| The reading comprehension section is often cited | | | | keeps the passage uncluttered and allows them |
| as being the most difficult LSAT section to | | | | to review the main point of each paragraph in a |
| improve on. While it is true that the reading | | | | more efficient manner. Marking keywords is |
| comprehension section is less learnable than the | | | | appropriate, especially once practice has yielded a |
| logic games and logical reasoning section, this is | | | | more definite idea of what a keyword is. For |
| not to say that it's impossible. Often the time | | | | students just beginning to prepare for the reading |
| devoted to preparing for the LSAT is three | | | | comprehension section, I recommend they |
| months or less; this is not enough time to | | | | practice by, after completing the questions, |
| improve your reading comprehension skills | | | | returning to the passage and only then identifying |
| significantly. Rather than give up on the reading | | | | the key words. |
| comprehension section, your study strategy | | | | Time Management |
| should instead focus on understanding how to | | | | Even the best readers can find the reading |
| approach the questions, the passage, and your | | | | comprehension section of the LSAT difficult. The |
| time management. | | | | passages can be complex and are purposely |
| The Questions | | | | made to be dense; in conjunction with the time |
| There are four passages in each reading | | | | limit of only 35 minutes stumbling on one passage |
| comprehension section. In some LSATs, there will | | | | can be cataclysmic. The passages are generally |
| appear two reading comprehension sections; in | | | | ordered from easiest to hardest, with no |
| these instances one of them will be the | | | | correlation of subject matter. Therefore it is not |
| experimental section (read unscored). Each | | | | in a students best interest to look for a subject |
| passage will have anywhere from 5 to 8 | | | | matter that they find appealing. This is only a |
| questions associated with it. Among these | | | | waste of time that can be disastrous in a test |
| questions, there are discernible patterns which | | | | where every second matters. Instead student |
| arise. Nearly every reading passage will include a | | | | should be acutely aware of the amount of time |
| global question, or a question that tests your | | | | they devote to the passage as well as each |
| understanding on the passage as a whole. There | | | | question. If the question seems totally foreign, it |
| will also be questions that test your understanding | | | | might be in their best interest to simply guess. |
| of the main point, author's opinion, and specific | | | | Never leave a question blank and always attempt |
| details. Due to the length of the passage, it is not | | | | to make an educated guess. Once the passage |
| recommended that students read the questions | | | | has been completed, clear your mind as quickly as |
| ahead of time. Another point to remember: you | | | | possible and move on. |
| can use your already completed questions to help | | | | In my personal opinion, the reading comprehension |
| with unanswered questions. | | | | section is the most difficult to study for and to |
| The Passage | | | | succeed in. Many students are confident in their |
| The passage will typically be between 400 and | | | | ability to read, however the LSAT reading |
| 500 words. The average LSAT reader will | | | | comprehension section should not be taken lightly. |
| complete them in about two minutes. Because of | | | | My best advice for preparation: practice reading |
| the length and amount of material included within | | | | dense magazines in preparation for test day. For |
| each passage, rather than underlining important | | | | a list of such reading materials, you can visit my |
| sentences I recommend that my students | | | | Atlanta LSAT personal tutor website. |
| practice making concise notes in the margins. This | | | | |