New lesson under "Resources for Taking Simulated LSATs"
Link here: https://classic.7sage.com/lesson/how-should-i-study-for-the-digital-lsat/
Full text below. If you have questions ask away! I'll try to answer if I can.
The LSAT going digital is the biggest change to the test in decades. It’s natural to feel some amount of anxiety as we leave the comfort of our printers and pencils behind to meet our digital LSAT gods.
There is no need to make drastic changes to how you’ve been studying in order to be prepared for the new digital LSAT format. You’re doing fine. This is because the content and the structure of the LSAT will remain exactly the same. Far more than format, it’s the content of the LSAT that ought to determine how you study for this test. Since that's not changing, you shouldn't change how you study. Blind Review is still king for Logical Reasoning. You still need to Fool Proof your Logic Games. And you still need to do Low Resolution summaries for Reading Comprehension.
The only thing different is that you should practice taking digital PrepTests on your tablet with a stylus to simulate actual test day conditions. If you don’t have a tablet, do it on a computer. LSAC is providing PrepTest 73 (September 2014) for free here: https://familiar.lsac.org/. We have every reason to believe that what we’re seeing on that site will be largely the same as what testers will see on July 15, the first administration where roughly half of the students will be taking the digital version of the LSAT. Starting with the September 21 administration, the LSAT will be fully digital.
7Sage will be releasing our version of the digital tester in open beta test mode by May 1 so you’ll have an opportunity to take PrepTests in digital format. The point is simply to get used to the act of doing the test digitally because there are differences from the paper version. For example, one advantage for everyone is that bubbling and flipping back to flagged questions are instantaneous. This results in time savings of 2-3 minutes or 5%-8% of total section time (35 minutes). There will also be an on screen timer so you can see how much time you have remaining without having to consult a watch.
You’ll also have to get used to doing Logic Games on separate sheets of scratch paper with a pen. Yes, you read that right. A pen. The LSAC has lost its mind. Just kidding. But they are seriously claiming that a pen is their writing instrument of choice provided to you along with an unspecified number of sheets of scratch paper.
The tablet itself (Microsoft Surface Go tablet 8.3” x 5.5” screen) will come with a small built in stand so you can tilt the screen slightly. If you’re used to taking your pencil to the paper to point to each word as you read - what I call "tactile reading" - the stylus can be used in an analogous manner. As far as we can tell, you cannot freely write or draw with the stylus. It can only be used to highlight or underline text, flag questions, and select answer choices.
The writing sample will be administered separately beginning with the June 3 administration. Test takers will be doing the writing section on their own computers and it will be typed. The obvious advantage here is that you can do this on your time where you want, as long as you have an internet connection.
Please keep in mind that this information is simply what we know for the time being based on what the LSAC has revealed. Since the Digital LSAT is new for the LSAC as well, we anticipate that they will be tweaking their digital tester and the process throughout future administrations. Accordingly, we will be updating this page.
77 comments
@joncampbell04301
Will 7Sage's digital tester allow us to pull up any PT that we've purchased from 7Sage?
Yes!
Will there be other formats available, such as individual sections?
Not during open beta, but this is something planned for later versions.
Any plans to incorporate analytics?
Yes, answers will feed straight into Analytics.
@jy-ping said:
@joncampbell04301
Will 7Sage's digital tester allow us to pull up any PT that we've purchased from 7Sage?
Yes!
Will there be other formats available, such as individual sections?
Not during open beta, but this is something planned for later versions.
Any plans to incorporate analytics?
Yes, answers will feed straight into Analytics.
This is why 7Sage is the best. This is outstanding.
People seem to care a lot about this pen business, so just to clarify...the LSAC website explicitly states "Digital LSAT test takers will also be permitted to use their own pencil and eraser for making notes." If you're worried about not having a pencil, you can still bring one. I'm not sure why you would even need a pen for this test. I'd just set it aside and ignore it during the test but that's just for me. Obviously, the concern about having to take notes separately is still a bummer.
Thank you for this post. I am very frustrated about the change. I feel like LSAC is moving the goal posts. I am a paper and pencil/person all the way. I print important reading documents, etc., to read through, always. This change is very stressful. Sorry to be so negative. Super grateful for 7Sage though.
I think it's a terrible needless decision to force people to write on an entirely separate piece of paper instead of right next to the questions. Yeah, I get it, everything is going digital, but this was a mindless decision. Going digital purely for the sake of going digital. Can't even write on the tablet? Can't diagram next to the question? That sucks.
@alyssamccain0593780 Scratch paper will be provided for the entire test.
Just some really quick feedback for those who are a little nervous about studying for the digital version. I HATE, absolutely HATE the idea of the test being digital. I've always been a big pen/pencil and paper fan. After taking my first practice test using the software, I felt like I had either the same or more time on my side than usual.
One weird benefit of studying using the digital software is that it's really forcing me to absorb what I am reading, especially on Reading Comprehension. It is a little annoying to have to scroll through the passage to find desired text, but overall, I think practicing this way might even yield some benefits to you over time. The better you are at holding the information in your head, the easier I think the questions will go. I wrote Low Res summaries on scratch paper as well -- a number for the corresponding paragraph and a small 3-4 word comment/abbreviation for it.
My Logical Reasoning speed was like lightning. I zipped through that much much faster than usual.
As for Logic Games, this is where I think the transition to digital lacks a bit. I really don't think there can ever be a successful substitute for writing next to the questions and knowing exactly where all your mini game boards are. My advice is be super detailed with your scratch paper -- clearly write down the number of the question you are working on.
It is definitely going to be a change, but as a HARDCORE skeptic and technologically inept individual, I think that if I can get through it and actually (kind of) like the experience that anyone can.
As for the machine I'm using, I'm testing with a Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1 laptop. Hope this helps anyone feeling a little anxious about the switch!
Hi all,
I’ve heard so many rumors about this new digital version of the test and the pens they provide
Called LSAC today to clarify
If anyone cares to know:
the pens they provide will be a separate implement from the stylus pen itself (someone told me that there would be a stylus on one end and the pen on the other). That means you have to practice physically switching between pen and stylus during practice test conditions
Seems to me that the total time we spend bubbling may be equal to or less than the time we may be spending with all the extra motions, eye tracking on separate pieces of paper and LG, RC LR sections. Hope LSAC decides to add the feature to draw on the tablets in the future!
A pen??!!! This has changed my entire world view!! jk :) But I'll be looking for a thread debating what the best pen is for Digital LG now.
Great post, JY. Will 7Sage's digital tester allow us to pull up any PT that we've purchased from 7Sage? Will there be other formats available, such as individual sections? Any plans to incorporate analytics? Would be great to see how much time was spent on individual LR questions, for example. Thanks!
How do we write low resolution summaries next to rc passages?
I'm a little worried about doing LG on scrap paper instead of directly on the page. I've tried this before when I didn't have a hard copy of a game handy and it definitely slows me down looking back and forth from the screen to my paper :(
@jy-ping.Y. Ping Will the digital tester eventually be able to be used on tablets so as to imitate test-day conditions to the greatest extent? Also, would you be willing to eventually upload live commentary of you or another 7Sager taking a test on a tablet in the near future? The exact settings, movements, use of the scrap paper, and use of the stylus on the tablet would be incredibly informative!
Thank you JY and 7sage! So exciting that we’ll be able to PT digitally.
I didn’t realize that the tablets would be Microsoft Surface Gos; I study on a Surface Pro so that’s a nice bit of peace of mind. For anyone who’s never used them before, they’re my personal favorite tablet/portable comp- there shouldn’t be touch responsive issues like some were worried about, and the kick stand is nice to have.
@nlkhamis275 That's a good question. I'm not certain, but I think that for the July administration, no one will see their scores immediately after the exam is done. I think it'll take some number of days at minimum for the LSAC to release the scores. Then everyone can decide if they want to keep or cancel. You can see here that the LSAC has "TBD" for score release date: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-dates-deadlines/july-2019-lsat-deadlines-united-states-canada-and-caribbean
Is there a consensus on tablet options for those studying for the digital? I think some have mentioned the Kindle Fire as a good budget option, but anyone know of other options / have used the 7Sage Digital and could chime in?
Thanks!
I was told on two separate occasions by two separate LSAC representatives that we will be given a booklet with 8 pages (no lines, watermarked, 8.5" x 11").
@eugenewrotethis726 the last we checked with a 1st gen Apple Pencil (about two weeks ago) on 1st gen iPad Pro it worked without any issues. It looks like the LSAC tester treats the Surface Go stylus the same as a finger. Our tester should also behave that way. E.g. using a pencil is the same as using a finger.
Edit: I think I may have misunderstood you. I thought you were referring to 7Sage's digital tester, but on rereading, I think you are referring to LSAC's tester on the test day.
If you bought an Apple Pencil to use on test date, I am fairly certain that will NOT work on LSAC's tester at the test center. You can use it on 7Sage's tester for practice. But on test date, even if I am wrong and the Pencil is compatible with the test center Surface Pros, I doubt they will allow you to use your own stylus to take the test.
@pfryfogle1735 said:
Is there a way to turn off/on the timer counting down in the corner? I think that would freak me out just watching those seconds slip away...
I found the answer to this question (from the LSAC Website):
On the top right of the screen, a time remaining bar appears that indicates there was five minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the current test section. You can hide the section timer by tapping it. The numbers indicating the remaining time disappear. When there are five minutes remaining, a warning will display. The timer can no longer be hidden at that point. Superimposed over the test question, in the center of the screen, a pop up appears that reads five minutes remaining. Beneath the words is a button that reads close.
Has anyone landed on a good method for using the three highlighter colors and underline option to annotate questions?
I’ve been experimenting with different approaches to designate context/OPA, premises, and conclusions in LR but haven’t found a method that is intuitive and easy to implement across different question types.
Yes, there's going to be scratch paper for all the sections, @jasminesade220.
@jasminesade220 Yes, you will. It says so clearly on the LSAC website.
Does anyone know if they will provide paper during LR/RC? Obviously for LG they are but what if we need to diagram or wanna just take some notes during LR?
Thanks JY for eking us which version of the tablet they will use!
Sucks to hear you can’t write on screens.. so I guess all
The circling, bracketing practice I’ve been doing goes out the window...
Does the type of stylus pen matter? I just went to Microsoft’s site. The GO PEN is $100. May not need that if all we need is something that highlights rather than write on screen
@jy-ping.Y.Ping, thank you for the post! I worried about how to study with the digital format, it's crazy how going from paper to computer can put so much stress on an already stressful situation.