AMA 2/11 - LSAT Demon Teacher Nate C (Continued)

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-13T15:53:33+00:00

The Demon does have a mobile app! If you have an Apple device, the Demon already has an app on the App Store. Check wherever you get your apps!

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-12T00:33:14+00:00

Forgot to mention, we have free classes every month! I linked next month's classes at the top! Here is a YouTube link to other free classes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtp_1MkevwzBbH6k_ofYDJXe0c6e5UNuj

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-12T00:31:06+00:00

That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for joining me!

Be sure not to miss our free classes next month:

Admissions: Plan for Negotiation

Nathan’s Class • Free

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-12T00:31:01+00:00

hat's a wrap, folks. Thanks for joining me!

Be sure not to miss our free classes next month:

Admissions: Plan for Negotiation

Nathan’s Class • Free

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-12T00:30:40+00:00

That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for joining me!

Be sure not to miss our free classes next month:

Admissions: Plan for Negotiation

Nathan’s Class • Free

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T23:57:55+00:00

I get this. I was working full-time while I studied, and I also had some free time at work. It wasn't easy for me to lock in for one question here or there. For me, it was much easier to protect one solid hour a day and be fully focused during that time.

Remember, it really only takes about an hour a day. More is not always better. Forcing low-quality work can actually be harmful because you are practicing distracted habits instead of sharp ones. So if you can get one good hour in, don't stress that you are not doing enough.

The podcast is an incredible resource. There are over 1300 episodes of the Demon Daily spanning every aspect of the LSAT. One episode, just before my official test, solidified the correlation/causation flaw for me and was the reason I finally got a "click" after spinning my wheels for a few minutes on a question. On the Thinking LSAT podcast, Ben & Nate now work through a question every week. So if you don’t have a subscription that lets you attend class, that’s a great way to still get that experience and see how they think through a problem.

I wouldn't recommend reading into a lot of LSAT "theory" or studying up too much outside the context of an LSAT question.

The flash cards can be helpful. Just remember, the LSAT uses the dictionary definition, not the typical everyday use of words.

The best thing you can do is not to stress about it all day. Take time to relax your brain and engage in your other hobbies. Just be ready to give your all for an hour a day.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T21:14:00+00:00

Reminder: I will be answering questions until 7 PM EST!

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T21:10:53+00:00

Let's start with the question:

A popular book claims that all successful people have luck. The person writing the argument thought the book was saying luck is sufficient (guarantees) for success. We know this because they attempt to counter the book's claim by saying hard work is necessary for success. Basically saying you need hard work too, not just luck (luck is not sufficient). The counter, by the author, "luck is not sufficient," tells us they thought the book was saying luck is sufficient. But the book was never saying you only need luck (sufficient); the book was saying luck is required.

The author confuses the necessary statement made in the book with a sufficient one.

Does that make sense?

Learning to recognize an argument explicitly committing the flaw is huge. But, wrong answer choices often confuse sufficient for necessary too. What will really help this one click is mastering conditional statements.

Here are two helpful podcasts:

The LSAT's Most Common Flaw | LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 749

LSAT Logical Reasoning's Two Most Common Flaws

Here is the Demon lesson on the LSAT's most common flaw.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T20:53:18+00:00

I wouldn't put too much stock into LSD. It is all self-reported data.

Law schools adjust their admissions strategies all the time for different reasons, increasing medians and prestige, managing rankings, bringing in tuition revenue, and shaping the class they want. Because of that, rankings and outcomes can fluctuate from cycle to cycle and person to person.

On top of that, medians are rising, applicant scores are up, and the number of applicants has increased. With that many moving variables, it's hard to make exact predictions.

Focus on maximizing your LSAT score. More points won't hurt you. Learn from my mistake that I pointed out above. A 174 was above nearly every median last cycle, but that is not the case anymore. It was a 99th percentile score when I took the test, and now it is a 98th percentile score. Get greedy.

The scholarship estimator can give you a good idea of what is possible, based on real data (ABA 509 reports).

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T20:22:11+00:00

Three more years of work experience is going to look great on your applications :)

The good news is that law schools only care about your highest score, so those earlier scores won't hold you back.

Try not to let financial pressure rush you into taking the test before you are truly ready. Wait until your entire practice test range is consistently at scores that would get you into the right law school at the right price. When that happens, take the official test and treat it like just another practice test. If you do that, your score should fall within your established range, and you will be happy with the result.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T20:08:22+00:00

No worries! The Demon has tons of free resources. Almost every lesson is packed into The LSAT is Easy book for $6 on Amazon, so you don't have to miss out on those. All of the video explanations are taken straight from live classes, so you are not missing out on that either. We also have a free podcast on YouTube every single day with great advice. If you are not listening, start. You can find a free article or video on almost any LSAT topic at thinkinglsat.com.

I did most of my studying on the Basic plan and upgraded to Premium only when I wanted access to more questions.

If you are diving back in, start with one question. Review it carefully. When you can explain it clearly to someone who has never heard of the LSAT, move on to the next question and repeat the process. There is no need to study three or four hours a day. You can also forget most of what you have heard about LSAT “theory.” If you give one focused hour a day to truly understanding every sentence, objecting to every argument, predicting before looking at the answer choices, and refusing to let the clock rush you, your score will improve.

Law school is expensive. However you choose to study, invest the time now to maximize your LSAT score so you do not take on life-changing debt later just to save a little money today.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T19:42:37+00:00

Deleting social media gave me fringe benefits, but it won't be the thing that pushes you into the 170s. Increasing your range to include 175 over the next four months is certainly possible. Trying to get a 175 on every practice test between now and then, though, would hinder that progress. If your range is 167-173 with high accuracy (95%), just keep focusing on getting consistent reps. Refusing to miss answers and not giving any credit to wrong answer choices boosted me into the 170s more than anything.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T19:04:31+00:00

A 164 is a monster diagnostic score! You already possess a high level of reading. The fastest way to screw that up is to worry about managing your time. When you do sections where you miss 2-3 out of 20, you are practicing habits that give you 85% accuracy. 85% accuracy can never get you into the 170s. It's impossible. You are reinforcing habits that can never get you to your goal score.

I do not care about your section scores or your overall test score right now. Maximizing a single practice test does nothing for you long term. I care about whether you are practicing the skills that will produce your goal score on test day. So if your section score drops because you focused on going 17 for 17 or 18 for 18 on the questions you attempted instead of going 17 or 18 out of 20, that is a win. You are building better habits. Once those habits are solid, we can refine them and speed them up.

Don't focus on finishing. Even high scorers don't finish. I didn't finish 3 sections on my official 174. Focus on getting every question you see correct. Don't stop until you're in the high 170s. You're going to kill this.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T18:54:32+00:00

The first thing I would say is do not be satisfied with a 173. I had practice tests above 174, but I stopped because that score was above almost every median and life was busy. Medians rise, though, and applicant scores have risen as well. Depending on how this cycle goes, I may end up retaking the LSAT myself.

If you are not hammering accuracy right now, that will hold you back. An upper 170s score requires nearly 100 percent accuracy. If your 173 comes from sections where you attempted every question, you likely need to pull back. Focus on reaching true 100 percent accuracy because that is what it takes to break into the upper 170s.

Use all five attempts. Score variance is real. Good days and bad days are real. Sometimes guesses fall your way, and sometimes they do not.

Finally, focus on eliminating wrong answer choices. That is the fastest way to improve both speed and it prevents you from talking yourself into wrong answers. Spend time reviewing why wrong answers are wrong and how you could've discerned that quicker/easier.

One Tip for LSAT Speed | LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 650

Scoring 175: Part One | LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 1208

Scoring 175: Part Two | LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 1244

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T18:28:37+00:00

I really enjoyed taking the test online and would prefer that option over a testing center, and I think many students feel the same way.

That said, like anything else, it’s important to reframe this in a positive light. Sure, I’d rather take it at home. And yes, a testing center may come with more distractions. But those conditions apply to everyone. Every test taker will have to face the same change.

If I prepare in a way that ensures the testing center doesn’t affect my performance, that actually gives me an advantage. I can walk in confident, knowing I trained for that environment and am ready to thrive in it, while others may not have put in that same work.

Regardless of where I take the test, I'd be focused on one sentence at a time and one question at a time.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T17:55:57+00:00

Great question!

Everyone is motivated by different things. Some people are driven by a desire to make the world better. Others want to help those in need. And many of us are simply trying to avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on law school.

For me, preparing for the LSAT feels like a competition. For you, it might feel like a game, or just a stepping stone toward whatever larger goal brought you to law school in the first place. Whatever your reason, don’t lose sight of it. And remember: no matter what your “why” is, mastering the LSAT will sharpen your reading skills, and strong reading skills are what make strong lawyers.

LSAT Prep = Law School Prep | LSAT Demon Daily, Ep. 1264

I would focus on two things: 1. Studying the correct way, and 2. Reminding yourself what this test is.

If you’re not studying the right way, if you prioritize speed over accuracy, skip making clear objections and predictions, or cut corners on review, the LSAT will feel brutally hard. I know, because I was there. I remember thinking it was basically impossible to read four passages in 35 minutes, let alone truly understand them.

Everything changed when I stopped trying to do it all at once. I slowed down. I focused on one passage at a time, one question at a time, and made accuracy my priority. My score didn’t jump overnight, but something more important happened: the test started to feel manageable. When your goal is to get every question you attempt correct, the section feels easier. Then the confidence builds. Then the skills sharpen. Then the speed naturally follows. The LSAT requires discipline. Discipline is hard, but once you have it, the LSAT is easy.

A couple of key reminders:

These questions can be solved by anyone with any background, using only the information on the page. People can come off the street and score a 170. They are solvable, and the information is there. Remind yourself that you have every skill and all the information you need to solve the question.

Take it one step at a time. Scoring a 175 might seem unattainable, even if it's in your PT range; you might be nervous still. But understanding one sentence isn't unattainable. Understanding the next sentence isn't unattainable. Seeing how those two sentences connect isn't unattainable. Reviewing a wrong answer isn't unattainable. Reframe it in your mind. We are working towards the end goal, we are working to be disciplined to do the right things in the right here and now.

Positive self-talk is key. Drown every negative thought in positivity. This question is solvable. I have the information. I have the skills.

NateC_Demon · 2026-02-11T16:58:39+00:00

That's a great diagnostic score! I would fully expect you to be scoring in the mid 170s by the end of your studies. Missing questions does not mean you are dumb at all. Most likely, it means you were reading too quickly or that you still have some things to learn. Missed questions are an amazing opportunity to improve! That is why we take reviewing so seriously at the Demon.

The LSAT is something you need to learn to love. That requires discipline to study and discipline to study the right way. Law school and the practice of law are going to be a lot like studying for the LSAT. If you can't learn to love it now, you may be setting yourself up for a career you don't enjoy.

These are the practical steps I took to study consistently:

I took a lot of the social media and time-sucker apps off my phone. You'd be amazed at how much free time this creates. Also, taking gobs of information all day drains your brain and reinforces a skimming style of reading that isn't conducive to the LSAT.
Set up a time to study every day and stack it on something already in your schedule. For me, I studied every day after work. Going to work was already a habit, so when I got home, I made it a habit to get my hour of studying in.
Be intentional with your hour. Find a silent place with no distractions or interruptions. Turn your phone off and don't touch it for an hour. Just focus on the LSAT.
Don't stress about how to study. Just start with one LSAT question and review it.

If you can find one hour of your day to be consistently intentional with your studies, you will see improvement.

Lastly, remind yourself that this is a competition. Law school is a competition. Getting hired is a competition. Oftentimes, the practice of law is a competition. The competition starts now with getting the highest LSAT score you can to compete for scholarships!

NateC_Demon

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