[This is an excerpt from our full course.]
The Blind Review
The Blind Review Method as introduced in this series of lessons is meant to be used for the problem sets in our course and timed LSAT Prep Tests.
Most students review LSAT questions the wrong way. I’m going to show you a proven approach that will increase your LSAT score.
If you’re already studying the LSAT, this is most likely not what you've been taught to do. If we’re the first ones to teach you the LSAT, great. Either way, this ought to be how you practice the LSAT.
How do people normally study and what’s wrong with it?
Take your average LSAT student. Say he finished LSAT PrepTest 53 (December 2007), fully timed, using the proctor apps for iPhone/iPad or Android (or the online LSAT proctor). The clock is running and he chooses his answer quickly, sometimes tentatively. The time is called and he puts down his pencil. He breathes a sigh of relief and what does he do next? He immediately checks his answers: "Sweet, got this one right - I'm awesome. Oh no, this one's wrong - I’m dumb. Oh yay, I got this one right - I'm awesome again."
I know that's what most LSAT students do. Why’s that bad? Isn’t checking the answers obviously what you should do after you take a timed prep test?
Well, no. In fact, checking your answers right after a timed prep test is the worst disservice you can do for yourself. You've essentially just wasted the time you spent taking the prep test. Okay, I exaggerate, but not by much. Think about what you’re actually doing when you check the answers right away. Do you just want vindication that you're smart? The psychology of doing that is like placing a bet and you can't wait to find out if you've won or lost. I’m betting A, I'm betting C, and so on. The answers are right there and it's like you're at the roulette table at Vegas and you're praying "I hope it lands on red 18 (or whatever answer choice you selected)!”
But, that's kind of insane isn't it? You're not placing bets. The LSAT is not a casino. There are reasons that distinguish right answers from wrong ones. Random chance is never a factor. You, in fact, are the only factor. You're studying for this test. You're trying to improve the way you think. You're trying to get better, intellectually. And that’s completely the wrong way to go about it.
Again, to emphasize one last time, if you're immediately checking your answers, you're doing it wrong. You’re just checking whether you filled in the right circle. You’re NOT checking whether you had good reasoning.
Blind Review, the right way to study for the LSAT
So, how to do it right? We call it the Blind Review method. In the next couple of lessons you'll see how to use the Blind Review method to correctly practice the LSAT. You can contrast that with the method you already use or you thought was the right way and decide which one is better.