I've took about 3-4 real old LSATs (I believe tests 7, 10, 11, 12 or w/e the first few are in "10 actual", and I have been scoring -0 to -1 on Logic Games, -4 to -5 on each LR and -10!!! on RC. (this is all timed and proctored like real tests)

My understanding is that in newer LSATs, LG got easier and RC and LR got harder... is this correct?

I also understand that RC is the hardest to 'improve on'. My 2nd question is if this is true, is there any good books that help me at least get this down to -5sh, since I suck that bad?

AcePR wrote:

QUOTE:
I've took about 3-4 real old LSATs (I believe tests 7, 10, 11, 12 or w/e the first few are in "10 actual", and I have been scoring -0 to -1 on Logic Games, -4 to -5 on each LR and -10!!! on RC. (this is all timed and proctored like real tests)

My understanding is that in newer LSATs, LG got easier and RC and LR got harder... is this correct?

Easier isn't precisely the right word, but it's fairly descriptive of the effect.

Games have become more standardized, in my eyes, in that there's a more limited set of variations. That's made them easier to prepare for, certainly. The complexity has also decreased.

I think RC's become a little harder, but not hard, not at all. Arguments are, to me, approximately the same.

I just wanted to respond to the RC question:

I cant recommend a book to assist you with RC, but I can offer a technique that should help (because they have helped me). I'd recommend doing a couple of things,: First, start reading "for fun" a lot more...and read dense material. While you read, ask yourself questions about the subject matter and train yourself to stay focused for extended periods of time. Second, and this follows naturally from the first suggestion, always read with a purpose, regardless of whether you're reading casually or doing an RC passage (but especially if you're doing a passage). I'm sure you've noticed that there are certain questions that just always seem to show up in RC...well, read in order to answer those kinds of questions, BUT don't distract yourself from the passage by trying to read every question prompt before reading through the passage itself. I just mean read so that you're thinking to yourself "what is the main point of this passage," "how does the author feel about the subject matter he's writing about," etc. Catching things like that while reading the passage will help you distill a lot more information from it because key points will seem to stick out more and you will develop a more holistic sense of what the passage is driving at. I hope this helps somewhat. Good luck!

When you say the games questions have gotten "easier," does that mean tests from 4 and 5 years ago are not indicative of what we will see on the tests today? I know it makes sense to study the newest stuff, but I got my hands on some old LSAT materials, just to get an idead of what to expect, and I am wondering if they have any value now?

I think these tests change over time. They get harder easier, either way. Just use the most recent stuff is my advice.

Wizkid wrote:

QUOTE:
When you say the games questions have gotten "easier," does that mean tests from 4 and 5 years ago are not indicative of what we will see on the tests today? I know it makes sense to study the newest stuff, but I got my hands on some old LSAT materials, just to get an idead of what to expect, and I am wondering if they have any value now?

We probably need to define some things here.

The LSAT's existed since 1948. It's existed in its current form (2 args/1 games/1 RC/1 experimental/1 writing sample) since 1991. We're only going to be concerned with the 1991 through 2008 tests.

The released tests are numbered sequentially, 1 through 54; Preptest 1 was adminstered in June of 1991, and the December 2008 LSAT will be Preptest 55.

When I say recent, I'm talking about Preptest 40 or so, onwards; Preptest 40 was administered in June of 2003.

If you're looking at things from 4 or 5 years ago, that's still relatively recent. You get the real distinctions when you start looking back at things like Preptest 7, or 12.

Even these tests though, have some value - even though they might vary slightly in content, they still test the same sort of thinking that the LSAT requires today.