense of confidence. The day of the test is the worst time to discover that you have been practicing with questions that are too easy.

Also, many people find it difficult to learn new skills from books alone. For this reason, one of the most popular methods of preparing for the LSAT is to take a live course.

3. Attending Live Courses
The most important feature of any live seminar is the instruction it offers. Live LSAT seminars are usually taught by someone who has “received a high score on his/her LSAT.” However, this is no guarantee that the instructor will know how to train you for success on the test.
Also, on a practical note, many students cannot afford the cost of attending live seminar courses. The prices of these courses are often inflated because of books and tapes that are sold as part of the instructional package. Besides, if you wanted to study from a book you wouldn’t sign up for a live course.

These disadvantages often lead some students to go it alone with official LSAT tests from previous years

4. Practicing with Past Tests

Unfortunately, the official practice tests published by LSAC don’t come with complete techniques for solving all of the questions. The reason for this is quite simple. Since the LSAT is intended to be an objective means of comparing candidates, it is not in LSAC’s interest to offer techniques that would significantly improve your score.

So, you’re essentially back where you started. What is the best way to use your time effectively and achieve the highest possible score on the LSAT?

To be continue