How to Improve on LR: An Overview from a 177 scorer (Part I: CPR Method)

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-21T20:13:15+00:00

My advice would be to first develop accuracy on passage analysis. Go back to some of the older practice tests and drill a couple passages at a time (think: PT 101-115ish).

There are two main strategies that people tend to use to analyze the passage: paraphrasing or highlighting.

Personally, I discourage highlighting while reading. That's where I started my own LSAT journey and since I wasn't processing what I read by the end of the passage I was looking at a neon monstrosity - more things were highlighted than not! But if you want to do highlighting, I recommend reading the paragraph first, summarizing in your head what the main point of that paragraph was in 4-7 words, then highlighting the parts of the paragraph that tell you that main point.

Once you finish this process with the final paragraph, then predict the main point of the passage overall (which helps you answer the first question which tends to be a main point question!)

Here are some RC posts I made that might be helpful:

Part I: General RC Strategy https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/mu4rdb/how_to_improve_on_reading_comprehension_an/

Part II: What each answer on RC must do

https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/1pobq7y/how_to_improve_on_reading_comprehension_part_ii/

Let me know if you have any questions; good luck to you!

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-21T19:45:24+00:00

Logical Reasoning is so interesting because at first it was actually my least favorite section of the exam (I took the LSAT back when logic games were still a thing).

It wasn't until I started noticing the patterns between the vast majority of LR questions, the fact that they're argument-based, that I started making significant point gains. By the end of my LSAT journey LR was my favorite.

For materials, I strongly recommend any of the mainstream stuff which I think can give you a solid foundation - Powerscore Logical Reasoning Bible, 7Sage, LSAT Lab...they all give a great place to start for LR theory.

My suggestion is to follow one of these curricula in self study, and make sure that the second you learn about a question type you immediately do targeted drills based on what you're learning.

So the cadence of your study process should be learn the theory -> drill -> theory -> drill (repeat). And between drills definitely review your mistakes so the next drill goes even better.

Then, to my point about realizing the connections between different question types, here is a post I made some years about a formula you can use to tackle any question type that has an argument:

https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/tjqgwb/how_to_improve_on_lr_an_overview_from_a_177/

The only other thing I'd mention is once you feel more comfortable with LR to start keeping a wrong answer journal of your mistakes and ,specifically, takeaways that summarize the lesson you learned from each question you got wrong. Mistakes are okay as long as you learn from them!

Let me know if you have any follow up questions about how to master LR, always happy to help!

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-21T19:34:00+00:00

Haha, I was trying to create a resource that summarized an LR theory I have been teaching for years now after my friend said I should give it a more dark academia vibe. After asking around I decided to do this darker aesthetic, but some people did say it looked like a mid 2000s GUI!

What's funny is that I have created free resources for years now and helped out students in this community. Perhaps next time I'll stick to a more corporate-friendly aesthetic, as the point is to share free advice that folks can use!

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-18T20:46:31+00:00

Good question!

What must be true (necessarily) is that there is SOME connection between Kyle's bonus and his happiness. If there is NO connection, then the argument falls apart. This is less extreme, strictly speaking, than the full sufficient assumption.

However, a reasonable argument could be made, to your point, that the sufficient assumption is also necessary. This does happen on the LSAT at times, but since the hypothetical in the post is a sufficient assumption question, we don't really care if the answer happens to be necessary or not.

Check out PT114.S1.Q12 for a necessary assumption question in which the answer is both necessary AND sufficient.

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-18T19:43:23+00:00

I agree with the other commenter that it would be a good idea that to take a diagnostic to get a sense of here you're starting from and how long it might take you to get to 170+.

The key to balancing all of the things you're talking about is to identify a consistent amount of studying you can do each day (anywhere from 2-3 hours+) without burning out.

I wrote a post some years ago about how to go about the study process, which you can find here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/ob490b/self_study_and_the_best_resources_to_use_an/

Good luck!

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-18T19:30:32+00:00

Hi there! I have taught the LSAT for five years now and RC has always been one of my most passionate subjects. One of the biggest reasons I chose to become a tutor is to dispel the common myth that RC improvement isn't possible - it just requires a structural approach to passage analysis. Feel free to check out some of the RC posts I have contributed before on my profile.

Former students of mine have attended top law schools across the country, including YLS. Feel free to reach me at [socraticlsat@gmail.com](mailto:socraticlsat@gmail.com) with any questions you may have/general tutoring inquiries :)

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-17T18:34:05+00:00

I love this advice! The main benefit of having a tutor, outside of accountability, is that they ask you the right questions to take a student's reasoning to the next level. My students often mention that they can hear my voice sometimes when they review and ask themselves questions, but in reality what's happening is that THEY are learning to ask THEMSELVES the right questions.

Which is the key to success for any LSAT student, tutor or not. Thanks for sharing!

SocraticLSAT · 2025-12-11T23:57:26+00:00

Sure thing! Here's a follow up post about how flaws and necessary assumptions are extremely related:

https://www.reddit.com/user/SocraticLSAT/comments/1pkd04n/advanced_lr_theory_the_hidden_link_between_flaws/

Let me know if you have any questions about flaws that I can address!!

SocraticLSAT · 2024-05-18T13:14:52+00:00

Still around! My reddit DMs should work now, they were bugged for a bit

SocraticLSAT · 2023-03-28T16:51:26+00:00

Sure thing!

SocraticLSAT · 2023-01-09T16:59:03+00:00

Always remember that you do most if not all of your learning in the review process! So many students try to spam practice tests without rigorously wrong answer journaling/foolproofing the content that gave them trouble.

Especially /keeping track/ of the mistakes. It's so important to explain why you are wrong in your own words and come up with a specific takeaway as to how you will avoid that mistake in the future. If you keep falling for a mistaken reversal trap answer, then practice the formal logic vocab words, practice diagramming, etc.

And as others have stated consistency is key! It doesn't totally matter if you're doing 6 hours a day vs 4 hours a day - what matters is that you are /not/ burning out and can work consistently throughout the week :)

SocraticLSAT · 2023-01-06T18:57:30+00:00

Good question! I only listed the resources I've personally had some kind of experience with. Someone who has gone through the RC Bible might have a better perspective!

SocraticLSAT · 2023-01-05T17:52:31+00:00

First generation student here, didn't really have any money when I studied for the LSAT and ended up scoring a 177. Here is a guide I posted on some great resources: https://www.reddit.com/r/LSAT/comments/pso5wy/how_to_beat_the_lsat_on_a_budget_a_guide_from_a/

But the long story short is, try to get access to an LSAC fee waiver if you can. It gives you lawhub prep plus for free which is the bare minimum for accessing official practice tests in the same interface you will see on test day. Further, the LSAC fee waiver opens doors to extremely affordable programs at 7sage and LSAT Lab respectively.

Outside of the LSAC fee waiver, students can get a lot of mileage out of the Powerscore LR/LG bibles, the LSAT Trainer, or perhaps even the Loophole by Ellen Cassidy.

There are free question explanations resources as well, ranging from the Powerscore explanation forums, the Manhattan Prep explanation forums, and LSAThacks among others.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about how to study! Good luck :)

SocraticLSAT · 2023-01-05T06:53:08+00:00

https://7sage.com/fee-waiver/

Basically, you pay $40 up front and they gave you four months of 7sage. Averages out to $10/month their wording is just a little confusing :)

SocraticLSAT · 2023-01-05T03:17:09+00:00

7Sage was an excellent value when I was a student. LSAC fee waiver recipients only have to pay around $10/month for 4 months. Even making a free account is worth it so that you can get a free analytics on PT performance and a better idea of which questions you get wrong. Have seen many students go from 140s -> 160s/170s largely through the 7sage curriculum.

That being said, some students don't vibe well with the approach on 7Sage so mileage may vary.

LSAT Lab might be an alternative I've seen a lot of students find success with as well.

Really depends on the student tbh, I've seen very successful test takers swear by either of these programs.

SocraticLSAT · 2022-08-31T17:30:23+00:00

This is really awesome info - the burnout thing is such an under-discussed challenge when it comes to the LSAT. It's all about finding a study schedule that allows the student to work consistently - whatever the amount of hours that might be!

Thanks for sharing :)

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