LSAT Unplugged + Law School Admissions Podcast XX
[0] What if everything you've been studying for the LSAT suddenly became irrelevant?
[1] If that sounds far -fetched, it's already happened.
[2] When LSAC removed Logic Games after the June 2024 LSAT, countless students had to scrap their study plans overnight.
[3] Now, with two logical reasoning sections and whispers about our scored writing sample in the future, the 2025 LSAT is shaping up to be one of the most misunderstood versions of the LSAT yet.
[4] Today, I'm going to bust for you the biggest myths about the 2025 LSAT.
[5] Is the LSAT suddenly easier?
[6] Do you need totally new prep materials?
[7] And how will rising LSAT and GPA medians affect your chances?
[8] Today, I'll show you how to avoid falling into common traps and how to dominate the LSAT in 2025 and beyond.
[9] First, for those who don't know me, my name is Steve Schwartz.
[10] I've been teaching the LSAT since 2005, and I personally increased my own LSAT score from a 152 to a 175.
[11] Now, over the years, I've seen countless changes to the LSAT, and the LSAT, of course, has changed once again.
[12] Whenever these changes occur, myths start to spread.
[13] And if you don't separate fact from fiction, you'll waste precious time and risk missing out on your target LSAT score.
[14] So today, we're going to cover three critical areas.
[15] The first, format changes to the test.
[16] Second, study strategies.
[17] And finally, how this all impacts admissions.
[18] Then, We'll wrap up with what you need to know about LSAT's plans to potentially score the writing sample in the future, and how to stay ahead of the curve.
[19] Let's dive in.
[20] The first big myth is that the LSAT is easier or harder now that logic games are gone.
[21] Yes, the LSAT has changed.
[22] Logic games were once considered by many to be the most unique and intimidating section of the test, and they've been replaced by a second scored logical reasoning section.
[23] But calling this change easier is a massive oversimplification.
[24] Logical reasoning is just different.
[25] It requires critical thinking, precision, and stamina.
[26] And so you're going to want to practice each type of logical reasoning question, whether it's flaw, strengthen, weaken, necessary assumption, and so on, until you can spot the patterns in the test.
[27] You then want to build endurance by doing back -to -back logical reasoning sections under timed conditions.
[28] And remember that logical reasoning skills are transferable across the test into reading comp as well.
[29] Now, whether this change is easier or harder, of course, is a matter of opinion.
[30] It's easier for some, harder for others.
[31] But regardless, it is what it is.
[32] Everyone's in the same boat and you're going to have to adapt.
[33] Now, the second big myth is that the writing sample doesn't matter.
[34] For years, the writing sample was just an afterthought.
[35] A lot of folks treated it like an annoying formality and law schools typically didn't really weigh it much or pay much attention.
[36] But today in 2025, things are different.
[37] With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, admissions is looking more heavily into the writing sample as a measure of your unassisted writing ability.
[38] And LSAC has even hinted that the writing sample could become scored in the near future.
[39] And so to ace the writing sample, you want to stay clear and concise.
[40] Avoid long -winded explanations and instead use straightforward language to convey your points.
[41] Secondly, acknowledge counter arguments.
[42] You want to address the opposing view, but show why your side is stronger.
[43] And finally, stick to the prompt.
[44] Use the provided source material to support your argument and don't deviate from the task or bring in tangential points.
[45] And of course, if the writing sample becomes scored, if you've ignored it, you'll be left scrambling.
[46] You want to start practicing now.
[47] stay ahead of the curve.
[48] Now, the third big myth is that you don't need new prep materials for the LSAT in 2025.
[49] Now, it's tempting to think you can rely on old books and strategies, hand -me -downs from your friends, but that's not entirely true.
[50] While the core skills the LSAT tests like critical thinking, logical reasoning, and reading comp remain the same, you've got to adapt your LSAT prep for the new format.
[51] The big reason, of course, is that logic games are no longer on the test, and so books or courses that focus on games are now largely obsolete.
[52] You want to focus on resources that are up to date, that double down on logical reasoning strategies.
[53] Because endurance is key.
[54] With two logical reasoning sections, you need practice tests and drills that mimic this added focus.
[55] And because logical reasoning is two -thirds of the test, your prep time should be devoted roughly two -thirds logical reasoning at least.
[56] You also want to make sure that when you are studying the writing sample, that it's the argumentative writing sample format now, which was another recent change to the test.
[57] So you need any writing sample practice to reflect the new prompts.
[58] Now, LSAC has also updated their prep tests to match the new format of the exam with no more logic games, a second logical reasoning section, and you want to access official LSAT prep tests using LSAC's LawHub platform, which is the only place that mimics what exactly you'll experience on LSAT test day with Prometric.
[59] Now, older resources for reading comp and logical reasoning could still be okay, but there's no reason not to use entirely up -to -date materials given the new LSAT format and, of course, given the importance of the LSAT.
[60] Now, of course, at LSAT Unplugged, we've been closely tracking the changes to the test over the past several years.
[61] All of our materials are updated for the new format.
[62] No more Logic Games materials, a whole lot more focus on logical reasoning, and we'd be glad to help you out on your journey to scoring a 170+.
[63] You could check out the links below to book a call with me and my team.
[64] We'd be glad to help you out.
[65] Now, the fourth big myth is that you can master the LSAT in just a few weeks.
[66] The LSAT, of course, is not about cramming.
[67] It's about building a skill set.
[68] Memorization is not the way to go.
[69] Skills is the focus.
[70] So you want to learn how to identify assumptions, understand dense text, and the ability to eliminate tricky, tempting wrong answers takes time to develop.
[71] This is why I recommend following the LASER approach to orient your LSAT study plan.
[72] LASER is an acronym standing for learning, accuracy, sections, exams, and review.
[73] Learning is the foundational phase where you familiarize yourself with every question type and the strategies to tackle each one.
[74] Accuracy, the second phase, is focused on getting questions right before worrying about speed.
[75] S for sections is when you transition to timed sections, focusing on pacing.
[76] The fourth phase, exams and endurance, is where you take full -length timed practice tests regularly to simulate test day.
[77] And the final phase, R for review, is where you analyze every mistake to ensure you don't repeat it.
[78] At Elson Unplugged, we create personalized day -by -day study plans for all of our students, incorporating the laser approach.
[79] We can help you out in as little as one month, but ideally you allow at least three to six months to help you achieve your fullest potential if you rush.
[80] It's only going to lead to frustration.
[81] Now, the fifth big myth is that the lower LSAT score is fine because the LSAT is harder now.
[82] Remember how I said earlier, the LSAT is neither easier nor harder.
[83] It's just different with the removal of logic games.
[84] The reality, though, is that law school admissions is becoming more competitive, not less.
[85] LSAT medians are rising and GPA medians are rising as well, making it harder to stand out.
[86] The T14 law schools all have LSAT medians of 170 and above.
[87] with Yale and Harvard having LSAT medians as high as 173 and 174.
[88] And higher medians are not just limited to the T14.
[89] Even schools outside the T14 are also seeing significant score increases, and more than half of schools reported higher GPA medians as well.
[90] Additionally, LSAT scores are still the biggest factor in securing merit -based scholarships, meaning a higher score doesn't just improve your odds of admissions, it can also save you tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
[91] And so, you want to aim to score above the median for your target schools.
[92] A bit of extra effort on the LSAT can make it the difference between paying full tuition and receiving significant financial aid.
[93] Relatedly, the sixth big myth is that a high GPA can compensate for a low LSAT score.
[94] Now, while a high GPA is an asset, it's not a golden ticket, especially as GPA medians rise.
[95] And adcoms know that GPAs are often inflated and they vary widely by school and by major.
[96] And so, The LSAT is the only standardized metric that admissions officers can use to compare applicants from vastly different academic backgrounds.
[97] And so, instead of relying on a high GPA to compensate for a low LSAT, use the LSAT to validate your GPA.
[98] A strong LSAT paired with a high GPA is a recipe for success.
[99] But even if your GPA is average or below, a stellar LSAT score can more than make up for it.
[100] Now, LSAT has hinted that scoring the writing sample is on the horizon.
[101] And if that happens, the writing sample will go from being a low -priority task to a critical component of your overall score.
[102] And this means that if you take the LSAT after they start scoring it, you'll need to approach the writing sample with the same seriousness as logical reasoning and reading comp.
[103] But if you knock out the LSAT now, before the change, you can narrow your focus to just the currently scored portions of the LSAT, logical reasoning, and reading comp.
[104] Now, before we move on...
[105] Let me remind you that you don't have to tackle these changes alone.
[106] At LSAT Unplugged, we offer personalized day -by -day study plans to keep you on track, private one -on -one coaching sessions giving you targeted advice to break through your LSAT score plateaus, and live online classes where you can ask questions and practice real LSAT problems.
[107] If you're ready to simplify your prep, boost your score, and reduce stress, you can check out the links below to book a call with me and my team.
[108] We'd be glad to help you out.
[109] Now, as for your next steps, you want to commit to a target test date, ideally April or June, as your best options to avoid any future changes to the LSAT, like the scored writing sample.
[110] You want to focus on logical reasoning since it's now two -thirds of your score.
[111] You want to take full -length exams regularly to build your stamina inside LSAT's law hub.
[112] And of course, you want to keep up to date with any future changes to the LSAT using up -to -date materials like what we offer at LSAT Unplugged.
[113] Again, If you'd like my help, you could check out the links below to book a call with me and my team.
[114] We'd be glad to help you out on your journey to scoring a 170+.
[115] In the meantime, I wish you all the best and take care.