Quick Tip

Can I Command-F?

Ever since the LSAT entered the brave new digital world in 2018, many students have wondered about what technological features are permitted—and not permitted! As tutors, we are frequently asked whether or not it’s okay to use the “Command-F” (or “Control-F,” for non-Mac users) feature to search for words in the Reading Comprehension section.

The answer is a resounding “Yes!” You are allowed to use Command-F. In fact, this can be very useful for locating a specific word that you vaguely remember hearing but cannot locate precisely. However, beware: the answer choices may use synonyms for words in the passage, which means you cannot rely entirely on Command-F.

Discussion

How Many PTs Is “Too Many”?

Practice Tests–or PTs–are widely available. For many ambitious students, it is tempting to take as many PTs prior to the real test in the interest of maximizing exposure to real-life LSAT questions. For other students, however, the sheer volume of PTs is overwhelming and they feel reluctant to take any at all. What’s the proper approach?

Like most other aspects of LSAT study, the answer is somewhere in between. To understand why, let’s examine the risks of too few PTs, as well as the risks of too many PTs.

Exclusively prioritizing individual questions or untimed drills over PTs is the equivalent of trying to play a baseball game without ever having left the batting cage. You may understand the test theoretically but taking the test itself is a whole different ballgame. Only timed PTs taken under game-day conditions can force you to experience test fatigue, make real-time decisions about where to spend your time, and simulate the stress of the real exam. It’s essential that you expose yourself to timed, game-day material.

On the other hand, there is, in fact, such a thing as too many PTs. PTs are not terribly helpful for actually improving. The feedback is delayed and unfocused. Rather, taking PTs serves two purposes: checking where your score is currently and getting practice under game-day conditions. Worse yet, many students will rush their PTs in an effort to cram in more. If you do a PT properly, it should be a multi-day affair: taking the PT, Blind Reviewing it, watching videos for the questions you don’t get afterwards, writing a reflection on what went well and what went poorly, and inputting missed questions into a journal. This detailed process is mutually exclusive with near-daily PTs.

So, how often should you take PTs? This will depend on your study schedule. For most students, one is the right amount of PTs. However, for someone studying full-time, two could be justified. Three or more is extreme and not something we’d recommend.

If you could use some help on the way to your goal score and want to work with one of our LSAT tutors, use this link to learn more.

If you'd like to talk to one of our tutors before committing to a plan, schedule a free consultation at this link.