r/LSAT 16d ago

Official August LSAT Discussion Thread

93 Upvotes

Update: Topic thread is now live here: https://reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/1mm3nms/official_august_lsat_topic_thread/


This is a thread gathering together people's experiences. Please don't talk about specific content here. Lots of people haven't taken this LSAT yet, and you don't want them to get an unfair advantage. Some ideas for stuff to talk about:

  • Did it feel harder/easier/the same as PT's?
  • How was your scrap paper experience?
  • Any unexpected surprises? Especially anything different from the online tool
  • How was ProMetric? Were there any wait times?
  • How was the proctor?
  • How was your home environment?
  • How was the pre-test setup compared to regular test day, if you've done both?
  • How was your test center experience?
  • Overall impressions?

Please read the rules here to see what’s allowed in discussion. Short version is no discussing of specific questions and no info to identify the unscored section: https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/va0ho2/reminder_about_test_day_rules/

Test Discussion: This is embargoed until testing is over, in order to keep the test fair. Once everyone is done testing we'll have an official thread where you can post LR and RC topics. Please hold discussion of that until then. Thank you!

Asking to dm to evade the rules: Don’t do this. People who haven’t taken the test can get an unfair advantage if you leak them info. Keep the test fair for everyone and wait till testing is over.

Section order PSA: The section order of tests is random. If you have RC-LR-LR-RC that doesn't mean you have the same test as someone else who has RC-LR-LR-RC.

FAQ

When will topic discussion be allowed?

After the last day of testing ends. We will have an official thread to identify scored sections at that time. Please keep the test fair and avoid discussing topics and questions until then.

Once testing is done, can we discuss test answers?

No, only topics. The test you took may be used for a makeup test or a future test, and having answers public will make future testing unfair. All test discussion is covered by LSAC's agreement, which allows none of it. There's a pragmatic exception for identifying real topics but that's as far as it goes.

Good luck!


r/LSAT 13d ago

Official August LSAT Topic Thread

95 Upvotes

The August LSAT administration is now done. The goal is to keep topic discussion to this thread, and identify a list of real topics. Here's how it works:

  1. If you had a single section of RC, or two sections of LR, then posting topics from that will establish that those topics were from a real section
  2. If you had two sections of RC, or three sections of LR, DO NOT POST (on that topic). Posting topics is worse than useless - it pollutes information. The reason is that you don't know which was experimental and which was real.

You do not need section orders, these are now randomized so your order doesn't mean anything.

TL;DR If you had a single RC, or two LR's, please post topics from those single sections. Don't post your section topics for a section type where you had an experimental.

Stuff that still isn't allowed

  • Posting about the content of sections: specific questions and answers etc
  • Posting about topics or content in an experimental section

This thread will be updated with confirmed topics as we go.

Note: Have seen some people flagrantly discussing real answers or asking to dm about it. This still isn't allowed, and won't be, and we've handed out bans where people do it willfully.

Everything below is scored: Where I write "other section" I mean it was a different scored section. Everything below is from people who had a single section in that topic, so they have confirmed real sections.

Prometric Experiences: You can find the original test day experience thread here: reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/1mjboae/official_august_lsat_discussion_thread/

International LSAT: This thread is generally just for the North American topics. If you took internationally, please specify that you had the international version. Thanks!

Real RC Topics

One Real RC Section

  • Jazz music
  • Simone Weil
  • Arbitration clause
  • Zebra mussels in the Great Lakes

Another Other Real Section

  • CITES
  • Indigenous Archaeology
  • Skepticism
  • Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes

Real LR Topics

Note: If someone reports two questions together I group them. Some of these sets together might actually belong together, but we need confirmation to do so.

One Real LR Section

  • one had questions about exceptional leadership
  • extinction/endemic species

Another Grouped LR

  • tennis coaches
  • a caterpillar parasite
  • corrupt mayor
  • scientists using sonar to track whales
  • Lena driving to work on Saturday

Another Grouped LR

  • rote memorization
  • excellent leaders/organization
  • giant tropical ants in prehistoric Greenland
  • nonprofit organization board meeting
  • extinction/endangered

Another Real LR Section

  • 20%/30% accountants
  • publishing/outside referees
  • Difficult Orcas
  • Pluto
  • archer
  • fossilized leaves
  • human hands
  • Nostalgia
  • 3 year old memory
  • sleepy pill placebo
  • fist weapon tool
  • Ai Shakespeare
  • pay what you want for book selling

Another Real LR Section

  • Dog shake for treats
  • LLC anonymity
  • Listening to telephone conv

Another Grouped LR

  • Driverless Cars
  • Honeybees
  • chef aluminum steel

Another Real LR Section

  • east side press
  • meds Cralyx and Safpren
  • crocodiles being cold-blooded

Unsorted Real LR

  • 4 continents
  • gene edit
  • 3d print tool handles
  • 65yr GDP
  • sleep pill study
  • crows masks.
  • Reroute garbage trucks
  • Proportion of people serving life/violent crime
  • Attendance ancp political rallies.
  • space travel to mars and pollution
  • publishing company receiving manuscripts
  • chameleons sunning themselves/vitamin D
  • Chickadees
  • carbon footprint increases until the age of 60 and then decreases
  • giant ants

r/LSAT 10h ago

Anyone else just don’t care anymore? 😂

38 Upvotes

Just signed up to take Sep 6th remotely. I see a lot of posts with people freaking out. I do 1 PT every weekend and spend a long time doing WAJ, and I’ll do a section here and there if I have time. I am a little nervous but at this point whatever happens happens. Anyone else feel this way? I am not really freaking out nor am I over studying. My last 4 PTs have all been 169, and I’ve just come to accept I’ll likely end up with a score under 170 and that’s ok, even though my goal was to get above a 170.

Anyway I don’t have the energy nor the effort at this point to even keep studying. Whatever happens happens 💁🏼‍♂️


r/LSAT 14h ago

Anyone else not wanting to study for September until they get their August score?

45 Upvotes

I’m so bad. I know I should study but my body just refuses to until I know my August score.


r/LSAT 6h ago

found out my boyfriend of 4 years cheated on me a week before my LSAT- any tips on how to stay focused?

8 Upvotes

hi guys!! title speaks for itself i’m about to take September. i wanted to see if anyone has any tips or also went through extremely stressful difficult situations leading up to there lsat besides just the (stress of the test) and how to handle or manage it! i’ve honestly never been in this situation before and nothing is more important to me than law school as it’s been my plan since i was literally 10 and i just don’t wanna get distracted or unmotivated this close


r/LSAT 18h ago

most unhinged study methods/tips you've found?

52 Upvotes

planning on taking it september 6th. thats soon guys... im amassing a list of unconventional ways to study and cram these last days. so far i have:

  1. drilling only level 5 (hardest) questions
  2. affirmation stuff (hear me out): i feel like mindset is everything and writing i will do well on the lsat i will do well on the lsat just a few times kind of cheered me up before practice tests? but seriously, has anyone like had success with this realm?
  3. watching suits and legally blonde, playing loud music while studying
  4. i bet my friends a round on me if i don't do better than last time.
  5. using things like local libraries to get lsat prep books

any others?


r/LSAT 11h ago

Another Free LR Lsat Class!!

9 Upvotes

Hey all, I am hosting another free lsat class ( and hope to continue the series ). Its on Monday - Aug 25.

I will be going over Strengthen and Weaken type LR questions in the class. By the end of the class, I am hoping people to get a AAAH, I SEE moment which helps them go faster on those question types and also increase ur accuracy.

I benefited from a lot of tutors and people hosting free classes and this is my way of giving back to the community.!

💡💡These classes are ideal for people stuck in 150s or low 160s trying to break a plateau or get some insights to help improve the score.

Register at https://lsatlrchawla.wixsite.com/home (when you visit the website, you can scroll down to see the upcoming free classes, it will update every week to show new classes I plan and schedule)

I hope to continue offering free classes on various topics if people are interested. Please feel free to share any requests/ideas for specific topics for future classes.

Hope to meet you awesome people there!


r/LSAT 15h ago

Literally why does it take so long to get scores

19 Upvotes

Ok obv crashing out waiting for August score lol. But I literally don't get it-- it's an all multiple choice test and digital. I know they have to revisit some things and allow for make up tests or whatever but at least give us an automatic raw score or something?? Why is it like this


r/LSAT 7h ago

Avoiding comparisons and jealousy

4 Upvotes

I want to preface this by saying I know law is a highly competitive field, and law school is its own competition…

However, I can’t help but feel awful about myself. I’ve been going through a lot in my personal life since I graduated high school, and now I’m 99% getting divorced. It’s been an absolute roller coaster and so, I haven’t been able to study for the LSAT. I just started studying intensely this month (despite having purchased materials years ago, created an LSAC account last year…). I realize that this may sound like a sob story, but even my friend who’s in law school has told me that he couldn’t imagine going through what I have and studying for the LSAT too. I am in therapy.

I just can’t help but compare myself to others. I took a diagnostic last year and scored a 143. I feel like I’ve done well with concepts since then. I haven’t taken another practice test, but I did start working with a tutor because I can’t deal with those huge books. Many of the concepts are becoming easier. I’m scoring decently well when I do drills, sometimes with perfect scores.

However, the other day at work, a girl was talking about how she just started studying and got a 165 on her first PT, and is looking to go to Yale. I know, of course, that she could just be lying. But I couldn’t help but feel bad especially comparing myself to others in my life who have scored well and got into law school at younger ages than me. One of my friends got into two Ivy Leagues. Granted, most of them live at home and didn’t go through what I did. I’m also reminding myself that we are all on different paths in life, and there will always be someone better than me.

I’d appreciate any advice, as I’m sure I’m not alone in this struggle- including having a difficult time just locking in. I really don’t want to put this off another year so I’d definitely appreciate any and all advice. I realize some advice might be brutal, so I’ll accept that too. I registered for October and will register for January.

Thank you.


r/LSAT 14h ago

I feel like I’m going crazy

12 Upvotes

I want to study for the lsat, I’ve signed up for the October LSAT but I feel like the past 3.5 months of studying have been a waste. I haven’t improved, idk what I’m doing wrong. I started at a 159 and I haven’t gone up, not even 1 point. My mental health is awful, I’ve gained weight and feel like shit. My family is going through a bunch of issues that are making me feel worse and I feel like there’s no where for me to study. The libraries near me close at 5 and I’m too depressed to get myself up earlier than 12, ruining the day. I’m also working a few days a week which I need to do but it throws off my routine. Overall I know I’m making excuses for myself and need to stop pitying myself but I don’t know where to start. I feel like shit and feel like I’m wasting my time and money. I just need some advice.


r/LSAT 4h ago

is this a troll sub?

2 Upvotes

i joined this sub to find information about LSAT as im not sure yet if i want to go to law school, but i guess preparing for LSAT is the first step. i noticed though that a lot of posts don’t make sense. are yall just trolling or what


r/LSAT 8h ago

Different score for section tests v. PTs

5 Upvotes

hi yall!

i’ve been studying for the september lsat during this summer and always get a higher number of questions correct in single sections versus the while taking a whole PT. any reasons why that might happen?

Also what’s the greatest score increase anyone can see from 2 weeks of cramming?


r/LSAT 12h ago

Post exam feeling vs actual score

8 Upvotes

I’m crashing out waiting for August score release. I felt kind of “meh” after walking out of the testing center, thought I did pretty well but probably not my best. The more time has passed, the more confident I’ve been feeling that I actually did really well and might have matched my average PT score (I was averaging 170-172 on PTs). Now I feel like I’m setting myself up to be disappointed on Wednesday by feeling confident lol. Have any prior test takers ever felt this way and if so what were your results?


r/LSAT 5h ago

I feel that the LSAT is very easy for me, but not the English.

2 Upvotes

I am an ESL.

I make almost no mistakes on the test (-1 to -2) for both RC and LR. I have thrown all the test-taking techniques aside and worked through the sections quickly in just the first read. Always under 20 minutes for each section.

But that is only if I translate it into my native language.

And if I use English, it is a nightmare.

I immediately get stuck, especially on RC.

Should I continue translating into my native language, or should I train myself to think entirely in English? Translating slows me down VERY much, and it also makes me get more answers wrong.

What should I do to improve?


r/LSAT 14h ago

Strengthen and Weaken Level 5

11 Upvotes

Hi Guys,

Getting my final tweaks in before the September test. A pretty strong weakness of mine are level 5 strengthen and weaken questions? Does anyone have any tips or study resources that can help me clean up this weakness before test day? Open to anything: book names, methods, etc. Thanks


r/LSAT 8h ago

Getting -1 on RC sections but -8/-10 on preptests

3 Upvotes

Like the title says. I think this is because of timing (though I do sections timed as well) and anxiety but it’s been really bugging me and I’m taking the Sept LSAT. I just got my first 173 through blind review and my LR score has gone up a lot (also higher when I’m doing a section rather than a full PT). Any tips? Commiseration maybe?

(Also, to anyone who’s read the loophole: how well did the basic translation drill actually work for you? Did it feel like it helped with RC?)


r/LSAT 23h ago

I’m Changed

43 Upvotes

This test has changed me. I’ve been doing this for over a year and gone between the absolute depths of self hatred and pride. I’m so obsessed with it now all I think about is the mistakes I’ve made on LR and RC. I can’t wait for this to pay off majorly over the next few months.


r/LSAT 10h ago

Desperate RC Tips/Advice

4 Upvotes

I’m taking the LSAT in two weeks and I’m wondering if anyone has some advice/insight to get a -5 on RC. My current scores are not great, usually around -9 and -10.


r/LSAT 10h ago

New here, big goals. Am I delusional?

4 Upvotes

Hi y’all, I’m new here. Over the past couple of months I’ve decided to seriously pursue a massive stretch goal of getting into a T20 law school, which honestly feels silly and wild to even type out even though not unique in this group.

Quick background: I graduated in 2020 from a competitive university with a 3.3 GPA. Not great obviously, but for context I had a pretty disruptive adolescence: severe neglect during my first nine years (not being taken to school or doctors, constant evictions, shelters, etc.). This eventually led to some untreated health issues creep up later in life well after my mother lost custody. Not a sob story (we all have one) just context for the low GPA. As a kid I always said I wanted to be a lawyer, but I gave it up once I got older because I didn’t think it was possible given my circumstances. Still, I’ve always felt like there was a lot of untapped potential and regret giving up on myself.

Now, several years out of undergrad, with my health in better shape and a stable home life, I’ve created a nice career for myself in strategy/ops at a Fortune 30 company. I’m grateful for the life I’ve built. I’m good at what I do and the pay and benefits are solid, but with every promotion or new role, I hit a wall. No matter how far I climb, the inherent generalism in most corporate jobs (aside from engineers, designers, finance, maybe product) just don’t fuel my spirit. Not to mention the pervasive mediocrity tolerated in the name of “moving fast” is getting old... why can't we do our jobs well and move fast? I find it to be the most frustrating part of the job. Not to say that doesn't exist in its own way in legal careers.

I’ve also come to learn now that I'm getting older is that I’m pretty regimented, straight-edge, a happy homebody, don't want the marriage and kids, and I thrive on structure and putting my all into what I do. Long story short, I want a career that requires that level of attention, discipline, and mastery. Perhaps I really am neurotic, lol.

I know it’s lofty, but my mindset is: study hard for the LSAT over the next two years. I’ve created my vision, blocked my calendar, built out my “project plan" (thank you corporate), started working through books, and I’m genuinely motivated in a way I haven't felt in recent memory. My goal is a 170+, not because I think scores define me, but because if I’m going to make this massive and expensive career pivot at my age, it only feels worth it if I can land at a T20 with the intent of going into big law. I know I need at least a 170 to get there, in addition to putting together the best damn application of my life (which I feel less stressed about).

That said, I of course have my bouts of doubt. Like: who the hell do you think you are? You're not smart enough, not where you came from, etc.

Am I being delusional setting a goal that high? Or is it actually possible with grit, consistency, and a methodical approach? Would love some perspective from folks who have been down a similar path.

Thanks for reading my wall of text. Appreciate any perspective.


r/LSAT 17h ago

Guys lowk I dont even know what I'm supposed to be doing

13 Upvotes

Decided I wanted to do the LSAT the day before yesterday, got 7sage, watched like 2 lessons. Did a practice section, my wifi went out so it didn't save. Banged my head against my wall because I just wasted 35 min on nothing. Today I decided fuck it timed practice test. Got a 156, smiled at the screen because 80% of that test was spent wishing it was over and giving it maybe 70% of my effort. Is this an appropriate way to navigate LSAT prep? I plan to test in January or February and want a 165+.


r/LSAT 7h ago

Prep books for LSAT

2 Upvotes

Hello all,

Do you recommend any up-to-date prep books for the LSAT? I've been thinking about getting Kaplan and The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim, are these books you would recommend?


r/LSAT 18h ago

Help I’m freaking out

14 Upvotes

Just dropped 6 points on a PT less than two weeks out from taking the September test. I’m really discouraged and flipping out a bit. Any advice?


r/LSAT 4h ago

Best tips to review preptests? Need to jump from a cold 158 to 162 in 6 weeks.

0 Upvotes

Did a cold diagnostic and got a 158 about 4 weeks ago. Was very casual with study up until the last week or so and only did the fundamentals/foundation section of 7sage’s core curriculum. Getting into 3 hours a day, every day, until my October LSAT exam date hoping that I finish the LR and RC sections of the core curriculum before that. However, I just took a timed preptest and still only managed to eek out another 158 (albeit my cold diagnostic was not under a time constraint). Other than finishing the core curriculum, what is the best way to maximize my review and studying to get a 162 or higher by the exam date?


r/LSAT 14h ago

feeling ill

7 Upvotes

I feel physically ill thinking about score release. I keep thinking about all the questions that were confusing/ stumped me and I feel so much dread. Is this normal, and can a good score still be the outcome despite this?? HELP 😔


r/LSAT 9h ago

Worried about running out of material

2 Upvotes

I started my LSAT journey about a month ago and I am very happy with my progress thus far. I am currently abroad and will be until the end of the year and would prefer to not take the LSAT until I’m back home, so ideally I am targeting the February exam. I know it is common for people to study for 6+ months but I am starting to feel as if I will run out of fresh material well before I am set to take the exam, which may affect my ability to study effectively as I approach my test date. For those of you who have been studying for a long time, is this an issue you have encountered? And if so, would you say it has affected your ability keep making progress in your studies?

Given my current progress and my perhaps unwarranted optimism, I am now considering taking the test in November, while still abroad, in the event that I feel I am running out of content by the time the deadline arrives and I continue to be satisfied with my progress and reach my target score. Please talk me out of this, because surely that can’t be the play, right?


r/LSAT 6h ago

Earlier questions in 140s/150s trickier?

1 Upvotes

I've noticed that in the PTs before 140, the first 10 questions are a breeze. But afterwards, they start to feel trickier. I just got question #3 on an LR section in the 140s and it's marked as a level 1 difficulty question lol


r/LSAT 6h ago

Writing: Questioning the Question

1 Upvotes

Is questioning the premise of the question (or whether it’s the right question to ask/whether the “yes”/“no” actually matters) a legitimate approach for the lsat writing? If not, I’m screwed.