Overview
This lecture covers effective strategies for LSAT reading comprehension, focusing on thorough review techniques, identifying key details, and answering main idea and inference questions efficiently.
Importance of Review in LSAT Prep
- Reviewing your work after timed LSAT practice is essential for score improvement.
- Deep review helps connect practice habits to real-time test performance.
- Rereading LSAT passages multiple times can reveal key details missed during initial reads.
Strategies for LSAT Reading Comprehension
- Not all details in a passage are equally important; focus on major points over minor specifics.
- Take brief notes on main points after reading to strengthen retention of key ideas.
- Learn to identify which details are likely to be tested in questions.
Approach to Answering Questions
- Begin each question by pausing and predicting (“pre-phrasing”) a potential answer before reading choices.
- Decide whether you can answer from memory or need to revisit the passage.
- Minimize rereading entire sections during the first read; only reread for targeted review when answering questions.
Eliminating Wrong Answer Choices
- Work systematically from eliminating clearly incorrect choices toward the correct one.
- Watch for answer choices that use familiar wording from the passage but only reference minor details.
- Do not expect correct answers to always use exact language from the passage; paraphrasing and synthesis are common.
Main Point & Inference Questions
- Main point questions require answers that capture the overall thesis, not just a section.
- Inference questions test your ability to draw reasonable conclusions supported, though not always directly stated, by the passage.
- The correct answer should require the fewest assumptions and have clear support in the text.
Effective Review Techniques
- For difficult questions, find textual support for both correct and incorrect answer choices.
- Compare similar answer choices by identifying subtle but critical differences.
- Practice these review techniques slowly to build quick, accurate habits for test day.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Pre-phrase — Predicting a likely answer before looking at the choices.
- Main Point Question — Asks for the primary argument or thesis of the passage.
- Inference Question — Requires a conclusion that can be reasonably supported by the passage.
- Synthesis — Combining information from multiple parts of the passage to answer a question.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice rereading LSAT passages multiple times across several days.
- After completing practice questions, review each answer choice and find passage support.
- Focus on pre-phrasing answers and eliminating wrong choices before selecting the correct one.
- Use Manhattan Prep and other provided free resources for additional practice.