Students often try to finish the LSAT—in other words, by reaching and answering every question in every section before time expires. In this lesson, you'll learn why simply getting to the end of each section should not be your goal.
Story Time
A few weeks before I sat my final LSAT, I took two practice tests about a week apart.
I scored 177 on both of them but didn't finish the Reading Comprehension section on either attempt. How's that possible, you might wonder?
Because your scaled LSAT score is based on how many questions you answer correctly, not just how many you address.
Getting to the final questions in each section is to earn a great score.
The Math
If you're still focusing on finishing sections, but you're regularly making mistakes, forget the clock and focus on accuracy—just get the next one correct. Then the next one. And so on.
The math behind this advice is pretty simple.
Imagine two students: one focused on finishing each section and another focused on answering whatever they can get to with complete accuracy.
The first will often muddle their way through a section making sloppy mistakes and constantly glancing at the clock. Let's be generous and say this student averages 18 / 25 on a typical Logical Reasoning section (a -7).
The second might only attempt 18 questions in a section, but walks away with a surefire 18 / 25 on their worst day... random chance is likely to net them one or two additional points if they bubble in the remaining questions as time expires—a 20/25 (-5), even on this hypothetical worst day.
In other words, the latter student's worst performance ties the former student's best. Not to mention, the accuracy-focused student is much easier to teach.
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So remember: the LSAT rewards those who approach it like a marathon, not a sprint. Taking time to get whatever question / game / passage you're working on 100% correct will pay dividends in the form of a higher score.
So next time you sit down for a practice session, remember: It’s not about how many you answer. It’s about how many hit the mark.
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Next up, we'll cover what to do when you inevitably make mistakes during your studies.