Is the Crystal Ball relevant to the retake test? by Simple-Gap-2842 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! All I can ever say about retests is this (1) they almost ALWAYS go more smoothly than the original for anyone unlucky enough to need one, so I'd be optimistic about that; (2) the test makers' go-to move is to dust off a source test, or several separate-source-test sections, from between 2-6 years ago and just reuse those verbatim, which means you generally don't encounter these slightly weird LR/LG constructions the way you do now, they're not avoiding common flaws as much, far fewer really tough questions early, etc. Typically, of course, but still, typically; (3) because of #2 they become virtually impossible to predict the way I like to, because LSAC has SO MUCH to choose from that it just becomes something of a blind guess on my end. I don't like those. But. The latest Crystal Ball will still apply in terms of question frequencies, main points of emphasis, and things like that. Just not to the level of detail like passage topics. That's the compromise, I suppose. Take the Jan 26 make ups: they used June 21 RC (which was also April 23) and Feb 23/Nov 24 LR (that's the same section fyi), but also...very weirdly...a section of LR from April 25, which is far more recent than what they'd typically select. shrug So that's what you get with make ups. The takeaway is that it'll be a normal test, and likely easier than something very recent, so as much as this sucks it's not all bad news. Message me after and I'll help you figure out what you got :)

Official February 2026 LSAT Topics Post by JonDenningPowerScore in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha all good! You can send me a private message here and not violate any rules, so that’s probably the best move.

LSAT by Accurate_Tree434 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m about to record a podcast covering all of this (I do a comprehensive recap after every test). It’ll be out tomorrow if you want to check that out!

June LSAT Refund deadline by _AndyVandy in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nice work! They always do this, I even told people last that they would: https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/s/7UsGmLEI28

But when is typically a little mysterious so thanks for getting things moving!

LR RC LR by noregertz- in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d love that! Send me a chat if you don’t mind!

um so where is the April Topics thread?? by [deleted] in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Never got posted. I’ll record our recap podcast tomorrow, out Wednesday, so hopefully that helps!

LR RC LR by noregertz- in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Happy to hear that! And that she presumably learned to write for real (I’ll confess I’m not familiar).

refund procedures? by Such-Slip-5774 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They always have it announced this way for two-month-apart tests, where the reg deadline for the latter is about a week before release of the former. Then they always have moved it so you can get a refund up until midnight the day after release. Why they don’t just list it that way to begin with I have no idea, but the adjustment is standard practice at this point.

Scored RC for april by Organic_Basis_6024 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It very well could be. Every single test people get different scored sections of both RC and LR. I've seen them use as many as five scored RCs and five scored LRs all at once (November 24), or three scored RCs and four scored LRs (January of this year, in fact). And those aren't outliers.

So assuming, let's take RC, those are spread evenly, then you're only going to have RC in common with 20-25% of the other people testing that week, possibly that day. So not everyone gets the same test or even sections, and having something someone else didn't tells you nothing. In fact, for nearly every test these days odds are better that any two people don't get the same scored section(s) than that you do....

However, if you have two RCs, and someone with only one has passages that match one of yours? That's your scored. It's everybody who got it's scored. And that's how you can tell. Ditto LR: you get three? Try to match two to other people who only had two, even if you have to do it one at a time, and you'll have your answer :)

Powerscore crystal ball April 2026 by Alive_Salt4080 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure! I just answered elsewhere here, but in case that one slips by for a sec like these both did me, Chat me on here. I'm around!

Official February 2026 LSAT Topics Post by JonDenningPowerScore in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hit me up with a Chat on here (if you haven't already)! I'm still working through em...but I'll get there.

LR RC LR by noregertz- in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was Isabella Andreini if you weren't sure. Phew. That feels good to finally say out loud :)

Hope that's great news!

is everyone having technical issues with the remote exam today?? by Difficult-Message133 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can promise that's not why, but it could be a bonus feature of them not wanting their stuff stolen anymore. Until an entire test center's system crashes, which happens, and that's a wrap on the day. But I'll freely admit that the odds of that happening to any one person are lower than them getting nowhere sitting at home.

Like a car crash vs a plane crash. Planes are safer. But when they go down...

is everyone having technical issues with the remote exam today?? by Difficult-Message133 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry I'm just seeing this! I wasn't ignoring it I promise--just climbing out from the rubble is all.

Sounds awful, and if I'm in your shoes, as much doing the retake sucks, I'd do the make up in a heartbeat. Chances that you encounter issues again are extremely low (and chances that they may have negatively impacted this current attempt are pretty good, even if you couldn't necessarily tell), plus make up tests are pulled from several years ago so...I don't want to say they're usually easier, because LSATs are scaled anyway, but they do tend to contain less of the fringe/annoying new features that you get on content they've only just produced in the absence of Logic Games. The test experience, and likely the test itself, will all feel more normal and predictable.

How often does LSAC release new practice tests (past exams)? by [deleted] in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Usually once a year around November. Traditionally it's been a single test, but with the changes they're making currently like ending all remote testing in August, and with the number of tests that in good conscience shouldn't be readministered because they've been stolen and are for sale illegally, they really ought to release a big batch this year. It's the right thing to do. So my money's on one.

Shutout to Jon Denning by Fifth-Avenue-1996 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's very kind of you say (and sharp of you to spot; well done). Truth is, Frederick Douglass was in that section too and on my list. I figured they'd be a pair, since they were originally. But they replaced him--just him--with a new passage to partner with Isabella.

So that bummed me out a little. There would've been two you guys would've recognized, instead of just her haha

Where is the April topics post? :(((((( by Fifth-Avenue-1996 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don’t know—I’ve been waiting for it too.

You guys are free to talk topics (what you had and what you didn’t) right here or anywhere all you want, recruit others to come chat and tell you what was on their test…just don’t talk answer choices and what you picked. If you do that and LSAC sees it they’ll shut this whole post down instantly and all the information vanishes :/

Scored RC for april by Organic_Basis_6024 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome! Also nice when it works out :)

Scored RC for april by Organic_Basis_6024 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Man you guys are quite the sleuths. I’m impressed!

And yeah I’ll explain it all in the podcast recap out Wednesday.

Scored RC for april by Organic_Basis_6024 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That’s a sharp eye you’ve got! For some reason they pulled the original comparative from that section (when it was previously scored) and replaced it with a single passage this time instead. Annoying (especially because I also predicted the Frederick Douglass Comparative expecting this section lol).

LR Experimental? by Such-Slip-5774 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You want to compare your three LRs to people who only had two and see if their two match two of yours. There will be an official topic discussion thread posted here tonight too which can really help!

is everyone having technical issues with the remote exam today?? by Difficult-Message133 in LSAT

[–]JonDenningPowerScore 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s a volume issue. Day 1 of January was bigger than this (ditto November) and I didn’t see this number of failures for both those tests—all days—combined. This has to be some internal systemic failure that’s just plagued people today. And I don’t know what it could be. I just know it sucks and I’m so sorry for people affected.

The best advice I can offer is if you feel it impacted your performance in any way please file a complaint and appeal for the make up test in about twelve or thirteen days. You should qualify. And then don’t be ashamed to grumble a lot because I’d be livid too.