Customer Reviews

Cracking the LSAT with Sample Tests on CD-ROM, 2005 Edition (Graduate Test Prep)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This prep book is a mixed bag. It's strongest on the Arguments and Games sections, weakest on Reading Comprehension. PR's method of diagramming Games is better than the methods found in other prep books: it's clear, intuitive, and easily and quickly grasped; helps avoid confusion during the panic of a real live test. PR's strategy for tackling the Arguments section is also very effective. But PR is WAY OFF in its advice for attacking the Reading Comprehension section. Do NOT follow PR's advice about reading the questions before reading the passage during the test. This stupid strategy wastes precious time and you probably won't be able to keep the six or seven questions in mind as you read the passage. Instead, in the four or five weeks before you take the test, familiarize yourself with the half-dozen TYPES of questions asked in the RC section of the LSAT (Main Idea, Description, Extension, Application, Structure, and Tone). Once you have internalized them, you will automatically mark the passage as you read it (by circling the Pivotal Words and annotating briefly in the margins), so that you can quickly refer to it as you answer the actual questions during the test.

Do not waste your time with the silly CD-ROM: the LSAT is a paper-and-pencil test, so get used to working in that medium. (Besides, PR's CD-ROM is full of bugs.) Get a whole bunch of Actual, Official LSATs, xerox them, and practice, practice, practice.

So, to recap: PR is good for diagramming Games, good for Arguments, and lousy for Reading Comp.

If you have to choose only one prep book, I'd recommend Jeff Kolby's "Master the LSAT". I also like PowerScore's "Logic Games Bible": its classification scheme is a little complicated at first, but if you learn it well, it will pay off handsomely come test time. Using these three prep books, plus Kaplan's "LSAT 180", and studying hard every day for two months, I was able to score a 174 on the last LSAT.

The "Cracking the LSAT" book itself is actually pretty good, containing all the general standardized test info one might expect (lots of strategies designed primarily for people who have no business taking the LSAT). From both the book and other sources, the best way to practice for the LSAT is to take LSAT practice tests. My advice would be to order them directly from the LSAC.org and don't waste your money with a practice book.

My real qualm is with the accompanying CD-ROM which allows you take 4 practice tests. I thought taking electronic tests would be quicker and easier, encouraging me to do it more. Unfortunately, the CD-ROM program is full of bugs, the worst of which being that after having completed a practice test, if the program has difficulties connecting to the online network, then all of your responses will be lost. As a result, you don't know how well you did, nor can you go back through and review the questions you missed. If you want electronic tests, buy an LSAT review from someone else.

This LSAT Prep book is boring!!! If you want a general overview of the LSAT and a brief overview of some techniques, then maybe this would help you a little bit. The strategies they recommend are too time-consuming for me. Beware, this book didn't help me that much, if any, and the strategies are a little weird. I'd recommend buying PrepTests from LSAC and practicing with real tests rather than the ones provided here. There are plenty of better prep books than this one.

I wasted one whole week on this book (and that was four weeks before the LSAT) before I realized it was doing nothing for me. The chapters on the arguments section are worthless--the simulated LSAT questions in this book are much more difficult than the real ones, which serves only to confuse and discourage you. The chapter on the games section will help you with the most simple games, which account for one or two out of four games on the real test. Don't make the same mistake I did (I wish I had read some reader reviews before buying the book). In my opinon, the only LSAT prep books worth buying are the two PowerScore bibles. Plus, of course all the real LSATs you have time for. After working through the Princeton book, I was scoring 10 of 24 on the games. After practicing hard with the PowerScore Games Bible, I scored 22/24.

This book is like driving on a West Virginia highway. You're going along fine and WHAM-THUDDA-THUDDA... pothole city. The book has a unified tone and style, but sections, and even analysis of question types goes from good and detailed to hurried and worthless. Have just about thrown this book out the window a couple of times in frustration at the breezy and conversational, yet empty and repetitive text that fills pages but gives absolutely no insight into the test.

For anyone looking to improve their score, greatly, on the LSAT, this book is a must read. My score went up at least ten points by following their advice. The advice to skip hard questions is extremely helpful because if you focus to much on those you run out of time and have to rush through the rest. the LSAT does not require that you answer the questions in each section in order. Their most helpful piece of advice, read the question first? his book was a lifesaver for me. Highly recommended.

I bought this book with the idea that it would improve my performance on the LSAT. I have to say that the structure of the book is really poor. It tells you to skip test questions, which does not seem to be a very intelligent concept. It also tells you to guess on anything and everything you get stuck on, because you can come back to it.

I think that this is bad advice. The whole idea of taking the LSAT is to test what you know, not a guessing game. I will stick to practicing on the "real" tests like the "10 More Actual, Official LSAT Preptests" provided by LSAC. This book is boring and lacks helpful information, unless you think guessing is fun. And if so, go ahead brainiac, waste your hard earned dollar.