To those of you who have taken the LSAT:

[DaiShan]

I'll be taking the LSAT in the fall, and pretty much everyone that I've talked to has told me not to mess around and just take a class. I'm trying to do a little preliminary research on which classes do the best job preparing you for the test. Any suggestions?

 

[RKS]

i took the princeton review version, raised my score a few points

just save your money and take a bunch of practice tests

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

As it happened, I took the LSAT not long after the GRE. In those days (no idea if this is still the case), the LSAT was essentially a longer, harder version of the logic section of the GRE (which I had gotten a 780/800 on). I used my leftover GRE practice tests, and I think I also used a Barron's LSAT book. I got a 168. I imagine I could have done better by taking a class, but I was one cheap bastard in those days.

 

[Strk]

I'd start by taking a practice test under real circumstances (35 minutes per section; all in one shot with only a 10 minute break after the third one). From there, you might be lucky and manage a high score (160+), in which case, you may want to hit the books rather than a class.

You pretty much have three sections: logical reasoning, logic games (this one is the easiest to improve on) and reading comprehension. Logical reasoning takes up most of the test, but don't skimp on the other two. Powerscore is a good group of books to look into. They are largely similar to what is taught in the Testmasters course.

 

[Vinney]

You don't need a class. Buy prep books from Princeton Review/Kaplan (from amazon or your bookstore, etc.) to review their tips/tricks and then just practice practice practice. I think you can also get some actual previous LSATs from lsac.org to practice with. The LSAT is all about understanding what kinds of answers they are looking for - so do a lot of practice questions and make sure you actually try and understand what you're doing right and wrong.

 

[mrchan]

Testmasters. Best LSAT prep course out there.

 

[CptObvious]

i took kaplan and can honestly say the class didn't help me one bit. my first practice score was about the same as my last practice score. i did benefit from doing a bunch of free practice tests they had.

 

[Playmaker]

Originally posted by: mrchan
Testmasters. Best LSAT prep course out there.

QFT.

Use this, Powerscore, or Blueprint. Or just use the Powerscore bibles on your own if you think you can make yourself study.

Kaplan/Princeton Review/Barrons are worthless in comparison.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

TestMasters. If they offer it in your area, they are the BEST.

 

[shopbruin]

if you can afford it, take testmasters.

but first take a practice test and see what your score is now.

if you think you can discipline yourself, you can study on your own. just get the logic games and logic reasoning bible, and take a ton of practice tests. you can buy the old tests from LSAC.

 

[ElFenix]

did the exercises on the CD that came with the kaplan book, got a 170. best prep test score was 172.

 

[gopunk]

like most things, it's going to depend... whether or not you should take a class, that is. i'd at least take a practice test first to see where you stand.

 

[DaiShan]

Thanks for all of the advice guys! Both Testmasters and Powerscore are offered in my area. I was planning on taking a practice test and basing my decision for taking a class over books on my score, but my parents want me to take the class and they're paying so, would the content of these two courses be fairly equivalent, or would you recommend one over the other?

 

[Playmaker]

Originally posted by: DaiShan
Thanks for all of the advice guys! Both Testmasters and Powerscore are offered in my area. I was planning on taking a practice test and basing my decision for taking a class over books on my score, but my parents want me to take the class and they're paying so, would the content of these two courses be fairly equivalent, or would you recommend one over the other?

Text

You can read for hours in that forum about which is better. Some will say Powerscore and some will say Testmasters, but 99% of those people haven't done both. I believe Testmasters was founded by a guy that was fired from Powerscore, at least that's the story.

They are so similar that it really comes down to which instructor is better. You can ask past students if you can find them, but it's really a toss up.

I believe they are both based on the same strategies and both provide actual LSAT questions in their practice tests, so there is really no difference in material.

Without an individual taking the same instructor that you will have, anecdotal suggestions are useless. Just pick whichever is most convenient with regard to location and time.

Good luck on that 180.