Editorial Review

The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Games section of the LSAT. The intent of this book is to provide you with an advanced system for attacking any game you encounter on the LSAT. This same system is covered in the live classes taught by PowerScore, and all of the methods and techniques discussed in the book have been tested in classroom situations over many years.

The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking the games section. All aspects of Logic Games are covered, from recognizing game types to diagramming rules to making inferences and answering questions. Entire chapters are devoted to the most advanced game techniques and to time management strategies.

Logic Games are divided into individual types, and a discussion follows that teaches you how to approach each type of Game, and drills are presented to help you apply and understand the techniques. Thereafter, real LSAT logic games are used to illustrate how the techniques apply to real tests. Using real LSAT questions is a must for high-level LSAT preparation, and twenty-one real LSAT logic games are contained in the book. Each logic game is accompanied by a detailed analysis of the game setup and related questions.

The author has over 12 years experience teaching the LSAT and has scored in the 99th percentile on a Law Services-administered test. An expert in LSAT preparation, he has overseen the preparation of thousands of students and founded two national LSAT preparation companies.

The Logic Games Bible can be supplemented by The Ultimate Set-Ups Guide, which features setups for every game in each released LSAT from 1995 to 2002.Also, both books provide access to a unique website for additional LSAT and Logic Games information, and has answers to frequently asked questions.

For more information about the renowned PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, contact PowerScore at (800) 545-1750. ... Read more

Reviews

Beats the competition hands down, December 21, 2003
I have currently completed studying logic games with this book, Master the LSAT (which was recommended in several Amazon.com reviews), Kaplan LSAT (for average students), and Kaplan LSAT 180 (for very strong students). The Logic Games Bible by PowerScore was definitely the most helpful of any of the books. Applying PowerScore's methods has reduced my time per game from 13 minutes to 8 - which gives me enought to complete every game in the section - and to boot, I'm hitting 100 percent accuracy on most of the practice tests I've taken from real LSATs and simulated tests from other companies. I didn't think that was possible.

PowerScore was helpful because it includes clear suggestions for the best way to diagram any of the game types and what to watch out for when diagramming. (As I mention below, Kaplan doesn't do this.) It is the only book of the four I've used that exclusively uses actual logic games administered since the LSAT was rewritten in 1991. The other books don't do that because they don't want to pay as much in licensing fees (which is reflected in this book's comparably high price), but their simulated questions have a much different feel. Simulated questions are often too easy, which can leave you underprepared, or too difficult, which can frustrate you needlessly. In addition, there are certain patterns in the way real questions are set up that other companies haven't been able to imitate.

I read the reviews that gave this book three or fewer stars, and I found all of them unconvincing. It's true that the book won't solve your timing issues automatically, but no book I've seen was very helpful on timing. PowerScore does have a fairly strong section discussing who should skip a game and who shouldn't, and it goes over some rules for picking the hardest game if you do decide to skip one. I haven't seen anything more than that about timing in any other book. Ultimately, practice makes perfect, and again, using real questions for practice will be a big help in terms of timing.

This book does have a few typos, which I was surprised to see in a book of such quality in terms of content. But this isn't a mass market publication, and the fact that PowerScore apparently doesn't have the financial resources to hire decent copy editors won't impact your LSAT score.

Kaplan's book wasn't nearly as helpful. It gives broad suggestions (e.g., use a concise system that you understand), but it's much more helpful to have someone suggest symbols that will capture the essence of most games. I'm still thinking about taking Kaplan's classroom course, since I presume that there is more information in it, but I wouldn't recommend their book to someone on a limited budget. It took me only a few hours to get through the lessons, and I think studying simulated practice tests is a waste of time when you can get real tests.

Master the LSAT is not a bad book. Unlike Kaplan, it does include a real LSAT logic game in each section. I think it will be a good tool for reading comprehension and the analysis section. But if you can afford to get the Logic Games Bible, I would study with that first and only go to Master the LSAT if you have extra time. Once you have studied the Logic Games Bible, most of the examples in Master the LSAT will be easy. (I completed some Master the LSAT logic games in under four minutes with 100 percent accuracy.)

Overall, an excellent resource and well worth the extra money.

A serious book for anyone seeking serious LSAT scores, June 6, 2003
This book is extremley comprehensive in every respect... But if you are smart enough to begin your LSAT preperation a few months ahead of time--and are willing to work [hard]--then this book will do the trick. It helped me score a 179 in February.

Before purchasing the Logic Games Bible, I took KAPLAN's $1000 classroom course... Right away, I knew "The Bible" was going to be better than KAPLAN because it used the commonsense approach of setting up games BELOW the questions (where there's actually room to write). In every respect, The Bible provides a more systematic and organized approach to setting up games than does KAPLAN. Having The Bible's more diciplined and systematic approach to setting up and solving the games proved invaluable on test day. I finished all four games with 9 minutes to spare. You should have seen the confused looks I got when, after only 26 minutes into the Logic Games section, I put my pencil down, raised my hand, and asked to go to the restroom! Their system paid off. Agian, this book will deliver the goods--but like most things in life, you'll only get out of it what you put into it.

The Best, Period, September 10, 2005
I've been studying for the LSAT off and on for the past two years, and I've worked my way through a lot of study guides. Princeton Review's LSAT publication and the Kaplan book (not the 180) are good as general overviews, but I wouldn't bank on taking away any methods that will drastically improve your score. Additionally, using such material in addition to PowerScore materials may leave you confused as to what symbols or methods to employ in a given situation. That said, this is by far and away the most powerful tool that you can have in your arsenal as you prepare for the LSAT. It teaches clear and easy symbolization techniques, helpful places to look in making deductions, and the most effective ways to tackle different kinds of questions. Even after using other LSAT prep materials, I was still answering only about half of the questions in the Logic Games section correctly. After going through this book thoroughly twice, I am much more efficient and scoring near perfect in Games on every previously administered LSAT that I take. This book, in combination with the Logic Reasoning Bible, raised my practice LSAT score ranges from the mid-150's (153-157) to the high 160's (166-169). Beware of study prep materials that tell you that you can perform without first making deductions on the Logic Games portion of the LSAT, as deductions are incredibly important (most likely not only for me) in pre-phrasing answers and eliminating wrong answer choices, allowing a rapid attack of the questions. Also be advised that taking previously administered LSATs under timed conditions is another very important key to success, and the more tests you take, the more your comfort level will grow and the higher your average score will become. In short, if you are struggling with the Logic Games portion of the LSAT, buy this book!

Not The Savior Everyone Says It Is, May 9, 2004
I agree with the reviewers who mentioned that the Logic Games Bible is complicated and slows you down.

I feel it, first of all, has too many classifications to memorize--especially in their Grouping Games section--then goes into somewhat-complex explanations about each one. Also, if you have read other guides and are used to the way they classify Games (for example, many guides seem to call them Sequencing, Grouping, Matching, Hybrid/Mixed Games), this guide is confusing in that way, too, because their classifications are pretty different (for example, they have no category called Matching...I think they include those as Grouping Games, but I really haven't been able to tell yet).

Second, I believe that the author spends a little too much time writing and a lot less time demonstrating. Thus, you can basically sit there and read a whole page of the author's explanation of a type of Game and might not understand what he's really trying to say, particularly if you're a person who better understands by seeing examples already worked for you demonstrating their techniques before you try them on a game yourself. At most, they give you the question and maybe one or two rules as an example...then they set you loose with about 2-4 practice Games to attempt on your own without really seeing what they were trying to say worked out for you beforehand--I, at least, give many of the other guides that!

Third, I think the author explains some types of Games better than others. For example, he goes into pretty good details about strategies to use on Sequencing and Grouping Games, as well as the many types of Games within those categories. However, after that, the guide gets even more complicated than what I was saying before. For example, the section on Pattern Games, which I had never even heard of before this guide but definitely had encountered in my practice, is mentioned in this guide--which is great--but their explanation of Pattern Games is only two pages (and not even a full two pages) and really doesn't give much insight into them other than to tell you how to recognize them. After learning of these Games and attempting the practice questions they provided in the Logic Games Bible for this game type as well as one I found in "10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests," I definitely feel that I don't understand these Games any better and don't really know how to approach them--they are the hardest Games to me, and this guide didn't really do anything to clear that up (I still miss almost every question on these Games).

As far as the more common Games, such as the Sequencing/Linear and Grouping Games, I think the techniques the guide mentions are very good and quite helpful...BUT, using them, I now go even slower in completing Games than before using these techniques! The only Games I have been able to complete in 9 minutes have been the simplistic Sequencing ones. At least I can actually get the answers correct on these Games, though, and have an easier time knowing how to set them up (unlike the Pattern Games). However, I will probably sit down and re-read the guide again, looking for anything I may have missed, trying to understand things I might not have understood before and keep trying to internalize their techniques (and pray I don't get any Pattern Games).

Reading the explanations given after the 2-4 practice Games they offer in each section is also helpful...but, again, they are not written in the most easy-to-read manner like many other guides out there (I actually think this is the LEAST readable guide of all the ones I've read, and I've read almost all the guides). They also don't have a simple answer key you can just go down to quickly see if you got the right answer--you have to fish through their long explanations (and I just happen to be someone who likes to quickly see whether I got the answers right, THEN read the explanations).

Conclusion--the book is NOT exactly a page-turner, is NOT exactly written in the most user-friendly way, is NOT a total savior or some kind of guarantee that you will be able to get all the Games right within the time given after you finish it and is NOT worth $44, especially only being 232 pages (a THIN little book, thinner than LSAC's books of 10 but more costly!!) and not giving satisfactory techniques for all Game types.

WONDER TOOL FOR THE LSAT!, April 17, 2004
Are you smart? Were you shocked at how fundamentally simple you felt in the presence of the logic games section? Read on.

Of 77-78 possible points on the other three LSAT sections, I typically score 70-72, not a slouch performance. On my first LSAT pre-assessment GAMES section I answered 12 (half of the possible) with only two correct answers. You want to talk about a reality check?! The sheer magnitude of the failure crushed me.

So I did what you've likely done - purchased "Master", "Princeton", "Kaplan", "Kaplan 180", blah, blah, blah, ad infinitum. Most give obtuse instruction for someone with my GAMES ability. I needed remedial help from step one with a "1-2-3 learn and apply" appoach. This is where the "Bible" shines.

By using accessible language for someone from a non-logic background, it guides you step by step into full comprehension of games principles (through the most complex and universally applicable) and, most importantly to me, to practical application of those principles by drilling in practice exericses. Included are full (read:complete) explanations of all answers for the times you say, "huh?".

Remember calculus? You kind of understood the fundamental principles, but the ceaseless practice (homework) made you proficient. Same thing. No need to have the esoteric comprehension of a logician when you can apply and win. After all, isn't law about practical application of principles? (Aspiring judges primed to write opinions and set precedents please do not respond.)

If you are already scoring 20 points in the GAMES section or possess a preternatural ability to manipulate these questions in mental space, forget this book. Pick up "Kaplan 180" and enjoy your Yale scholarship. For the rest of us, the "Bible" is REQUIRED reading.

Your scores will go up, March 18, 2006
I used this when preparing for the LSAT and my practices scores increased an average of 11 points once I had mastered the games section. Unless you are a natural with this section, I highly recommend you use this book to learn strategies to attack that section. It will teach you how to identify which "type" of game you are dealing with, and then you will learn the various strategies specific for each type. It's a really big book, so you will have tons of practice. This book removed all the mystery of the logic games for me, I'm so glad I had it. I only wish I had ordered it sooner so I could have spent more time on it. You might want to also consider the Logic Games Setup, which helps breakdown the solutions on past LSAT tests.

If You are Scared by Logic Games Get This Book!, November 18, 2003
For me, the worst part of the LSAT was the logic games section. I purchased several other books including Kaplan and Princeton Review before buying this book. This by far, was the best resource I could have invested in for the Logic Games Section of the LSAT. I can't imagine having taken the test without the aid of this book. It wasn't a page turner, but I worked my way through each chapter carefully and ended up doing much better on the Logic Games section of the LSAT than I ever imagined possible. If you are anything like me and are CONFUSED and frustrated by the logic games and about to give up, buy this book, work through it carefully, take notes, and you will notice a huge difference in your performance. Following the advice in this book was the single most important step I took in improving my score, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a good LSAT score and is willing to invest some time and energy in methodically applying the techniques that are outlined in the book to their practice tests and studies.

Taking the Lsat?--Buy this Book, May 10, 2005
I am recommending this book to anyone who is going to take the LSAT but not going to take a review course. The Logic Games Bible exposes you to a variety of games and clearly explains each game and answer. The first practice tests I took, I was getting 10-12 of the questions correct, now I'm only missing 2-4. My score has jumped from 149 to 162. A lot of it has to do with reading this book. Hands down, the best book you can buy to self-study for the LSAT.

Clear and Comprehensive, July 6, 2006
I usually dreaded logic games like the ones that appear in the LSAT. While some of the questions were generally straightfoward, there were some that I just couldn't get or would eventually get after spending great quantities of energy and time -- which is a definite no-no on the LSAT.

I bought the Logic Games Bible because I wasn't impressed with Kaplan's review materials, and I wasn't going to waste my money on actual classes. After only a few weeks of careful review, the logic games became clearer. I began to solve them faster and with greater accuracy. I scored perfectly on the LSAT logic games section after using onyl this book.

This is a definite buy for anyone who struggles with logic games. Powerscore takes you step-by-step to not only set up the games but also to teach what inferences can be drawn from certain game rules. Like most learning, once you see Powerscore set up a problem or draw and inference, that knowledge stays with you.

Highly recommended.

this one worked for me, May 3, 2004
There are two things to know about the LSAT before studying for it: (1) at least for native English speakers, the analytic (or "logic games") section of the test is by far the most challenging; and (2) no one can do well on the analytic section without study and practice. Thus the choice of the correct study plan geared toward the analytic/logic games section of the test can make or break your LSAT performance, which in turn can go far toward determining where you go to law school (local vs. regional, regional vs. national, top 15 vs. top 5, etc.).

For some reason, I chose the PowerScore book, and now I'm sitting pretty. This guide has four huge advantages over other guides that I looked over:

(1) the suggested notation is concise, thus leading to less scribbling time and more answering time in the test. This is very important insofar as the logic games section of the LSAT is the most "intensely timed" section of any test that I've ever taken.

(2) the categorization of problem types is accurate and easy to understand. As any guide will tell you, the logic games featured in the LSAT fall into a small set of recognizable types. However, some guides that I've seen posit phalanx of potential problem types, including types of problems that make reference to non-essential attributes like time. This is BAD. A linear problem is a linear problem regardless of whether its linear in time or in space. Anything else is needless confusion.

(3) this guide does NOT propose shortcuts to problem solving. By contrast, other guides that I encountered suggested FROM THE BEGINNING that test takers plan to skip a problem completely in order to save time. This is a supposed shortcut that actually cripples your performance before you've even begun. In reality, there are methods for solving logic game problems, but there are no short cuts. Use the methods recommended, practice alot, and then and only then consider skipping anything. (In my LSAT, I answered every problem, scored well, and had a minute or two left over to sharpen my pencil.)

(3) the sample problems are mostly taken from actual LSATs, and the made up problems are true to the LSAT model. Particularly nice is the reference in the back of the book that characterizes EACH published LSAT analytic problem as regards problem type.

In sum, I studied for a month and a half for the LSAT, using the Logic Games Bible as my study guide and LSAC's 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests for my practice material. I practiced the tests (both in part and in full) under timed conditions. I disregarded the reading comp. and logic sections almost entirely. Result: I scored well enough to get me where I want to go, and suffice it to say I was aiming high from the beginning. ... Read more

Reviews

Best Source of Real LSAT Questions, November 10, 2008
As a professional LSAT tutor/blogger, I find that many LSAT books out there choose to make up their own questions rather than pay the licensing fee to the Law School Admissions Council to use real questions. However, this practice leaves students woefully unprepared. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to study from REAL LSAT questions, which are exactly what this book provides. I recommend this book to all of my students.

Good sample of LSAT questions, July 7, 2008
There are definitely better books for understanding how to take the LSAT, but this book is a great follow-up because it lets you get a feel for a lot of different types of questions, as well as timed practice for the real test. I would definitely suggest using this along with a different stuty guide to prep for the LSAT.

Perfect, June 2, 2008
Seriously, if you are purchasing any book that isn't the official LSAT prep test series you are selling yourself short. They do not approximate the type of questions that you are going to see on a real LSAT.

These books, on the other hand, are perfect for prepping for the LSAT. There is nothing like the real thing.

Great Value Study Tool, January 21, 2009
This is definitely a must if you plan on studying and doing well on the LSAT. It gives a good array of questions that were on previous LSATs and it's the most current that you can get in a set of 10. Otherwise you can purchase most recent tests for $8 each.

It has Oct 1999 thru Oct 2002. I highly suggest working through them timed and use those bubble in answer sheets as you go!

You Absolutely Need This Book!, November 27, 2008
This book will help you with the two things you need to master the LSAT: 1) Time Management. and 2) Be Ready For Anything.

After taking these ten practice tests, you will have a good idea on whether or not you can finish all of the sections in the allotted time (you must take them as you would a normal test to be able to figure this out). You will also have seen 40 logic games, and just about every type of question you can see in the other sections. This is more valuable than you will ever realize, and you will thank this book after you do well on the test. There is nothing worse than getting surprised by a logic game in the testing room, and losing out on five questions by default.

I would highly recommend that you make the time to take as many practice tests as you can, and this book gives you ten great ones.

Good Luck!

Perfect just for one thing..., July 15, 2009
I agree with all the other reviews... It makes sense to have actual LSAT tests to study from, but the only thing that I can say the would stop me from giving it a perfect rating is the fact that they just give you the answer key without giving you an explanation on how they derived the answer. Most times you should be able to see what you did wrong but knowing why you got something wrong would be much easier if they provided written explanations for their answers...

MANDATORY for anyone not taking an actual prep course., September 7, 2009
Well if you are not taking an actual LSAT prep course, then how are you going to get access to actual LSAT practice tests? By the way you can walk into your friendly neighborhood bookstore and grab a copy of any number of different prep books, such as Princeton Review, Kaplan, McGraw Hill, etc. The problem is that the practice tests in those books ARE NOT ACTUAL LSAT TESTS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS, which are the ONLY ones you should be practicing with. What is the point of taking a practice test that is not written by the test makers? Sure it will get you better at taking that particular type of test, but it is NOT WHAT YOU WILL BE TESTED OVER ON THE ACTUAL LSAT. So with that being said, please understand that this book contains 10 actual LSAT tests that were administered between the years of 1999-2002. The only difference between these tests and the one you will be taking is that the one you will be taking will include a comparative reading passage. This has been added to the test in 2007. However, you can download the June 2007 test from the LSAC website for free. You can also download the June 1996 test for free (just go to google and type in "LSAC practice test"). I recommend you take the free 1996 test to see the difference between taking the test ACTUALLY written by the test makers and the ones available in the retail stores.

Its what it should be, but that doesn't make it helpful, July 5, 2009
The book is what it advertises to be, but its still not helpful enough. The LSAT has changed a lot since these tests, and I didn't find practicing with them to be as useful as I would have hoped. You're better off getting more recent tests.

Tests are old and bit outdated, the questions have changed quite a bit since this book, February 23, 2010
Good for practice, I suppose. It helped me before I took the LSAT in Feb but there are plenty of other free resources you can find out there. Just use google.

The tests in this book are old, the LSAT has changed a lot in the last 5 years. This book doesn't give you any explanations for the answers, so in that way it can be frustrating. Just taking the test over and over is good for you to learn how to get your time down but when you are getting the same 4-5 problems wrong every section you want to know why and what you can do better. Look elsewhere for your study materials.

LSAT PrepTest review, December 2, 2008
This collection of LSATs is the best practice for timing oneself and gauging how one will perform on test day. Every LSAT taker should get through at least one collection of previously administered exams. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible is the most comprehensive book available for the Logic Reasoning section of the LSAT. This book will provide you with an advanced system for attacking any Logical Reasoning question that you may encounter on the LSAT. The concepts presented in the Logical Reasoning Bible are representative of the techniques covered in PowerScore s live courses and have been consistently proven effective for thousands of our students. The book features and explains a detailed methodology for attacking all aspects of Logic Reasoning problems, including recognizing question types, identifying common reasoning elements and determining their validity, the methods for efficiently and accurately making inferences, and techniques for quickly eliminating answer choices as you solve the questions. Entire chapters are devoted to every currently-tested question type, to section strategy and time management, and to even the most challenging reasoning concepts presented, such Formal Logic, Conditional Reasoning, and Causality. In addition, the Logical Reasoning Bible features over 100 real LSAT Logical Reasoning questions that are used to illustrate and reinforce our techniques. The two Logical Reasoning sections on the LSAT represent approximately 50% of your final score and are frequently considered to be the most challenging aspect of the test. However, once you understand how to efficiently approach each question type and deconstruct the reasoning presented, the solution to each question can be quickly discovered. Through step-by-step analysis of every reasoning idea that you will encounter, detailed explanations for every answer choice, and extensive drills to enforce every major concept, this book with teach you how to correctly solve even the most complicated Logical Reasoning problems. The Logical Reasoning Bible is also supplemented by a unique website that provides additional materials to complement the book and answer frequently asked questions. ... Read more

Reviews

Great LSAT Prep Book, December 11, 2009
I used all three Powerscore books when studying for the LSAT and this was the best; I also recommend the Logic Games Bible (the Reading Comprehension Bible wasn't as helpful, mainly because I think it's a really hard section to study for). It completely changed (in a good way) the way I did the logical reasoning questions - my scores on practice tests greatly improved. It breaks down each type of question and teaches you how to do them quickly. It takes some time to go through the book but it's totally worth it!

Worth the money, July 20, 2009
I'm strong in the skills the LSAT attempts to measure, so I already had a good grasp on a decent portion of what was presented in the book. However, the confidence I got from working through the examples and the explanations to questions I didn't understand, along with the numerous tips for increasing speed, aided me infinitely more than just taking practice test after practice test. In addition, having a resource like this to study gave me comfort in the form of knowing that I'd done all I could to prepare for the test. If you're self-motivated and brighter than average, I'd recommend buying this and the Logic Games Bible The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible and skipping all of the expensive courses available

Very sastified, July 15, 2009
Perhaps there is some overkill with the categorization and length of this book, but the comprehensive detail gave me confidence that I've studied all I can with regards to strategy for the reasoning section. I'm very happy with Powerscore's LSAT books in general

Absolutely essential for every test taker, October 24, 2010
The short story is that this book is absolutely incredible, worth every penny, and increased my LR performance from getting 15 wrong every time to getting only four wrong every time. BUY IT, especially before you do any other kind of prep. Give yourself a month to get through it. It gives you concrete methods for how to attack every problem type.

The long story:

I had a roundabout way of getting to the point where I ordered this book. I took a Kaplan course and hated it. I did all of the homework and dedicated my life to the course for a month straight. It wasn't working. My score went from a 160 on the diagnostic to a 152, then a 154. The 160 diagnostic enabled me to enroll in their advanced course, but the course was completely unhelpful. Kaplan's methods aren't methods; they just say things like "oh, that is out of the scope, so it's wrong". Well, how do I know it's out of the scope? You don't. Or, you could probably figure it out, but that takes tons of time and on the LSAT you don't have tons of time. Kaplan does not give concrete reasons that can be applied to every question of the same type for determining why something is or isn't correct. The course wasn't working for me or improving my score, so after three weeks (the course was five weeks total), I dropped it. What a waste of over $1000.

I decided to get private tutoring. The tutoring company I used was brilliant for games, but also very expensive and I had already dropped a ton of money on the Kaplan course. I decided I'd look into using a book for LR instead. And I am saying this now to everyone who has not yet started prepping for the LSAT: BUY THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU TAKE A CLASS OR GET TUTORING OF ANY KIND. GIVE YOURSELF A MONTH WITH THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU DO ANY KIND OF LR PREP WHATSOEVER. This will save you a ton of money - the book is a HUGE bargain and worth every penny. It will also give you an excellent foundation for learning how to do every single kind of problem, and it is likely that you will not have to do any other kind of prep (ie tutoring or a class) once you read this book. You will obviously have to do a lot of practice problems and tests, but you won't need any other kind of instruction as to how to do the problems.

The main reason I like this book is it gives you an actual method as to how to do each problem type. My problem wasn't that I didn't understand why the right answer was right, it was that I couldn't finish in time, so I a) had to guess on the last five problems and b) sped up and my accuracy went out the window. By using the methods in this book, I was able to cut down on time for these problems so that I now always finish with at least three minutes to spare. The methods tell you how to look at a problem, what to look for, what is a likely incorrect answer (so that when you see it you can eliminate it very quickly without being tempted), and what a correct answer looks like. The most helpful piece of advice they give is that there is an identifiable and clear correct answer out of each of the choices. By using these methods, I was able to figure out what that answer was quickly, or at least figure out what the wrong answers were quickly.

The other thing to be said about this is that it is a long book. It's over 500 pages. GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO GET THROUGH IT. Skimming it, or just reading the methods, will not help you. You have to practice them until they become second nature. And you also have to give yourself enough time to actually get through all of the pages. I worked full time while getting through this, and I spent my lunch hour every day working through it, and was able to get through it in just over a month.

You can't expect this to work miracles overnight. But if you put in the time, it will help you increase your speed and accuracy without ever having to pay for a course or tutoring. Or, it will at least give you a sense of what kinds of problems you have trouble with, and then you can get the most out of tutoring by being efficient about it and targeting your weak areas. Or even if you don't get tutoring, you will know what kinds to practice.

I wasted $1000 before I picked this wonderful book up. Don't repeat my mistake. Use this as a first line of defense, and see just how far it will get you in your quest for a great LSAT score.

Note: I have not gotten my official LSAT score back yet. However, I did finish both LR sections with time to spare, and in practice exams, I had consistently gotten no more than four wrong on the LR sections in the past five tests i'd taken.

Useful Overview of LSAT Logical Reasoning Section, February 22, 2010
I've written a more detailed review of this book on my LSAT blog. However, I just wanted to briefly note that this book is an incredibly useful overview of the LSAT's Logical Reasoning section.

I've seen students literally go from only 10 or 11 right on the logical reasoning section to 18 or 19 right, and above, after working with me out of this book. It contains dozens of drills and techniques, and it breaks down the Logical Reasoning section very systematically. The LRB blows Kaplan's books of fake questions and similar ones out of the water. I recommend this book to all of my students.

A must!, February 11, 2010
I am a BIG fan of power score products. I utilized this series for GMAT and now for LSAT and each time I saw results. I am fortunate to have a small budget to purchase these basic prep books and followed a stringent 3 month self study plan (I didn't have 1500 to spend on a professional prep program) and I did well on the test. It takes focus , discipline and great prep books, such as POWER SCORE! LR is 50% of your score!!! so you need to do well and this books helps you do that. It is a tedious book to get through but it is well worth the effort!!!

A solid, comprehensive analysis of LSAT logical reasoning, September 27, 2009
While it is a very large book (over 500 pages), the logical reasoning bible provides an insight into the LR section that few other prep books come even close to hinting at. If you're legitimately looking to increase your knowledge on how to attack the LR section, this is the book to get. Every question type is covered, explained, analyzed, etc. in very well laid out chapter by chapter structure. The categorization can be a bit overkill at times but the authors really went all out with trying to have every angle covered. It ultimately all serves to benefit you in the long run but you really have to be willing to spend a good deal of time doing the exercises, reading the explanations, and figuring out how you can improve from all that. With that said, I recommend this to anyone looking to improve on the LR section but be wary of trying to breeze through it...

Great study tool!, June 10, 2009
All of the power score books are great- they really lay out the steps to attacking difficult problems on the LSAT. This books explains the type of questions in the logical reasoning section, what to look out for, and how to attack them. 5 stars!

Help is on the way with this book!, November 9, 2010
This is the section that keeps handing me my butt. However, with this study guide I am better able to understand the author's intent, etc.
This study guide helps diagram the questions, note whether the passage contains an argument, or just has fact sets; as well as, helps with time management, how to attack the passages and how to get the best out of your study time.

With this book I do feel myself prepared for what I will face in December. Just hope I don't choke like I did on the practice test! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Contains actual, previously administered LSAT's. For pure practice at an unbelievable price, you can't beat 10 PrepTests. Each test includes an answer key, writing sample, and score conversion table. ... Read more

Reviews

An essential for LSAT prep, December 7, 2003
I began studying for the LSAT in July. On my first practice tests, I was scoring around 160. When I finally took the test in December, I got a 174. This is how I did it.

In preparing for the LSAT, I have used a wide variety of study guides--10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests, 10 More Actual Official PrepTests, Kaplan's LSAT 2004, Kaplan's LSAT 180, Princeton Review's Cracking the LSAT 2004, and REA's Best Test Prep. The only bad one among them was REA's; the rest were quite helpful. This book was the conerstone of my preparation. If you want to do well on the LSAT, this is the way to study:

Your first two purchases should be Kaplan's (or Princeton's, if you prefer) most current LSAT guide and 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. Kaplan's book will give you a good intro to the test, along with 3 full tests with a detailed analysis for each question. The PrepTest book will give you plenty of real, recently-administered LSATs to take, though without question analysis. Just getting used to taking the test is the most important part of the preparation process, and between the two books, 13 full tests should be plenty.

If, after 4 or 5 tests, you're noticing your scores plateau around 165, and you want to bump them up, get Kaplan's LSAT 180. It is full of the toughest questions that Kaplan's crew could come up with (along with a few nasty ones you might see adapted from real questions on LSAC's PrepTests), and strategies on how to approach them. The regular, yearly guides are a great way to start studying, but they will only take you so far. LSAT 180 can take you the rest of the way, as its name implies. You should be warned beforehand though--these are THE TOUGHEST questions you will find anywhere. If you can handle these, most of the actual test will seem like cake.

If you burn through all of Kaplan's Tests--including the free online one--and all 10 Actual tests (Like I did), you can always get the older 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. It's still good prep; the only difference is that the tests are older--December '92 is the oldest; September '95 is the most recent. Some minor things have changed: the older tests are a little harder, which means a lower raw score here translates into a higher scaled score; the wording of questions is different; and some of the types of logic games that are on the newer tests aren't on these. However, if you've taken all the tests in the more recent book, and you know what to expect to see on the actual test, taking the PrepTests in this book is a good way to keep your practice going.

Also, both LSAC.org and Amazon have individual PrepTests available for $8 apiece. You can get all the most recent tests--sometimes right up to the one most recently administered. These aren't as good a deal as the books of 10, but seeing the most recent material--even if it's just 1 or 2 tests--is worth it. Though I haven't taken it, I've heard that PrepTest 31 (June 2000) has the most difficult Logic Game ever on it... that might be worth checking out. *****UPDATE***** I took PrepTest 31. The CD game was thoroughly underwhelming--I didn't even think it was the hardest game on the test. Maybe that's just me.

Anyway, that's about it. If you want to prepare for the LSAT as thoroughly and effectively as possible, this is the way to do it.

Highly Recommended Book, January 4, 2004
In training for the LSAT, I used only official preptests sold by LSAC. Many past reviewers recommended studying multiple books, like those available by Kaplan or Princeton Review. I have found that Kaplan and other study aides add to the confusion many test takers experience, and Kaplan even admits that its study guides do not help 40% of those who buy the books.

If you want to do well on the LSAT, this is the way to study:

Your first purchase should the 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. The PrepTest book will give several of real LSATs to take, though without question analysis. All of the answers are given, but they are not explained. I find this to be a bonus, because I believe that a test taker can learn more from figuring out why the answer is what is, instead of just going by the problematical answers Kaplan gives. Kaplan's answers have a tendency to be too long and lack an accurate answer. It is similar to when a person is talking but they are not really saying anything.

Just getting used to taking the test is the most important part of the preparation process. If you finish all ten tests, get the older 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests.

DO NOT buy Kaplan's LSAT 180. It is full of the toughest questions that KAPLAN could MAKE UP. These questions are so bogus that they lowered everyone in my study group's score: we all had scores over 170 before this book. On one page, Kaplan gave two complete different explanations for two questions that were the exact same type of question. Kaplan's answers to MADE UP questions are lacking judgment. Kaplan is simply too lazy to buy official questions.

Also, both www.LSAC.org and Amazon have individual PrepTests available for $8 each. Get the latest tests: these aren't a good buy like the books of ten, but seeing the most up to date material - even if it's just 1 or 2 tests - is worth it. If you are not in a hurry, you can get the tests free of shipping from LSAC, and they have the MOST RECENT tests, while Amazon tends to lack the two most recent tests.

Specifically, get the June 2000 (PrepTest 31) exam. This contains the notorious "CD Game," the second game, which is commonly considered the most complicated LSAT logic game ever.

BUT...

If you REALLY want to, go ahead and pay in the thousands for a LSAT class prep course, like those offered by Kaplan and Princeton Review. I do not suggest doing that, but confidence is essential for acing the LSAT. If you feel that taking an over-priced prep course will boast your self-assurance, feel free to do so.

LSAT Preparation - #3 most important set of tests you'll buy, November 27, 2005
You should only buy this book if you're planning to take 20-30 PrepTests before you take the real LSAT. You should make all of the most recent preptests (39+ are currently available in individual test booklets) and "The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" (29-38) a higher priority than this book.

This book contains modern LSATs (post December 1995). Even though the tests are from the last 10 years, or so, you'll still notice some slight variation between these tests and the real LSAT you'll take. That said, it's an excellent study aid and it's cost effective.

This book contains:
PrepTest 19; June 1996
PrepTest 20; October 1996
PrepTest 21; December 1996
PrepTest 22; June 1997
PrepTest 23; October 1997
PrepTest 24; December 1997
PrepTest 25; June 1998
PrepTest 26; September 1998
PrepTest 27; December 1998
PrepTest 28; June 1999

Essential, If Not Complete, December 19, 2003
"10 More Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" is absolutely essential to studying for the big exam. I've been working with Arco and Kaplan's books, which both feature sample tests and some exercises. However, they're inadequate in preparing you for the nature of the real test questions. "10 More...Preptests," being actual LSATs, actually do give you a feel for the test's real questions.
The only complaint I have is that there is no explanation key but it's a minor complaint, since I have had to look over my answers and figure out for myself why my answers were wrong. Of course, this helps, as it forces you to examine the questions more thoroughly than you normally would.
My recommendation is to use this book in conjunction with a study guide (Kaplan has a good one). Study the test-taking techniques and do the exercises in the study guide, THEN test your skills with this book.

Buy the newer "10 Next AO LSATs" if you are buying just one, August 20, 2004
I splurged and bought all three of the big books in the Law School Admission Council's "10 Actual, Official LSAT" series. (The first is "10 Actual, Official LSAT", followed by "10 More Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" and most recently "10 Next Actual, Official LSAT Preptests"). All three books contain offcially released, actual LSATs. All are great for practicing for the real thing. One might argue, however, that by default, "10 Next Actual, Official LSAT Preptests (ISBN: 0942639898) is now the one to buy, simply because the tests are newer and therefore are more likely to reflect LSAC's latest thinking on question format and difficulty. Other reviewers have suggested that the LSAT seems to be recycling the structure, if not the precise problems, of so-called logic games from older tests. So it probably pays to buy this or one or both of the older test collections too, provided you have the time to study that many tests. One wonders why logic games are so important a part of this test, when every lawyer I know says they are unlike they type of legal reasoning they employ in their practice of law. But as long as they stay there, if you want to do well on the test you have to, quite literally, "play the game."

Question explanations please!!!, June 27, 2003
Just in case you didn't know, I thought I should write a review to say that there are no explanations of the questions. All of the answers are, of course, given, but they aren't explained. So, even if you are convinced that it's (A), and the back of the book says (C), it doesn't tell you why you're wrong. Nevertheless, taking loads of tests is absolutely the best way to prep out there. Basically, those thousand dollar courses are for people who don't have the motivation to buy these books and do it themselves. So, if you want to save money and know you can force yourself to take these practice tests, I highly suggest that you do so.

Not representative of the current test, December 14, 2006
First, if you are planning on taking the LSAT, you need to have this book. You need to have any LSAT test ever published, and you need to go over every question carefully to understand why the correct answer is correct, and why the incorrect answer is incorrect. From this you can find patterns of how you take the test and how you can improve your methods. You should do this regardless of how you are preparing for the test, though most courses *should* help you do this.

Be warned, however, that the tests in this book are from an older format. Tests 39-52 (52 is given in Feb 07) were changed so that the Analytical Reasoning (AR) games were easier, and the Reading Comprehension (RC) and Logical Reasoning sections became more difficult. My score on these older tests ranged from 6-10 points higher than my score on the newer tests because I am good at the AR section. So don't expect the score on these exams to accurately reflect your score on a recent test. Don't let that stop you from taking these tests. You need all the practice you can get, and if you're not as good at the AR games, practicing on the tougher old ones will definitely help you for the exam.

Starting with test 53 (June 07) they will be changing the fomrat of the RC section so that one of the four readings is a compare and contrast excercise between two shorter readings. How this will affect the score curve and the difficulty of the other sections is unclear. See the LSAC website for more details.

Good luck!

Far and away, the best way to prepare for the LSAT, June 10, 2003
There is no substitute for taking real, timed, practice LSATs. It is simply the best way to prepare for the real thing. My study plan was two part: First, I paid the big bucks for an LSAT class. Second, I studied real tests every day out of this and its companion book. While the class was great, I found that simply studing all of the material on the real test was by far the most useful thing I did (not to mention that it cost a lot less). These books are simply a must have to prepare well and I recomend them to everyone. In my case, they helped me score in the mid 170s.

getting ready for the LSAT, March 1, 2004
Post-LSAT update: I scored a 174 (99.3 percentile) using this as prep. What more recommendation do you need?
***********
This book was the single most helpful tool in preparing for the LSAT. I began with Kaplan's LSAT prep book, which was a good introduction to how to approach the test. However, the Kaplan sample tests were not good representations of the actual tests, since they contained some mistakes and poorly formulated questions, they were in some ways more difficult. I used the 10 More Actual LSAT tests along with the most recently released tests (which you can buy individually).

Very good preparation for taking the exam, January 30, 2003
The reading comprehension sections in this book were easier than those of the Oct. & Dec. 2002 exams, but the other sections were comparable. I personally feel there's nothing like being exposed to actual test questions to help one feel confident going into the test. By utilizing this book alone, I was able to score in the upper 160's. I would definitely recommend it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Kaplan LSAT 2011 Premier with CD-ROM is a ground-breaking prep program that uses the latest technology and advanced tools to maximize a student’s score. Featuring revolutionary live online events and comprehensive practice and test-taking strategies, this invaluable guide offers exclusive free access to an interactive online companion with exceptional assets, including:

• Live Online Seminar: A state-of-the-art online classroom session in real time, complete with audio, video, instant chat, whiteboards, and screen sharing 
• Fast Fact Videos: Kaplan’s best LSAT tutors review the most important concepts from each chapter in 3-to-5 minute video clips 
• Diagnostic quiz to target areas for score improvement 
• New practice quizzes every month 
• Customizable study plan and progress report

This comprehensive preparation program also provides:

• Only real, official LSAT questions 
• Expert tutor tips: Sidebars with insider tips and tricks from high-scoring, expert instructors 
• 5 full-length official LSAT practice tests (three in the book, two online) 
• Hundreds of additional practice questions

Reviews

Good but not excellent..., November 30, 2010
This is actually a review of the 2010-2011 edition. I reproduce it here because almost nothing has changed in the few months between publication of the last book and this 2011 version.

The LSAT exam has rules of its own, and there is not enough time during the exam to figure out what those rules are. If you learn what they are before you go in -- you can spend your energy answering the immediate questions at hand rather than wasting valuable time trying to figure out what each question is asking.

The purpose of both the LSAT prep books and the LSAT prep courses is to teach you exactly that: the basic rules of the LSAT exam questions.

Whether you are someone who is good at learning from a book or do better in a course with a live classroom, only you can know. My experience is that the overwhelming majority of people do better in a course -- but some do better from books.

Your LSAT score is the single most important determinant of whether and how good a law school you will get into. Law School admissions committees weigh it so heavily because the LSAT score has been proven to be an excellent predictor of performance in law school and ultimately a good predictor of passing the bar exam after law school.

If you try to wing it once and see how you do, even if you repeat the LSAT exam, the LSAC which oversees the LSAT exam sends both scores to each law school to which you apply. The admissions committees, as a rule, average the two scores to determine where you rank in the 1000's of applications they receive.

So it is best that you put your best foot forward the first time you take the exam and do the full and proper prep that you need before you walk in to take it. If you really want to go to law school -- hang the expense and just take the plunge. The price will be even higher if you don't.

Whether you decide on purchasing Kaplan's book or not, I urge you to use at least one other. There are multiple perspectives on how to approach taking the LSAT exam and it is learning from varied perspectives that will serve you best.

As to Kaplan's book itself, I have mixed feelings. I actually happened to have been tutored by Stanley Kaplan himself for chemistry while I was in high school. He was the most highly regarded tutor in my neighborhood area and he tutored in every subject. I personally found his tutoring style, both one on one and in a class, unsatisfactory. He taught gimmicks for succeeding on tests rather than understanding the material. I did not function well that way, though apparently others did or he wouldn't have been so popular. I was not surprised, therefore, to see that he built a whole industry around review courses and exams in all areas. It is one of the most successful companies of its type today.

I am currently a law professor, a switch from another discipline -- so law school was a mid-career change for me. I prepped for the LSAT through books but, obviously, being an academic, I am a book learner. Let the prospective law school applicant be warned however: Based on a practice exam I took before my preparation, I was appalled to learn I could barely score a bottom-of-the-barrel respectable grade on my own resources. This includes a PhD from a prestigious institution, a number of published scholarly articles as well as a book and being a professor in my previous discipline. Despite my credentials, I still wouldn't have been admitted to the law school of my choice if I did not do well on the LSAT; the law school Dean was quite blunt about that. If I needed to prep for the LSATs, then I feel confident to say that pretty much everyone does. I used 3 different prep books (Kaplan's was not around then) and crash-studied 100's of hours before taking the actual exam and fortunately did very well.

Reviewing Kaplan's book here, though the teaching approach has improved considerably over my personal experience, I find the presentation breaks down the LSAT exam into too-simple elements to be of much use for mastering the art of taking this test. Though there are many aspects of the pointers presented that are excellent, there are many aspects that are merely platitudes that don't teach you anything.

The least effective, I find, is the section on preparing for the writing sample. For one, the pointers are useless for someone who needs to learn how to write something like that. The pointers are already known to those who already know how to write. Those who need to learn those pointers will not understand them, figure them out or be able to apply them.

As an example, there is one part admonishing the reader to write well and clearly. Apart from the fact that the section itself is not written clearly and is a poorly structured paragraph -- saying "try to make your prose as clean and flawless as you can" teaches nothing. "Use structural signals to keep your writing fluid" is absolutely correct -- but if someone needs training on how to write -- they will have no idea what "structural signals" are and, indeed, there is no explanation given. (", indeed," is a structural signal.)

If you wish to improve your writing skills for the purposes of the test -- you would do best with an in-person teacher who will go over repeated writing efforts of yours and who will explain how to improve them as you go back to do the exercise again. Though the writing sample itself is not graded -- writing is the most important tool of a lawyer and the Kaplan book is correct that admissions committees look at the writing sample, especially for those applicants who fall in the gray area of whether to be admitted or not.

On the other hand (another structural signal), the book, in breaking many other aspects of the test down to elemental points, can give a good starting foundation. For those who feel intimidated by the power the LSAT exam has over their future career prospects, Kaplan's simplifying approach can reduce fear and anxiety by giving a sense of command over the material, which is critical to doing well on an any exam.

For those who feel they "don't do well on these kinds of tests" -- the book is an excellent starting point. It does a good job of reducing the sense of being overwhelmed by the process and enables you to see you can indeed nail this exam.

So Kaplan's book can serve as an excellent foundation. I just wouldn't stop there. I would go on to another, more sophisticated book that builds up your mastery of taking this kind of test or work through another one concurrently with Kaplan's or, perhaps even better, take a course.

Finally, as an aside, law school is an excellent way to start a career or do a mid-career change at any age. People in their 60's as well as their 30's & 40's do it all the time. If you are concerned about being older, you will not be, by any means, alone. Furthermore, in addition to reasoning and writing skills, experience is equally important to success, whether it be from life or another career, not only in law school but in any subsequent career that capitalizes on your legal training. So whatever your past is, good or not so good, it will serve you well in law school. And just because you go to law school, that does not mean you are slated solely for a career as an attorney. A significant percentage of law graduates go on to endeavors unrelated to law but related to their own interests that their legal training opens doors to.

Honestly, in my view, being a lawyer is one of the most powerful and productive roles in our society. Doctors give the power of life; lawyers give the power of living life, both for themselves and for others, to and for any one they wish to help or support. There is nothing more satisfying than to open doors for the deserving who thought those doors were closed to them forever. And I am not just referring to helping those caught in the criminal justice system, this includes students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education and a career, families caught in battles over estates and family businesses, businesses trapped in hostile environments -- these are among the many scenarios in which a legal perspective can be very felicitous. Being able to be available to assist in resolving a conflict with fairness and justice to all involved gives one a great sense of value. And one can do this at any time -- totally apart from those endeavors that earn one an income.

sets you up but you need much, much more, August 17, 2010
I found this book to be helpful with introducing the Lsat but if you want to get everything you need in order to score high on the test, you need more than this book. Actually, I was a bit disappointed because I felt this book was just setting me up to take the Kaplan class, which I brought the book because I cannot afford the classes. I am ordering the powerscore workbook and bible in hopes of getting all the info I need...I will be posting a review of that when I get it.

Basic information with an outdated/incompatible CD-ROM, August 17, 2010
I purchased the Kaplan LSAT Premier 2011 book a couple months ago to prepare for the October LSAT. And I found the basic information, sample questions and practice tests to be helpful in preparing me for the information that will be on the test. However, when I went to go through some of the additional practice problems on the CD-ROM I ran into a problem.

Apparently Kaplan has decided that they don't need to update their CD-ROM technology to the 2010 - yet alone the 2011 - standards. After unsuccessfully attempting to access the CD-ROM on three computers and google-ing the issue, it seems that the CD-ROM is useless for anyone with a current OS - I have Windows 7.

So, if you were interested in the additional practice questions/tests on the CD-ROM and you have Windows 7, find another LSAT prep book...

Excellent, September 11, 2010
Excellent condition and arrived promptly. Would purschase from this vendor again. Very honest and dependable. ... Read more

Reviews

lsat practice test., September 11, 2010
i use these to study - i just take a million till i'm totally comfortable with the test style. you should try it. buy these preptests, especially since there is a buy three get one free offer. or maybe buy 4 get one free.... i can't recall, but it is cheaper and easier to get them here than through [...]. ... Read more

Reviews

Highly Useful LSAT Prep Book, November 27, 2005
This book has some of the most cogent/coherent explanations and general overview of question types that LSAC has ever produced. The explanations are top quality and the overview is good.

The overview reviews some previous LSAT questions and discusses each of the three question types. It totals 40-50 pages of information.

The PrepTests are all February tests, which are not disclosed to test takers and seem to feel different than other LSATs. The explanations are thorough and have some good, general tips on questions.

The book is a little pricey for getting 3 preptests but is worthwhile, especially early on when you're having trouble understanding why you got a question wrong.

Be aware that the book doesn't yield much in the way of really deep strategy work. You'll need to go to one of the prep companies' books for that kind of insight into the LSAT.

The book contains:
SuperPrep A; February 1996
SuperPrep C; February 1999
SuperPrep B; February 2000

only moderately helpful, September 8, 2007
The explanations in this book are not as clear or accessible as the Powerscore LGB or LRB, and the explanations will not help you form any kind of coherent strategy or methodology for attacking the test...they will just show you what you should have recognized in each individual case.

There are only 2 real reasons to buy this:
(1) You are looking for Reading Comprehension tips
(2) You have already worked through all other released LSATs and need these February ones for additional practice.

Good practice - but also some good advice, September 2, 2006
I'm sure everyone knows that there are three preptests in this book. They are from three February exams which are usually undisclosed.

I did find something else in this book that was actually kind of helpful. There really isn't all that much good prescriptive advice on how to do reading comprehension. There are loads of logic games books and every serious LSAT student clearly must have the Logical Reasoning Bible from Powerscore.

However, reading comprehension remains an underserved part of the LSAT and accounts for more of the exam than logic games.

With that said, I found the 15 pages of How to take the Reading Comprehension section to be quite helpful. It was useful to see how the LSAT writers view the section and the proper way to attack it.

Good book for what it is, wel worth buying, September 24, 2005
This book is put out by the LSAC, so it doesn't give you all the tips and tricks you would find in another publication, say Poerscore's LR Bible or AR Bible, but it's still helpful b/c it contains real LSAT questions, answers, and an explanation for each answer. It also provides a good overview of the LSAT and gernal info. concerning the test. Good purchase for LSAT prep, though don't let it be the only book you buy. Get those Powerscore "Bibles" and lots of LSAT prep-tests too.

GET THIS BOOK, August 16, 2006
At first, I wasted my time with prep materials not written by the LSAC. Many of the questions seemed too easy or too hard. Additionally, many of these materials are plagued with typos, misreads and incorrect arguments. I suppose this is due to them being written by one, or maybe just a few, author(s). In contrast, the LSAT superprep is great. The questions are real LSAT tests from the past and the explanations help greatly. There are no typos I have found yet and the level of questions are much more realistic (actually, they're REAL so they must be realistic :). True, the material might be a bit dull at times but, Hey, that's how the test is anyway. You're not getting this book for entertainment, you're getting it to ace the LSAT. Good luck!

Outstanding official prep materials from LSAT, August 19, 2007
The LSAT is sufficiently idiosyncratic in both the form and substance of its content that studying with anything other than the official, exams released by the LSAT board (LSAC) runs the risk of doing more harm than good. The problem with such advice until recently is that before the release of this book a couple of years ago, none of the official materials provided anything more than an answer key, which could leave you scratching your head about why you got something wrong or how you were supposed to get to the correct answer to begin with. By supplying complete and generally pretty decent explanations for all the questions in the three exams included in this book, as well as providing a useful prefatory section giving specific test taking tips for each section, this book is extremely valuable and I might add long overdue. To be fully prepared, you will probably want to use this book and perhaps one or more of the LSAC's "10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests." If you need extra help on the "games" section (and most people do), you may also wish to purchase the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible, which alone among the non-official LSAT prep books uses actual LSAT questions obtained under license from the LSAC. It should be noted, however, that the LSAT Superprep book also includes strategy tips as well is very good explanations for the LSAT games section, making the once mandatory purchase of the Powerscore Bible optional for some test takers.

not super, but quite adequate, May 12, 2007
...for reviewing mistakes. the explanations of the correct answers are not written in the most accessible english, but i've found them good enough for explaining the inevitable (for me) bonehead mistakes. my prep work, with a month to go, has consisted of the two powerscore bibles (very good), plenty of official prep tests, and this superprep. since there are only three tests in here, plus a small "how to" section, i took one when i started studying to gauge my weak spots; a second one when i felt my brain was swimming in too much powerscore bible tactical info; and the third is waiting for a week before the test.

all in all, worth the money, but supplement with the 10-test books.

The Definitive LSAT Prep Manual, October 25, 2006
After being disappointed by many other manuals, I purchased this, official LSAC distributed, manual. I was surprised at the vast difference in the quality of instruction and accuracy of examples in this manual. In my honest opinion, the other prep manuals that I purchased were jokes; simply ridiculous content and little to no help whatsoever (being that I'm not severely mentally deficient). I would highly recommend this book, especially after having been just as highly disappointed by so many other books.

Very Helpful, October 6, 2007
I tried the Princeton Review books first and they were very difficult - by working in this prep book I realized that the Princeton materials were way harder than the test. This book helped build my confidence until I could tackle the more difficult questions in the PR materials, knowing that the actual tests published in the Official LSAT Superprep book were closer to actual test difficulty. I still used the PR materials too, knowing that if I could answer those tough questions then I could answer anything on the test, but I found the Official LSAT Superprep to be closer to the difficulty of the test, and more realistic by far.

Not the best LSAT book, August 4, 2010
The Good: This book offers a great deal of information on the LSAT and being created by the same people who write the LSAT makes it useful. It contains a lot of actual LSAT questions which is great for when it comes time to do the practice tests.

The Bad: The book uses the same, often confusing, language when describing the questions you will be tackling as the questions themselves. They do not do a great job connecting the dots between the review portion of the book and answering of the question. The review sections offer an overview of the four sections of the LSAT but do not give strategy as to solving them.

I highly recommend the Powerscore books, the Logic Games Bible in particular. I am using this book in conjunction with that one because the LSAT SuperPrep offers so many actual, past used, test questions. ... Read more

Reviews

Newest LSAT Preptest Available!, November 14, 2010
This test and preptest numbers 55 and up are all well worth $8. They are the newest tests, and therefore probably the closest to the real official LSAT you are going to face. Don't be stingy with your prep! Get ready for the real thing with the most similar tests available.

The Official LSAT Prep Test 60, December 11, 2010
The product was returned to seller because it was no longer needed, but refund as expected was never processed. Over all I would say that I am terribly disappointed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The definitive guide to the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT, featuring real LSAT passages and questions with complete explanations! ... Read more

Reviews

Great Book only if You Struggle on LSAT Reading Comprehension, December 7, 2008
As a professional LSAT tutor/blogger in NYC, I was skeptical when PowerScore published this late last year. I didn't think PS would be able to follow up on the success of the previous 2 bibles with another truly useful study guide. In some respects, I was right, but in others, PS exceeded my expectations.

If you're already scoring decently on Reading Comprehension, this book will repeat much of what you already know. It won't do much to help you get those last few questions.

If you're struggling on Reading Comprehension, this book will make this section much more manageable.

Note: PowerScore once again exhibits its tendency to over-classify. The book goes into detail on every question type, every passage type, etc. If you majored in biology, you might find these taxonomies interesting, but most folks won't benefit from thinking about RC in this degree of detail.

Use (if at all): If you decide Reading Comp is a weak area worth focusing on, complete this book before doing several RC passages.

Unnecessary, September 13, 2009
I am a huge fan of his other two LSAT prep books, but I found the reading comprehension book to be slightly unnecessary. It was basic, intuitive information. I did find the "common errors" section helpful, seeing as I am now more aware of traps. I basically found out from this book that completing each prompt in 8 minutes and 45 seconds (their recommendation) to be extremely doable, without using any of their tips. A good book to skim, but not worth spending precious study time over.

Got extra cash..need help with RC? this is for you, February 26, 2010
I am a BIG fan of power score products. I utilized this series for GMAT and now for LSAT and each time I saw results. I am fortunate to have a small budget to purchase these basic prep books and followed a stringent 3 month self study plan (I didn't have 1500 to spend on a professional prep program) and I did well on the test. It takes focus , discipline and great prep books, such as POWER SCORE!

Ok I love Power score can you tell?! BUT this is my least fav in the LSAT series but it is still a great book. I just believe that RC is well the easier of the sections to study for that is why I am "iffy" about the need for this book. I worked my way through the entire book and I did walk away with some decent knowledge but honestly I only applied about 1/3 of it on the test simply because of time. I just found their approach to be really time consuming however I also tend to be a fast reader so the thought of doing the breakdown they suggest was just overwhelming for me. I will say this, if this is a section you are struggling with buy the book but if you are a-ok put your pennies toward more lsac preptest's.

Review from the GMAT perspecitve, August 5, 2010
There is actually quite a bit of overlap between LSAT and GMAT Verbal section. LSAT of course is harder and more hardcore, which makes it a great source of extra hard (sometimes way too hard) questions. In additionm, GMAC, unlike LSAC does not post/license official questions, and thus LSAT materials become very attractive for GMAT test takers who have exhausted traditional books or are looking for an extra challenge. I appologize to the LSAT takers for tainting this review but I think it will be helpful to many GMAT test takers who are looking to get a higher verbal score.

Pros:
1. Difficulty - Passages are longer and more complex than their GMAT counterparts. At times, questions can be quite difficult and convoluted.
2. Practice - There are about 100 real LSAT RC questions. There are also some exercises developed by Powerscore in the beginning of the book.
3. Discussion - The book does an excellent job at explaining RC and discussing strategies and technique.
4. Product Quality - Although a minor issue, the pages and book cover are of good quality.

Cons:
1. *** WARNING: Intended Use - This book is an LSAT guide. Obviously, there will be some irrelevant topics covered. Reading some sections might actually do harm.
2. Price - At 38 dollars, not cheap cheap.
3. Size - The book is 360 pages long. Granted, a considerable portion of the book should be skipped, but this is a serious investment in time for most people.
4. Style - The book's content is extremely dense! Some days, ten pages felt like an eternity. I swear, sometimes this book emits sleeping gas. I literally fell asleep once or twice while reading. And this is coming from a person who thinks Powerscore CR is a smooth and enjoyable read!

Overall Assessment:
After reading this book, you could expect to be a much more active and aggressive reader. The book will help anticipate shifts in a passage, as well as identify a potential question source. But a 360-page book is asking an awful lot from people who need to invest their limited time and money in other GMAT areas. But if you are particularly weak in RC, and MGMAT RC or Veritas RC books don't cut it for you (and you have extra time), then this is a very powerful guide.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this book - I reply to comments.
Best Regards,
BB, GMAT 750.
Founder of GMAT Club

One of the best study guides out there., November 9, 2010
This is a fantastic book. It helps you see the LSAT problems and gives you great instruction on how to navigate the questions, as well as how to save time, and the best ways to study and attack the questions. Let's hope that I remember all this in December.

The best available, October 22, 2010
It's not perfect, but it's the best available book to help with Reading Comprehension for prospective LSAT takers.

Much of this material is the same as you will get in the $1,000+ face to face course. As long as you have the self motivation to study hard, this book will pay for itself in a few weeks.

Still, this is the weakest of the three bibles - after all, it's not going to teach you how to read and comprehend 220 words of really dense text in under four minutes. Instead it will teach you how to focus your reading so you get the most useful information as quickly as possible.

Before buying this book, you'll probably also want the Logical Reasoning and Logic Games bibles and a good selection of past tests to complete your study materials.

Powerscore Reading Comprehension Bible, September 20, 2010
This product is amazing! It was shipped extremely rapidly in mint condition. A really great resource for those who want to master the LSAT. Reading Comprehension is my most difficult subject and this books helps you from A-Z with understanding the concepts. I would really recommend using Powerscore for this section of the LSAT.

PowerScore Reading Comprehension Bible, September 12, 2009
I would really recommend this product if you are studying for the LSAT and struggle with this section. PS does a really great job of breaking down what you need to know and provides ample sections to work through!

Grammar mistakes in a book on reading comprehension?, February 20, 2009
I think this book has a lot of good value in it and could really help someone struggling with the reading comp. section of the LSAT. But by page 125, I had found at least 5 errors in grammar and labeling on the part of the writer which was REALLY distracting. There was one place where belief should have been used where believe was... Anyway, I just had to post a review because I was so annoyed. I paid a lot for this book and it's got simple mistakes that the editor should have caught. ... Read more

Reviews

Nice and CURRENT!, February 11, 2010
if you are prep'n for LSAT and tight on cash...save your pennies to put toward the most recent lsat preptest's! I was able to purchase most tests from 28-58 and there is a big difference between older and more current tests, well at least in my opinion! I say if you are testing in 2010 you should really try to purchase 48 forward or at a min. purchase 55 forward. The more preptests you work through the more familiar you get with LSAC's wording, format, and "tricks." NO there are no repeat questions but boy are there sure close copies!! They love to repeat certain subjects and certain argument structures...so well worth your time and money to review this stuff!

College Prep Exam, July 31, 2010
I am preparing for the LSAT so this book came in really handy. I would recommend this prep to anyone studying for the exam.I would also recommend the Princeton Review. Very good study guides.

Never received LSAT book!!, November 4, 2010
I never received this book I ordered!!

PLease mail me this book!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

LSAT PrepTests are actual, previously administered LSATs. For pure practice at an unbelievable price, you can't beat 10 PrepTests for $29-purchased individually, these 10 practice tests would cost $80. Each test includes an answer key, writing sample, and score-conversion table. ... Read more

Reviews

Comments from an LSAT "master", December 11, 2000
I used to work for one of the major test-prep companies (I won't mention names since I signed a contract not to reveal any of their "secrets"). The best way to prep for this test is _not_ to take as many tests as possible, but to do practice sets and understand your mistakes as thoroughly as possible.

Only when you are ready should you take real tests -- and definitely take _real_ tests, not the made-up tests that come in other books. If you are serious about the LSAT, you _must_ buy this book because these are real tests.

Once again, practice on the other (made-up) tests to master the strategies, and then when you're ready, take real tests sparingly (and always time yourself strictly -- the real LSAT people are very very tough) in order to check your improvement. And don't forget to do the essay!

Highly Recommended Book, January 4, 2004
In training for the LSAT, I used only official preptests sold by LSAC. Many past reviewers recommended studying multiple books, like those available by Kaplan or Princeton Review. I have found that Kaplan and other study aides add to the confusion many test takers experience, and Kaplan even admits that its study guides do not help 40% of those who buy the books.

If you want to do well on the LSAT, this is the way to study:

Your first purchase should the 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests. This book includes two 1993 tests, four tests from 1994, and four tests from 1995. The last test has a typo and says that, even though it is test 18, it is from December 1992. This typo is the only one in the book, and does not harm the tests in any way.

The PrepTest book will give several of real LSATs to take, though without question analysis. All of the answers are given, but they are not explained. I find this to be a bonus, because I believe that a test taker can learn more from figuring out why the answer is what is, instead of just going by the problematical answers Kaplan gives. Kaplan's answers have a tendency to be too long and lack an accurate answer. It is similar to when a person is talking but they are not really saying anything.

Just getting used to taking the test is the most important part of the preparation process. If you finish all ten tests, get the newer 10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests.

DO NOT buy Kaplan's LSAT 180. It is full of the toughest questions that KAPLAN could MAKE UP. These questions are so bogus that they lowered everyone in my study group's score: we all had scores over 170 before this book. On one page, Kaplan gave two complete different explanations for two questions that were the exact same type of question. Kaplan's answers to MADE UP questions are lacking judgment. Kaplan is simply too lazy to buy official questions.

Also, both www.LSAC.org and Amazon have individual PrepTests available for $8 each. Get the latest tests: these aren't a good buy like the books of ten, but seeing the most up to date material - even if it's just 1 or 2 tests - is worth it. If you are not in a hurry, you can get the tests free of shipping from LSAC, and they have the MOST RECENT tests, while Amazon tends to lack the two most recent tests.

Specifically, get the June 2000 (PrepTest 31) exam. This contains the notorious "CD Game," the second game, which is commonly considered the most complicated LSAT logic game ever.

BUT...

If you REALLY want to, go ahead and pay in the thousands for a LSAT class prep course, like those offered by Kaplan and Princeton Review. I do not suggest doing that, but confidence is essential for acing the LSAT. If you feel that taking an over-priced prep course will boast your self-assurance, feel free to do so.

The best preparation money can buy!, November 3, 2001
This book was my primary study guide for the October 2001 LSAT and it got me a 174! I had tried Kaplan and Princeton Review, but those books are terrible. They don't use real LSATs, so they're just not accurate for diagnosing strngths and weaknesses.
The only thing this book doesn't provide is detailed explanations of why the answers are right and wrong. For that you will need a prep book. But one of those (I recommend NOVA's Master the LSAT) plus this book plus enough self-discipline to do the tests under accurate conditions will lead to a great score.

The real deal, July 31, 2001
No tips, no hints, just 10 actual tests. The hardest thing about the LSAT is not the questions, but the short amount of time you are given to solve them. By taking these 10 tests under simulated test conditions you can figure out strategies that work for you (as opposed those that work for 3 out of 5 Kaplan students). Where most books only include 3 or 4 tests this one gives you over twice that and the tests are authentic. The price is right and after taking all ten of these you will have no surprises come test day. My final score on the LSAT was right where I expected it to be thanks to this book.

Practice is the best preparation for the LSAT, October 28, 2001
This book is 10 actual tests. It doesn't give any tips so you may want to buy another book for that. The best thing you can do for yourself is not just learning how to take the test, but taking many tests. If you take all of these timed, it will feel completely natural when you take the real test. When I took the LSAT the questions were familiar to me (not specific questions, but the types of questions). It helped a lot not to be surprised by anything on the test day and to know how much time I could spend on questions.

The Best Way to Study, February 12, 2001
I first read and worked through the Princeton Review LSAT Book. That was useful and one should begin their LSAT practice with a book such as that one. But then, I went through and tested myself with the real LSAT tests. I gave myself 2 minutes less than normal to insure my time was up to speed. My score went up 10 points from the first to the last test. Use the book properly. Take a test, then go over each and every answer you got wrong and those that you guessed right. Try to get a feel for the types of problems you are getting wrong. Look at your answer sheets to see if there is a place where lots of wrong answers keep appearing. Then work on those areas you are weak in. No matter what, this book is a necessity for studying for the LSAT. Dont get lazy, do all 10.

Useful, but not priority #1, November 27, 2005
There is some question of the utility of this book. All of these tests were created in whole or in part before the current LSAT test producer (ACT) took over from LSAS. PrepTests before 11 (including 18 & 16) were made entirely by LSAS. Tests 12-15 were partly written by ACT but they had to use some of LSAS's questions. After December 1995 all the tests were made wholy by ACT (Preptest 17, the "Official LSAT PrepTest with Explanations", the SuperPrep tests, and PrepTests 19+).

I took every PrepTest available and I can say that the October 2005 and more recent tests are different than tests in this book. That doesn't mean the book lacks utility. It's a great study tool but you'll see some question types that are no longer used or are used rarely (for instance, there haven't been logical reasoning questions that have two questions for a single prompt for awhile). The games in this book will also be more difficult than what you'll probably experience on the LSAT. If you only had 10 LSAT PrepTests to take I would recommend the most recent tests you can get. If you're going to take more tests then, by all means, get this book. Just realize it's a little different and don't freak out if your scores change when you begin to take more recent tests.

This book contains:
PrepTest 18; December 1992
PrepTest 7; February 1993
PrepTest 9; October 1993
PrepTest 10; February 1994
PrepTest 11; June 1994
PrepTest 12; October 1994
PrepTest 13; December 1994
PrepTest 14; February 1995
PrepTest 15; June 1995
PrepTest 16; September 1995

Not quite ideal, October 4, 2003
There's a reason the LSAC charges only $3.00 a test for the ten in this book, while more recent tests are $8.00 a piece. The test has changed in some important ways (in my opinion, it is much easier) from these tests, the most recent of which is nearly ten years old. Using these to practice might lead one unwarranted discouragement because of the easier nature of the more recent tests.

Because the most significant changes to the test in recent years have been in the "games" section, this section in this book is probably least valuable. The current tests tend to stick to more basic "sequential" and "assigment" games than the more complicated games of past years. The arguments and reading sections seem to have undergone much less significant revisions, and thus those section in this book are of much greater value.

To sum up, then, the so-called sequential and assignement games, and much of the argument and reading sections in this book are quite valuable, but when coupled with the more outdated sections on a "simulated" test might give an inaccurate expectation of results. A far better (albeit more expensive) move is to thoroughly learn the material first (I would recommend "Master the LSAT" by Jeff Kolby) and get the more recent tests from LSAC themselves.

A good resource, December 10, 2002
These tests are a good deal and an important resource. Most of the Kaplan/Princeton Review books only include a couple of practice tests and are significantly more expensive. This book is particularly useful after you've taken a prep course or studied using one of the Kaplan/Princeton Review books, which have questions with explanations and provide more information about the test. The best way to do well on the LSAT is to keep taking practice tests. Do not be alarmed that the tests do not include the fifth "experimental" section. The LSAT doesn't release that section. If you want to simulate test taking conditions, just add a fifth section from another test or book.

Nothing beats Preparation from the Testmakers, June 6, 2000
I ordered this book last year in preparation for the LSAT, andit was extremely helpful. One of the best ways to prep for this testis to take as many practice tests as possible, and then review your right AND wrong answers. Unfortunately, this book doesn't come with explanations; I signed up for a Kaplan course and was able to get the explanations through my test prep center. ( ) Get every test you can get your hands on if you're serious about law school--the LSAT is the single most important factor in your application. END ... Read more

Editorial Review

Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for 'right answers,' and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.

But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.

In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance. ... Read more

Reviews

The Secrets of Success are Secret No More, July 26, 2000
Getting to Maybe is a Godsend. Even for those of you who've already finished first-year, it's well worth getting.

I am the author of Planet Law School: What You Need to Know Before You Go--but Didn't Know to Ask. Unfortunately, Getting to Maybe was first published in 1999, a year after PLS, so I could not recommend it in PLS. Hence this posting, now. Even though the authors and I are competitors, and our books are published by different firms, I urge all law students to get Getting to Maybe. (For one thing, the authors' critique of the IRAC model is succinct and devastating.)

If you take doing well in law school (and becoming a good attorney) seriously, this book is a necessity.

It's so well-written that I had to force myself to put it down, and ended up reading it in just two sittings, of several hours each.

The earlier review, about the teaching of Tantric Yoga, in exactly right. With Getting to Maybe, the secrets are secret no more.

Impressive rigor, July 18, 2002
The aim of this book is to help current law students perform well on law school exams. Law school exams are famously ambiguous; hence the title of the book.

The title of the book is a play on the title of a classic book about the art of negotiation, called _Getting to Yes_. Implicit in _Getting to Maybe_ is that, unlike a negotiation, performance on law school exams does not require an exact answer or resolution.

The method by which these law professors explain this concept is especially interesting. In connection with their academic research, they propose to break down law school exams into small components, and thoroughly analyze those components. The result is a very substantial and comprehensive analysis of the structure of law school exams and the skills required to do well on these exams.

You may be asking how the professors purport to explain _all_ law school exams, for surely there are professors for whose exams these methods will not work. These professors make the interesting point that in the United States, law education is fairly uniform, and, therefore, the skills required to perform well on law school exams are fairly uniform, as well.

I read this book prior to starting law school. I found it useful primarily because I have read a number of other books about legal reasoning and the study of law and the law school experience that are more basic than the material in this book. If this is your first book regarding the study of law or peformance in law school, I would advise putting it aside in favor of a book offering a broader overview of law, its study, and law school.

Worth your time, December 21, 2003
I am a student at a top 5 law school. This book does not outline a specific system for taking exams, so if that is what you are looking for, look else where. What this book does provide is a good overview of the different types of gray areas that appear time and time again on exams. This will help you "spot the issues" and give you a feel for the kind of stuff your profs want to see written about come exam time. There are also plenty of general exam taking tips that area helpful. I have read many exam taking books, and this is the best of them. Read it early in the semester. It will help you focus on the important stuff in class and in the reading.

Everyone Needs Help at some point..., December 26, 2000
Whether you want to believe it or not...taking a law school exam is unlike any exam you took in undergrad. I found that out after I bombed my first exam, and a friend recommended this book. If you do nothing else, skip to the part where it talks about how to write an exam, how to address all the issues that your prof is looking for and "czar of the universe." "Czar" was a section that I found VERY helpful when I had to write a dissent for an exam! My school didn't really tell any of us 1Ls how to take an exam and I wish I had read this book before I even started. Don't worry about making law review or any of those other "extras" that people seem so concerned about--because if you can't perform well on an exam and spot issues in an allotted time, law review will be the least of your concerns. My contracts prof even suggested this book when prepping for his exam.

Bought this (almost) too late - don't make the same mistake!, May 16, 2006
I bought this book after my third year of law school, after being put on academic probation. Basically, I had to get my grades up in a term and a half (summer term plus a full load in the fall), or I wouldn't graduate. I wish I hadn't let things get that bad before I read this book! After reading the book and applying its theory, I was able to raise my GPA from 1.7 to 2.6. This book made a huge difference in the way I thought about classes, the way I took notes in class, the way I outlined... and I felt way more confident going into my exams. And my grades improved. That's all there is to it.

Great for improving exam writing, legal analysis, and writing skills, April 15, 2006
In my first year of law school, my legal writing tutor recommended this book. After reading it, my grades went up, which I believe was partially because of how this book helped me improve writing law school exams. It helps new law students understand what it means to "think like a lawyer." That is, it gives students a framework for analyzing complex issues.

Reading this book also significantly increased my performance in our legal writing class. At the end of my first year, my professor said my writing went from nearly the worst in the class to the best. This progress was a direct result from reading this book, improving my writing organization, and practice.

I highly recommend this book for new law students who want a head-start improving their legal analysis skills, and especially for students struggling with their legal writing. Law students have so much to read, it's hard to find more time for a book like this. But even reading a few chapters will provide students with a new paradigm for their legal analysis and writing.

This book would make a great gift for a student prior to starting law school because it is easy to read and introduces readers to subjects they will cover in their first-year courses.

Expensive and Not Helpful, November 12, 2005
I read this book early in the fall of my 1L year. At the time, I thought that the book was useful and that reading it would give me an edge over my classmates. In retrospect, the book did not give me any edge and reading the book was a waste of time.

The book does give you confidence. It leads you to think that you will be able to take apart a legal exam, reduce it to its essentials, and reason in a manner that your professors will appreciate. I guess it might be worth your reading if you need a shot of self-confidence.

But I do not think that the book will make much of a difference in how anyone does on law school exams. The authors' main point is to look for ambiguities (or "forks"). When you see something on your exam that looks ambiguous, try to explore all the ambiguities. In other words, argue in the alternative--i.e., point out that if X is said to occur, then Y results, whereas if A is said to occur, then B results. Let your professors know that you can see the little things that might produce completely different legal results.

This method is great as a theory. However, it is difficult to apply the method in an actual test setting. I remember that my first exam during my 1L year was in criminal law. I was given a long fact pattern, and I tried to apply the "Getting to Maybe" method. One problem I found was that I was pushed for time. It was not possible to discuss all the ambiguities in the amount of time allowed. The method the book suggested was just not possible in the context of my three-hour bluebook exam. There was no way I could explore all the ambiguities on the exam the way the authors suggest.

Another problem I have with the book is that it is not really giving you any special advice. Reduced to a sentence, the authors are just telling you not to be conclusory with your answers--in other words, show that certain items in the fact pattern could be argued multiple ways. This is hardly novel law school exam advice worth $22.00!

I have read reviews by people who claim that this book helped them make law review or whatever. I also know many people who have read this book and have gotten below average law school grades. I do not think that this book will make a difference in how anyone does in law school. If you are one of those people who has to read everything, because you don't want your classmates to have read something you haven't read, then by all means read this. If, on the other hand, you are concerned about using your time effectively, then you are probably better off working on your outlines or reviewing your lecture notes rather than wasting your time reading this book.

Avoid Commercial Outlines and Study Groups, October 27, 2002
Having graduated with high honors from one of the top five law schools, I relied on several of these books to identify the appropriate approach to taking law school exams. I applied the approach as follows: (1) read only those assignments provided by the professor (ignore commercial outlines, etc.); (2) take extensive notes of everything the professor says in class (and do not write down any student comments or student answers to Socratic questions); (3) organize your notes of the professor's lectures into your own outline; (4) read the professor's prior exam files, including any student answers selected by the professor as "model answers"; and (5) practice taking the professor's old exams in the few days leading up to exam day. The rationale is that your professor will be looking for you to spot those issues that he or she views as important. The more of these issues you spot, the higher your exam grade will be. Ditch those commercial outlines and study group meetings. In addition to Getting to Maybe, you should also prepare for law school by conditioning yourself to what its competition will feel like. Two excellent books that accomplish this goal are Scott Turow's One L (Harvard in the 1970s) and Scott Gaille's The Law Review (2002 book about competition at The University of Chicago Law School).

A Book Worth Your Time, January 3, 2007
I started my first year at law school with the impression--the conviction!--that someone was going to take time out of his/her lecture schedule to teach us how to write law school exams. This, of course, never happened and, after bungling through a practice midterm with a slipshod IRAC, I decided to seek some advice. My law school's academic preparation (resuscitation?) program recommended this book, and I picked it up from Amazon several weeks prior to finals.

I've generally considered test-taking "manuals" to be overly simplistic and far too general to be effective. But this book is different. It doesn't prescribe worthless "strategies" for stock scenarios (like those dreadful LSAT books), but instead attempts to get you to rethink your approach to the exam--from preparation to execution. What impressed me the most about _Getting to Maybe_ is that it makes a point not to provide pat answers, or to patch up poor preparation. Rather, it suggests new ways to think about the law, and about the scenarios that appear on law school exams.

One caveat is that, to get anything out of this book, you need to pick it up well before finals: this book tries to get you to approach law school differently, and this is something that can't be done a day before the exam. This book is worth your time--not only is the prose far more lively and entertaining than, say, that of International Shoe, but you really come away from _Getting to Maybe_ feeling like the effort was worthwhile.

An essential tool for law students, March 20, 2007
I am a law professor at the oldest night law school in San Francisco who has struggled for years to communicate to my stdents how to prepare for exams. I wish someone had told me about this book years ago. It explains cogently and distinctly why law school exams are different than those exams you did so well on in college (or you wouldn't be in law school) and why you need to start thinking differently. The book goes through the different types of questions one mught find on an exam and shows how to address them. It also provides numerous tips on how to study and how to approach exam writing. The book also does a great job of explaining a theme I have pushed for years --- that exam-writing skills are really the writing and thinking skills students will need when they become lawyers. It should be required reading in law schools. And it wouldn't hurt law professors to read the book either. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Law School Admission Expert Ann Levine, former director of admission for two ABA law schools and popular pre-law blogger of the Law School Expert blog offers concrete tips and professional insights into the law school admission process and how to maximize each piece of the law school application process. The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert answers questions for today's law school applicants including:

- How will law schools view my credentials, activities, and work experience?

- What is the rolling admission process and how can it impact whether I am accepted?

- Will the fact that I am a non-traditional applicant help me or hurt me?

- Why is the personal statement important and how do I select a topic?

- What should I do if someone tells me to write my own letter of recommendation for their signature?

- How do I explain a low LSAT score, inconsistent GPA, academic probation, or arrest record?

- Should I write one of the optional essays? Which one?

- Why was I placed on a waiting list and what can I do to increase my chances of acceptance?

- How can I use scholarship offers to negotiate between law schools?

- How do I decide where to attend?

The tips and insights provided within The Law School Admission Game: How to Play Like an Expert is the second best thing to having your own law school admission consultant. Ms. Levine offers candid and tangible advice in a conversational tone with an open and encouraging (but brutally honest) approach. This book will change how you look at the law school admission process and help you create your strongest possible application package. This book offers strategies for all law school applicants, including specific advice for people:

-Determined to attend a Top Law School

-Hoping for the chance to attend any law school

-Seeking an affordable legal education

-Returning to school after being in the work force

-Still in college with limited work and life experience

-Considering how to build their experiences and resumes to strengthen their applications

-Concerned about writing a compelling personal statement because they haven't experienced poverty or overcome paralysis

Know the story they want to tell about overcoming obstacles in life but are not sure what to emphasize. No matter your life story or potential weaknesses in your law school application, The Law School Admission Game: How to Play Like an Expert will guide you through every piece of the application process. From filling in the blanks on applications to deciding whether to submit an optional essay to what to do when waitlisted, this little book will assure you and arm you with insider knowledge every step of the way. ... Read more

Reviews

Considering law school? Buy. This. Book., May 6, 2010
As a non-traditional law school hopeful, I was feeling lost in the sea of information (and misinformation) available online and in print about the law school application process. I came across Ann's book here on Amazon and ordered it because of the uniformly excellent reviews. Having read it cover to cover in one sitting last night, I recommend it without hesitation to anyone -- whether you are still an undergraduate or whether you're almost 20 years out of graduate school like me -- considering embarking on a quest to study law. Ann's book is filled to the brim with no-nonsense advice on every decision you're likely to face in the admissions process. Her viewpoint is unique among the books I've encountered because it is written by someone who oversaw the admissions process at two ABA law schools and who has since helped thousands of applicants be successful over the past 5+ years through her consulting business and web site. Ann's writing style is clear and concise, and she pulls no punches in debunking some common myths or misconceptions about law school admissions. The book's organization follows beautifully the natural sequence of decisions & events that arise during what can be a long and grueling process, and it should serve as an excellent reference, motivator, and reality check in the months prior to receiving that longed-for phone call, email, or acceptance letter. My review's title summarizes it quite well: if you are considering law school, buy this book.

Navigate the Law School Admission Process Successfully!, June 19, 2009
I have read Ann Levine's book The Law School Admission Game: Play Like An Expert 3 times now and each time I read it, I am more impressed, I feel more informed and more empowered. Ann takes the mystery out of the law school admission process and makes it clear how one can put their best foot forward in this extraordinarily competitive arena.

In a very succinct and lucid manner, Ann Levine clearly shows students how to identify whether or not law school is the right choice for them. She then helps them navigate the process by identifying strengths, addressing weaknesses and overcoming obstacles. As someone who has very clear strengths and weaknesses, Ann's advice has helped me highlight the peaks of my academic and professional careers while forthrightly and effectively addressing my weaknesses for maximum success in the law school admission process.

Ann's book goes into great detail on everything from recommendations to the personal statement to LSAT scores. And, she does this in an easy to read, friendly manner. At no point will the reader feel that Ann is passing judgment or that she is discouraging one from applying to law school. Ann Levine gives every student the confidence they will need to face the challenging process of law school admissions and to find the school that is right for them.

Whether you are applying to Georgetown or Golden Gate, Minnesota or Miami or any school in between, I emphatically endorse Ann Levine's book. Any person even considering law school must read this - there is no substitute.

Invaluable, March 15, 2010
I do pre-law advising at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and agreed w/ 99% of what Levine said in her book about the law school admissions process. The book is clear, concise, and a must-read for anyone who is thinking about applying to law school. I highly recommend _The Law School Admission Game_, and I'm not high when I say that :)

This book is very readable and helpful!!, January 16, 2010
Having read a few law school admissions books, this one really stood out for me.

This book is clearly written, very readable, brief, and to the point. Ann's viewpoint stands out as refreshingly down-to-earth in a world of books that would have you believe that top ten law schools are the right goal for everyone and that personal statements should conform to some cheezeball standard.

The book gives useful advice about how to sanely, realistically approach the application process and law school in general and was a tremendous help to me in preparing my own applications.

Great Book, Great Advice, August 18, 2010
This book is concise and to the point. Several similarly marketed products are overwritten and take chapters to convey what Ann Levine is able to in a couple of pages. I would never have been able to put my law school application together so well without the insight and tips provided. Though helpful, online forums are daunting and sometimes confusing, whereas The Law School Admissions Game is organized and direct. On top of helping me through my personal statement and addendum, the book answered all of my random questions about the admissions process in general. I have read about five law school admissions guides, but this is my favorite and most recommended.

Excellent guide - Glad I read it before I applied to law schools...just one little problem, July 17, 2010
I first found Ann K. Levine and her limitless amount of information and tips through her online blog, but I soon realized that most of my deeper questions deserved more insight and discussion than already available online. Thus, I decided to pick up her new book in order to "play like an expert" myself in the law school admission game. While I have not yet applied to law school but will be this fall, I can say that this book has provided me with an almost unfair amount of insight into the process and has prepared me to tackle the journey with all of the necessary tools. I STRONGLY suggest this to anyone who intends on applying to law school, especially if you have not already taken the LSATs (but do so even if you have already taken them, like myself). My only gripe with this book is the vast amount of errors that were carelessly overlooked by the author / her editor / the printer. In a guide that constantly reminds you to avoid errors (especially those of the grammatical sort) in the admissions process, I would not expect to find such an embarrassing amount of mistakes. Therefore, I could not possibly award this book with all 5 stars even if the content deserves it. Despite that, I urge you to ignore the author's carelessness about her grammar and instead enjoy the wealth of knowledge which this book will impart on you!

Buy this book!, July 2, 2010
Quite simply, Ms. Levine knows her stuff, that much is clear from the detail in her book. She also pulls no punches and tells you straight out what works and what doesn't.
If you want to get into law school buy this book.

I can't imagine applying without this., July 1, 2010
I'm so glad that I got this book before applying to law schools. I'm quite sure that without it, my personal statement would've been clich�. Excellent advice without sugarcoating or coddling.

A Must-Have Resource for Law School Admissions, May 22, 2010
Allow me to save you time and tell you that this book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone applying to law school!

Law school admissions really does feel like a game, and to win, you have to know the rules. Ann Levine has a gift for clearly and succinctly explaining what those rules are. I found out about Ms. Levine's book through her blog ([...]). Knowing how useful I found her articles and interviews to be, I knew her book would be a great investment.

I've researched, bought, and read several other law school admissions books, but Ms. Levine's has been the first one that I've grabbed whenever I had a question. Her advice is candid and actionable. Her chapter on what to do when you're waitlisted is refreshingly encouraging while still honest.

Reading Ms. Levine's book is like having your own personal consultant in your law school admissions journey. This has been especially important to me because I have been out of school for over five years. Although my alma mater has a great pre-law advisor, her priority is to assist current undergraduates - understandably so. That being said, Ms. Levine's advice is applicable to any law school applicants at any stage in their career/academic journey.

No matter what books you purchase for your law school admissions references, I can assure you - You NEED this one at the top of your stack! I would also suggest bookmarking Ms. Levine's blog. Her articles and interviews on blogtalkradio have been invaluable to me. Lastly, I recommend Law School Confidential, Revised: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students and The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions: Straight Advice on Essays, Resumes, Interviews, and More as other great resources well worth the money.

Ms. Levine is actually on the frontlines of the admissions process., January 13, 2010
I found Ms. Levine's book to be one of the most valuable law school admission tools that I have consulted during my application process. It is filled with practical advice, and the message is delivered in a down-to-earth fashion. I initially purchased the book because Levine is actually on the frontlines of the admissions process; I read her blogs, listened to her podcasts, and felt comfortable buying her book knowing how involved she is with the industry. She is a full time law school admissions consultant, who is obviously passionate about what she does. Levine has a great blog that is up to date, and offers valuable podcasts for free. One of the more subtle things that I appreciated about Levine's book was her tone and approach; you get the sense from her writing that she is genuine and sincerely cares about the applicants with whom she works. I think the book is great, and would highly recommend it to anyone putting together a law school application! ... Read more

Reviews

Worth the money, June 5, 2010
Mine arrived quickly, but another poster's took over three weeks. Aside from ordering early, this is a great buy. The answer key does NOT give explanations, but if you're studying with a book that does (such as the LSAT SuperPrep) then this is the perfect supplement. Order a few of these to test with and you should be in good shape.

Great product, just verrrry slow., February 24, 2010
The test was great...you can't find these prep tests ANYWHERE...but it took so long getting to me (over three weeks) that it didn't do me any good for my LSAT. (It arrived the week following my test). All in all, great product, but order early to make sure it's actually there before your test. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible WorkbookTM is the ideal companion to the PowerScore Logic Games BibleTM, providing the opportunity to apply the concepts and approaches presented in the renowned Games Bible. The Logic Games Workbook contains thirty logic games, reproduced in their entirety from actual released past LSATs, and multiple drills created to reinforce the skills you need to effectively attack the Logic Games section. Each game s answer key presents an ideal setup for the game, with every rule and important logical inference discussed and diagrammed, and all of the questions answered and explained. ... Read more

Reviews

Good Practice!, December 3, 2009
I bought this book for more LG practice, especially after reading how pointless the "setup book" is!
I would like to say that I never purchased the Set-up book so I can't attest to its worth. This workbook however is great, it is just more drills and games. It is necessary to first work through the logic games bible however in order to understand the explanations and general comments. The first half are drills, then there are 10 individual games then 5 "real LSAT sections" totaling 20 games for a grand total of 30 games! It is a must if you need additional help with the LG section and can benefit from seeing their setup and full explanation.

Great Practice...Highly Recommend!!!!, August 3, 2010
I had previously bought the Logic Games Bible and worked through it cover to cover, yet found myself needing more repetition. The workbook allows for just that, logic game after logic game to hone skills introduced in the Games Bible and to build up your rhythm in attacking each game as well as confidence in facing them. I would almost say that this book is necessary if you're working with the Games Bible, but especially so if you find yourself, like me, needing some more time reinforcing concepts and gaining familiarity with how to go about working with these brain teasers. I recommend this very, very highly!

more practice, March 25, 2010
It provides more practice base on the skills from the logic game bible.
It's good to practice with it.
You don't have to worry about your memory ability while you're studying reasoning or reading part.
I just use this book from time to time when I study reasonning and reading.
Even if you learn the great skills to attact logic games, if you don't use it, You'll lose it.

Love, love, love this book!!, December 3, 2010
I am attempting the LSAT for the fourth time, and for the first time, I finally understand and am scoring almost perfectly because of this book (and the other "Bible" Logic game book)!! I wish I would of found this book before I spent thousands of dollars on private tutors who couldn't help me.

Power Score is great, November 17, 2009
I like workbook much more as just Logic Games Bible. This one is shorter and still loaded with lots of games and good explanations.

Logic Games, June 8, 2010
Bought this for my son to study for the LSAT test. He was having difficulty with the Logic Games part of the test, he said it helped him figure out how to work the problems and hopefully do his best on the test. We will see, he just took it, results in about 3 weeks!

Great buy!, April 5, 2010
Thank you for selling me a great product for a great price! It is in perfect condition, thanks again for the deal! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Corporations: Examples & Explanations is a practical and straightforward guide that has won enduring popularity by demystifying corporate law for students with no business background. Through clear introductions and visual aids, students are able to grasp the rules of corporate law and apply them in context, using the examples.Students struggling to understand corporate law will get more out of their casebook assignments and classroom experience if you steer them toward the help they need. Alan R. Palmiter's Corporations: Examples & Explanations is the leading study guide in this area an authoritative, timely, and student-friendly aid to a more complete understanding of basic coverage, now in its Sixth Edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Memoirs adapted from the author's diary chronicle his emotionally and intellectually challenging first year in law school and records the fierce and sometimes hysterical competition that is faced by Harvard Law School students. Reprint. Tour. NYT. " ... Read more

Editorial Review

Comprehensive, Rigorous Prep for the LSAT (Includes 4 official LSATs) To prepare properly for the LSAT, you must study problems that reflect the true LSAT format.The best way to do that is to study actual LSAT tests.Now, you can do that with this book! Master The LSAT contains detailed solutions to numerous actual LSAT questions, carefully selected to illustrate every type of question that has appeared on the test in the past several years, including thorough analysis of 4 official LSATs!These solutions will introduce you to numerous analytic techniques that will help you immensely not only on the LSAT but in law school as well.The LSAT is an aptitude test.Like all aptitude tests, it must choose a medium in which to measure intellectual ability.The LSAT has chosen logic.Although this makes the LSAT hard, it also makes the test predictable--it is based on fundamental principles of logic. Master The LSAT analyzes and codifies these basic principles: the contrapositive, the if-then, pivotal words, etc.Armed with this knowledge, you will have the ability to greatly increase your score.Features:
* Analytical Reasoning: Learn powerful diagramming techniques and step-by-step strategies to solve every type of game question that has appeared on the LSAT.
* Logical Reasoning: Discover the underlying simplicity of these problems and learn the principles of logic these questions are based on.
* Reading Comprehension: Develop the ability to spot places from which questions are likely to be drawn as you read a passage (pivotal words, counter-premises, etc.).
* Mentor Exercises: These exercises provide hints, insight, and partial solutions to ease your transition from seeing LSAT problems solved to solving them on your own.
* Complete analysis of 4 official LSATs.
* Official score conversion charts and writing samples for each test.
* The average LSAT scores of 153 ABA approved law schools.
Also includes LSAT test prep softwareSoftware features:
Mentor Mode: In Mentor Mode, you are immediately told whether you answered a problem correctly, and you can immediately view a detailed solution of the problem.
Test Mode: In Test Mode, you can take a test timed and scored by the program. ... Read more

Reviews

The best of of its kind, August 22, 2001
I bought the three best-known LSAT test prep books. I was in despair over taking the LSAT after working through other two, but this one really worked. Buy "Master the LSAT" from Amazon and a pile of practice exams from LSAC; don't bother with the Kaplan and Princeton study guides. I followed the opening instructions to start my prep 12 weeks ahead of my test date, working a little each day (if you aren't self-motivated enough to do that, please forget law school). I have no doubt that this book is responsible for my good LSAT score and admittance to law school. Note: Ignore the software. The LSAT is a paper test and the book's layout prepares you for the look of the actual test. That familiarity will reduce your test-day anxiety.

Good, but no substitute..., June 21, 2002
...for studying the actual LSAT Preptests.

You'll find the advice presented for the analytical reasoning section contains the basic methods that are found in the Kaplan and PR books, i.e. methods for weakening and strengthening arguments, etc. No revelations there. Also, this book relies more heavily on "tips" such as ruling out answers containing "similar content." Some of the recent LSAT questions are now hip to this technique and actually have "similar content" on all the answer choices. Basically, 90% of analytical reasoning questions break down to finding the conclusion and linking the premises to the conclusion.

The sections on Logic games are somewhat spotty. The book does a nice job explaining linear games, e.g games with 3 slots, for variables A B C. However, it doesn't do a great job with grouping games, which appear frequently on recent LSATs. The techniques in the book will give you a basic plan for doing the games sections. However, one of the best way to do well on these games is to do a ton of previous logic game sections so that you can solve them quickly and rapidly. Typically, each game hinges on getting one or two big deductions, after which the whole game falls into place. You'll need to solve each game in under 8m 45s to finish this section on time. So, get cracking on piecing the individuals rules to get that big deduction. Oh, and the book spends way too much time on circular, diagramming, and mapping games, which almost never appear on the recent LSATs. Order the recent Preptests and you can see for yourself.

Reading comp - not much info here will help you than what you can find in the LSAT/LSACD guide tells you. Best advice, is to map out the passage so that you rapidly refer back to it.

The software accompanying the book is useless, as they are not real LSAT questions.

Overall, I found this book better than the Kaplan and PR books, as they seemed to be expanded advertisements for their classes. If you're tight on cash, skip this book, order the "Official LSAT Prep Test with Explanataions" and the other recent LSAT Prep tests.

Ace the LSAT, December 24, 2001
The LSAT is a difficult test. Some would argue that it's more of an intelligence test than anything. I disagree. I believe that with sufficient study one can significantly improve one's score on this test.

For one thing, the single most difficult part of the LSAT has to be the "Games" section. You know: "There are 6 businessmen seated around a table: Jacobs, King, Lewis, Meyers, Nathan, and O'Connor.
O'Connor always sits between Jacobs and Lewis
Nathan cannot sit next to King....etc.

Unless one is a member of Mensa, and enjoys these kinds of puzzles for pure recreation, one is unlikely to score well on this section of the test. BUT, having said that, the Games section of the test is probably the one area where you can most improve your ability. The authors realize this and devote more of "Master the LSAT" to this section than any other.

There is one point on which I disagree with the authors. They recommend that you create a kind of shorthand for the conditions of each game. I think that this is a foolish waste of time. After all, as you are not allowed to bring any scratch paper with you for use during the test, you will have to use the test booklet to draw any diagrams to aid in solving the problems. Therefore, since you will be writing on the same page as the question and conditions are printed, there is no need to add the additional step of rewriting the conditions in shorthand,IMHO.

As for the rest...It is presumed that we have all taken a course in critical thinking and composition, so we should have some proficiency in analyzing an argument and reading comprehension. Still, the authors do a great job of pointing out where the creators of the LSAT will attempt to trip you up through obfuscation, strange wording of conditions, etc.

My advice, like so many others here on Amazon, is this: Buy this book at least two months in advance of your test date, buy the "10 Actual" book from LSAC, and study at least two hours per day. One attorney told me: "If I had known how important that stupid test was, I would have begun studying a year in advance."

One other trick: When you first attempt the practice questions DO NOT observe a time limit. Then, little by little, try to improve your speed. Why? Well, I'm a guitar player, and I've never mastered a difficult song by first attempting to practice it at its normal speed. You begin by playing the passage so slowly that you cannot make a mistake and only then do you increase the metronome. Get the idea? Well, I've already said too much. After all, on a percentile basis, I'm competing with all of you, right?

Probably the best money can buy, June 14, 2003
I took a practice LSAT test (one of the real ones) and received a low 160. I guess it's still above average, but I felt like I was guessing on most of the questions and always running out of time. Since 160 is still a decent score I wasn't sure how well a prep book would help me. I'm used to reading prep books that give you a bunch of common sense verbose paragraphs and you end up wasting your time. (I'm currently studying for GREs and half of Kaplan's 2003 GRE book is worthless).

Having said that, this book is priceless. I'm currently studying the games section, a little each day, and the games are becoming very easy. Usually I get perfect scores on each one. The key to a game is to have a concise diagram, whether it's on paper or in your head. This book teaches you precisely how to do that. Even though I received 15/24 on my games practice section, I feel like I knew absolutely nothing, relatively speaking, compared to what there is to know about the stratagies for the game section.

The book devotes over 150 pages to explaining those strategies, with a huge number of practice problems for each type of a game. After the problems there are always good explanations (not perfect ones, a few were unclear and took some time to decipher). After going through a lot of them, I now get everything right, and the problem becomes time. The book recommends skipping one game section on the test and devote 12 minutes to each one. But to anyone wishing to get a perfect (like me) that's impractical. Which is the reason the whole diagram drawing that the book teaches you is a win/loss situation. I'd say the best way to go would be to learn all the diagrams and then learn how to connect the dots in your head for the test - there's simply no time to draw all those things.

The other sections of the book are equally generous in their information and explanation. Additionally, the language the book uses flows very fluently. I've not been bored studying this book at all, it's actually kind of fun.

The most important thing to realize is how imperative it is to buy this several months before the test. And don't forget to get the LSAC's 10 actual LSAT tests.

I've read nearly all of them. This one is truly the best., November 19, 1999
I took the Kaplan course, and I read "Cracking the LSAT" from Princeton Review, and I sincerely believe that this book is the best preparation tool money can buy. They REALLY get in-depth on Logic Games, and help show how the test-makers try to trick you on Logical Reasoning. Also, unlike other books, this one uses questions from previous tests. I scored in the 99th %-tile, and while there is no substitute for practice with several previous exams, I give large credit to this book for my success.

The Best Studying Materials, February 23, 2004
You should definitely include this book within your preparation studies. I would have to say that much of the contents inside of this book is laregly responsible for the increase in my LSAT score (granted I am not a good test taker). The other books that I would/would not HIGHLY recommend is as follows:

HOT:

1)Nova's LSAT, Master the LSAT
2)The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible
3)10 More Actual Official LSAT Preptests

NOT:
1)Kaplan test prep books
2)Princeton Reviews test prep books
3)Teaching Solutions CD software <- Look out for this company, cause someone has to inform the BBB.

Probably the Best Overall, May 23, 2005
None of the LSAT prep books is ideal, but Kolby's "Master the LSAT" is probably the best overall. It contains sound advice and intelligent strategies and it doesn't steer you seriously wrong on anything. It is also blessedly free of the corny jokes and facetious banter found in, for instance, Princeton Review's prep book.

When I took the LSAT, I ended up using a mixture of techniques culled from various prep books. I found Princeton Review's method of diagramming Games the best: it's less confusing and more easily remembered than the other methods (particularly useful is Princeton's technique of pairing all clues with their contrapositives for quick reference). I also found PowerScore's "Logic Games Bible" very thorough and very helpful--perhaps the best prep book for handling Games. Kolby and Princeton Review use similar methods for tackling the Arguments section, and both are effective. Where Kolby's book shines, however, is in his method for attacking the Reading Comprehension section. It's the most efficient and effective of all. Whatever you do, do NOT use Princeton Review's method of reading the questions before reading the passage: This only confuses you and wastes precious time. (I'm astounded that Princeton Review would give such bad advice!) Follow Kolby's method and familiarize yourself with the six TYPES of questions that are always asked in the Reading Comp section and circle the Pivotal Words in the passage as you read it. By using Kolby's method you save approximately two minutes and can focus more on reading the passage, which will result in a higher score.

So, to sum up: Get Kolby for overall (and especially for Reading Comp), Princeton Review and PowerScore for Games, Kaplan ("2 Real LSATs Explained" and "LSAT 180") for detailed explanations of LSAT answers, and a whole bunch of Actual, Official LSAT Preptests, and practice, practice, practice.

Amazing Results!, June 30, 2000
This book was invaluable in setting up a good study program to tackle the LSAT because it provided step by step analysis of each LSAT section and taught me how to tackle questions logically. I followed the authors' advice, studied hard and learned how to master the difficult logic games section. The book's analysis of the logic sections and clear explanations of answers in the practice sections were excellent. Since I had been out of school for many years, I needed all the help I could get. Today, I received the LSAT results from the 12 June test; the score surpassed my expectations. Buy this book, pay attention to the advice and study, study, study. You won't be disappointed!

Most comprehensive book out there, June 30, 2001
This book is the best book available--particularly for those who do not have a background in logic. Master the LSAT gets into the principles of logic and shows how to diagram logic problems. These are skills that many other test-prep books take for granted. The analytical section of the book is not as strong, however. The solution explanations rely largely on process of elimination, which is too cumbersome and slow for a real test. I know how overwhelming all the choices are, but there are three books that really helped my reach my high goal: Master the LSAT, the Kaplan review book and the LSAC book of 10 practice tests. Good luck.

As Useful As An LSAT Book Can Be, December 11, 2000
This book provides a thorough overview plus goes into detail on each LSAT section. Its explanations of logic principles & background thinking on all types of LSAT questions are really helpful. The drill and sample questions for each principle add a practical understanding. There are several long-winded or simply unclear explanations on certain questions. However, they manage to get you thinking & trying to find a better explanation yourself. The more you get into the LSAT logic, the more you appreciate the book, while developing your ability to think logically under pressure. The book also offers LSAT practice sections after each chapter. Combining this book's learnings with LSAC prep tests (I got the 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests) gives you maximum preparation & just enough confidence to succeed. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Law School Confidential is written for students about to embark on this three-year odyssey by students who have successfully survived. It demystifies the life-altering thrill ride that defines an American legal education by providing a comprehensive, blow-by-blow, chronological account of what to expect. It arms students with a thorough overview of the contemporary law school experience. This isn't the advice of graying professors or battle-scarred practitioners decades removed from law school. Miller has assembled a panel of recent graduates to act as "mentors", all of whom are perfectly positioned to shed light on what law school is like today. From taking the LSAT, to securing financial aid, to navigating the notorious first semester, to taking exams, to applying for summer internships, to getting on the law review, to tackling the bar and beyond...this book explains it all.
... Read more

Reviews

Overrated but still better than most., March 6, 2006
I'm a 2L who read this book before going to law school. It's worthwhile as far as intro guides go, but could easily be better.

Everybody knows the highlighter tricks and other techniques; there is no magic bullet in that respect. Not all the study tips will work for everyone (I don't know anyone who draws a little picture at the top of their case note), and don't count on being able to get outlines as easily as the book makes it sound. Even at a friendly school, people are still stingy about them.

The author does a lot to orient the reader to the basics of getting off to a running start in law school, but more information about choosing a school would have been helpful, as would more of how to diagnose the forensics behind a potential school.

Some of the most useful info will never come from the faculty unless you know what to ask. From students it usually only comes from 2Ls & 3Ls (1Ls don't know anything other than how to panic).

Useful things to know such as which law schools have pass fail grading available as an option; which legal writing departments are pass fail for the whole 1L class, what the grading curve is at each school, how bad grade inflation is, etc.

Other info like the fact that all law schools use the same text books from only two major publishers would be helpful in forming an overall picture of how law schools do (or don't) vary much from one to the next. Even the highly regarded US News ratings don't tell the whole story, as a big part of what makes many of the higher ranked schools Tier 1 and 2 is a direct result of expenditures per student. Something else that could have been explored in this "confidential" book.

This kind of information was unknown or insignificant to me until I met several students from other law schools recently at a convention. Some of the things I learned that could have been in the book:

Yale Law School is pass/fail for the whole first semester. (Imagine that load off your mind first semester)

NYU Law and Stanford both have pass/fail Legal Writing programs. (Once again, less to worry about in a critically important class that takes much of your 1L study time)

Stanford has a B+ curve; many lower tier schools use a B curve.
(The average guy at Stanford has a B+ for the same class you got a B in - maybe even with the same text book. His transcript looks even better than it already did).

Law school professorships are extremely competitive
(So, even at a "crappy" school like Cooley, the profs are probably still from outstanding law schools with impeccable records, just like the better rated schools).

US News rankings are based largely on opinions of judges and professors (comprising 45% of the total factors analyzed), so they are pretty subjective, but they are not meaningless. When enough of the best professors move to schools offering better salaries or other incentives, the rankings sometimes move with them. My school was highly rated in intellectual property ten years ago, now that everyone else has jumped on the band wagon and are buying up the top talent, we're barely clinging to the list. This isn't because we got worse, we just got comfortable. Finally, the school is doing something about it and things are improving.

Most schools don't require Administrative Process (I've no idea why mine does...)

Most schools require Criminal Law, while a few require Crim Pro instead.

Some schools, like mine, don't even publish the exam schedule until after you've already registered for the semester - only to find out about your four back to back exams when it's too late to rearrange things. Ugh.

**Request and read the student handbook from a school you are seriously considering attending; it's chock full of useful info.**

It's possible to study as much as one year of law school abroad, through an ABA approved program. Though some schools require that two such "visiting student" semesters cannot be done back-to-back, the ABA has no such requirement. Also, the ABA web site does not list every approved overseas program. Schools are reluctant to talk about this possibility unless it's their own program, since they don't get money from you if you "visit out" somewhere else.

Summer courses after 1L year can be a great way to boost your GPA (depending what you take) if you have a school which accepts grades from summer programs. Many schools only accept summer classes as pass-fail credit. Check the handbook.

You might think information like this has little bearing on whether or not you attend a certain school, but it'll still open your eyes. Law school is essensially a three year, 100K lesson in how to look up rules. For that price and time committment, do some thorough research beyond any book.

No Real Secrets Here, September 22, 2003
A little about me: I'm now in my second year of law school and purchased both Law School Insider and the older book Law School Confidential last year. Back then, I didn't know that Robert Miller, the author, has written Confidential books on different types of schools (Law School, Business School, maybe Medical School's next?), and uses the same format and advice in these books. I wound up keeping only my copy of Law School Insider, which turned out to be more relevant and useful for me.

Law School Confidential is like the "for Dummies" books, down to simplistic tips that sound good but didn't really work when I tried them. Particularly unnecessary were the "etiquette" advice and handfuls of comments from yuppie "mentors" who didn't really add anything to the book. Because it has so much of this filler, Confidential also treads far too lightly on subjects that really concern me, like choosing courses to match my personal interests, possible areas of specialization, and picking the right place to take my bar exam.

By comparison, Law School Insider treats these subjects with depth and serious consideration. It actually speaks to the lifestyles and choices of different readers, including people who are married and worried about starting a life after law school, and tells people from diverse backgrounds how to maximize their chances of success. I also really liked Insider's story portions, which Confidential lacks, but tries to make up for in attitude.

On that subject, there is not a trace of Confidential's arrogance or artificial stress anywhere in Insider. Despite what Miller says, law school is not going to be like a war and it is still worthwhile even if you don't attend one of the top 10 schools in the country. Miller and I were both educated in Pennsylvania, but I know that what he says isn't even true at most of the schools in my state, let alone elsewhere in the country. If you want to really know what law school is like, my advice is to skip Law School Confidential, and you know the book I recommend.

Honest if a little overstated, September 28, 2000
I am a 1L that read this book over the summer (more than once!) At that time, I found its no-nonsense approach comforting and helpful, and much more directly useful than what I had seen in other similar books. BUT now that I am at law school I have a slightly altered view of the book. It is too stress inducing! I just do not feel like the tone of the book fits the experience I am having - I work a ton, but it is not nearly as horrible and stressful as the book conveyed. Perhaps it is my school and not this book - but I often have thought while looking at it: Thank goodness I didn't go to UPenn. That said, I think the book is really effective in its practical advice about jobs, the application process, journals, course selection and lots of other non-studying related aspects of school. And the absolute best thing about is is the practical finacial advice and the honesty about the difficulty of loan burdens - something I think aspiring law students too often try to ignore. Overall a very useful book!

useful, yet flawed, December 21, 2003
LSC does a good job of hammering home the seriousness of law school, however much of the information is neither insightful nor refreshing. First, the emphasis the book places on the "right" schools is off the mark. Miller would make it appear that if you do not get into a top five law school, you are unemployable. This is false. There are many attorneys and not all went to a top five school [scroll through a law firm's roster online if you think I am lying].
Second, Miller's briefing method may be as harmful as it is helpful. Briefing is a very personal process. Miller's method may spare you some embarrassment, but it may not be the most effective way to grasp the material. Moreover, excessive highlighter bleeds through the pages. A better method is to highlight sparingly [maybe just the court's rule] and jot simple notes in the margins ["f" for facts, "h" for holding, etc.] Reciting facts will not help you on a law school exam, you have to know the material [specifically the applicable rule of law]. Furthermore, most law professors appear to appreciate a simple "I do not know" rather than wasted class time as a student searches for a highlighted section. Spend your time learning the law and spend your money on a hornbook or a treatise.
Of course not all aspects of the book are fruitless. If you could not follow some of the terms in my second paragraph, such as "hornbook" or "treatise," then maybe LSC will help you wade through the terminology. However, this information is readily available from a 2 or 3L for free in first few weeks of school. If must buy a book, buy a Civil Action [it is great preparation for Civil Procedure] or Law 101 [which gives an overview of all courses]. Or better yet, when you arrive at law school, learn from the class ahead of you. It is the cheapest, most effective way to learn how to succeed at your law school.

Achieves a bare minimum of usefulness, April 3, 2005
For a book with a fairly simple subject and a fairly easy way of tackling it (i.e., commonsense advice), this book manages to contradict itself a lot. It tells you that your first and foremost job is to be sure you're ready to answer when you're called on in class, then it tells you sixty pages later, "do not prepare for class"--except it does it in all caps. This is the most glaring of such inconsistancies; others include advising you to live in the dorms your first year, then saying that you made a mistake living in the dorms once finals come around. He tells you to spare no expense and inconvenience to buy a really comfortable bed, then suggests a couch/futon to save space. And so on.

Couch/futon? Dorm life? That's right: in a fairly obvious attempt to stretch this book out to decent paperback length, the author focuses on some really mundane issues. He spends a page and a half extolling the virtue of having fans (you know, those electric things that spin to make cool air blow around) in your dorm room. Sure, it's probably a good idea to buy a fan. Maybe some of the author's readers won't have the gumption or the know-how to go buy a fan when their dorm room gets hot, so maybe it's good he mentions it. But spending a page and a half on electric fans seems a little much, especially when he spends no more than a page each giving an overview of what first-year classes are like. His advice about taking the infamous "logic games" section of the LSAT is even more brief: "practice them." (He then goes on the recommend Kaplan and Princeton Review, for which there is no excuse in my book.)

The main selling point of this book is the author's study "system," a complex, multicolored mess of highlighting and scribbling that takes commonsense notetaking, puts it in technicolor, and makes it complicated so it looks good in print. There are good study tips to be gleaned here, but his "system" is just silly--and I'm sure anyone who's taken the author to heart and given it a shot has abandoned within a week.

But to give credit where it's due: law school prep books have got to be one of the nastiest genres on the market, and any author is going to resort to nasty tricks to stretch the page length. It's almost refreshing that this book's tricks are so transparent. This book does have something going for it that many of the others out there don't: it covers, though usually *very* minimally, the whole legal education process from LSAT to your very first all-growned-up job. That overview in itself is of great use to any prospective law student who didn't already know it, and it comes across fairly clearly in this book.

Unless you're crazy enough to actually try to do everything this author tells you to do, then reading this book won't hurt you, and it will probably add to your growing knowledge of what law school is all about. Just don't expect any miracles, from this book or any other in the genre.

Illusion of Helpfulness, October 21, 2004
In my first year of law school, I thought that this book would be my step ahead of everyone. I followed the directions dutifully. And in my second semester, I began to realize that the author's method, which looks quite good on paper, only works for a very few select classes, and a fewer number of people. While his "method" sounds organized and helpful as could be, it's not. Different people learn different ways, and different classes demand different types of preparation and studying. The author's method does not account for this.
The book was good, however, at giving a broad overview of what to expect in one's career in law school. Not all law schools work the same way, but it helps to have a general map laid out to warn you of what's coming. If you're nervous about law school and want to be able to walk in feeling a little smug, this will definately help you to feel more prepared, but don't let it fool you, okay?

Opinionated, organized, plain-talking and worth the dough., September 29, 2004
A great resource for readers still deciding about law school and how to maximize the experience. It's well-written, with insightful comments from recently-minted attorneys and Cornell's dean of admissions. The dean, for instance, explains that the US News and World Report rankings are so powerful, and competition for the brightest so intense, that some schools may overanalyze LSAT results to the detriment of students. (Since USNWR publishes median LSAT scores for various schools, some schools apparently fear that 'soft admits' with lower scores might affect the school's reputation.)

Miller doesn't shy away from other unpleasant truths - one mentor admits that financially, she could not afford to practice the public interest law she entered law school to study. He refers several times to law schools that have more of a "cutthroat" reputation, where some hoard required books from the library, and warns would-be students to choose carefully. But the author also provides advice on "law school etiquette," suggesting the best way to answer questions in class (don't bore anyone or beat them over the head with your opinions), deal with academic competition and the overwhelming workload. Many readers will take issue with his comments, but whether or not you finally agree, he brings up good issues to think about before applying or your year as a 1L.

It's interesting also to compare this book with Scott Turow's "1L" - Turow having gone to Harvard Law in the shadow of the late 1960s, and part of an activist class (which, in his book, comes together to publicly criticize a tough professor). Miller, by contrast, is a Gen-Xer, whose generation tends to be more entrepreneurial than activist, and noted for their independence. While Turow talks about his tense experiences with a study group, broken friendships and the competition over class outlines - his book bursts with angst - Miller advocates lots of research, phone calls, preparing ahead, and what you might call "leaving the building". This is some of the best advice in the book; he talks about the calmer experience he had taking the LSAT, by driving to his home state from his Ivy League school. Instead of testing at his ultra-competitive alma mater, he tested with a handful of students, in a more relaxed setting. This is echoed in his advice to get out of Dodge when exam comes - off-campus, where concentration will be easier - even if it means temporarily moving in with a friend or a motel room.

Wake-Up Call, January 25, 2002
Wow! This book really hit home for me. I was the unprepared, overconfident and cocky 1L at the start of my first semester of law school in 2001. Needless to say, after only 3 days of orientation, my confidence was exhausted and panic set in. I had no clue of what I was doing, or even why I was in law school in the first place. After weighing my options and having a heart-to-heart with the Dean of Admissions, I decided to defer my enrollment until 2002. This has been one of the best decisions of my life.

After reading Mr. Miller's book, I have come to the realization that law school is a total COMMITMENT; it's not a try; it's not a "taste"; and it will be very unforgiving to those who don't fully prepare themselves for its intellectual rigors. Sure, you can go to law school and not put any real effort or thought into what you are actually preparing yourself for. And if you're lucky, because that may be all that you have to count on, you will even graduate. However, what you will not have done is fully realize your intellectual potential. And when you hit the real world of stiff job competition, which is already overflowing with lawyers just like you, your opportunity to differentiate yourself from the masses will have slipped away.

Mr. Miller meticulously maps out a proven game plan for success. And if you follow his and the mentor's advice, which, by the way, often applies to any goal you set, your success in law school will eventually come to fruition. And you will have learned one of the most important lessons in life. That true success is not gained from a piece of parchment; rather, true success is only gained from within yourself.

My advice is to read this book and find a real reason to commit 3 years of your life to the law. And if you can, then show the world what it has been waiting for and set your course. Otherwise, to use the age-old cliche, "you'll be up a creek without a paddle"! Best wishes.

Skip it, December 18, 2003
I am a student at a top 5 law school. I will be commenting on the law school portion of the book (not the "get into law school" portion).

I was not very impressed with this book. The author does not suggest anything new or helpful. "Make flow charts, make outlines (the shorter the better)." This stuff is nothing new. You will learn this within one week at law school. The author's big technique, "book briefing," is a tool to avoid being embarrassed when called on in class. This is a waste of time. Class performance has nothing to do with your grade. Thus, worrying about class performance is a waste of time. The sooner you accept this fact and become willing to say "I don't know" in class in return for having more time to study what might be tested, the better you will do.

The best pre-1L book is Planet Law School (which itself is far from perfect). Skip this one. Your money will be better spent on a commercial outline.

An Introduction Worth Reading, April 5, 2004
I'm not a law student, but I'm seriously considering law school, and I was looking for a book that could give me a good overview of the law school experience from beginning to end. Though I don't have any experience to compare with the book, I think it does a good job of giving enough of an overview to make it a worthwhile read for anyone considering going to law school. I'm one of those people who likes to know as much as I can about what I'm getting myself into, and this book left me a little more confident about some things, and caused me to ask myself some important questions about my desire to go to law school and what I think of my ability to handle the workload, etc. It's not the only book I'm consulting, besides picking the brains of lawyer accquaintances, but I think it's one I'll refer to again as I continue on the path to applying to law school. I say, if your thinking about law school, get this book and read it from start to finish, just as part of your research. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If it’s on the LSAT, it’s in this book. Cracking the LSAT with DVD, 2011 Edition, includes:

• Access to 6 full-length practice tests—2 in the book and 4 online
• Detailed explanations for every practice question
• Comprehensive website with more practice test questions, score reports, reviewing, and essay grading
• Engaging video tutorials from The Princeton Review’s top instructors
• Practical information on the what, when, where, and how of the LSAT
• Strategies to help you solve even the most difficult questions in Games, Arguments, and Reading Comprehension
• Detailed chapter about logic games with helpful drills
• Online, interactive tutorial lessons with extra practice problems
• Planning and organization tips to get you all the way to test day! ... Read more

Reviews

Answers Are Wrong, December 7, 2010
I'm using this product at the moment and the DVD's section on analytical reasoning is occasionally wrong. How am I supposed to trust a product that thus far (I'm twenty minutes into the DVD) has had two questions where the teacher has explained answers incorrectly or failed to use all of the premises that the question sets out. If you are curious which one I am specifically referring to it is the first and last questions in the Harold, Maude, and Lloyd activity's analytical reasoning game. The guide has been helpful but this is driving me crazy.

A comprehensive at-home study guide accompanied by web support, September 19, 2010
The 2011 edition of Cracking the LSAT offers six full-length practice tests - 2 in the book and 4 online - along with video tutorials, detailed explanations for all types of questions, and a comprehensive website with further instruction. With all this packed into a 'classroom in a book' LSAT success is vastly improved making this a pick for any test-taker looking for a comprehensive at-home study guide accompanied by web support.
... Read more