LSAT Blogs

One of the most common complaints about the LSAT is the perceived lack of time to complete a section. This is especially true for Reading Comprehension. Many test takers cite being a "slow reader" as the reason it’s so difficult to complete all four passages.

However, the key to success in Reading Comprehension has nothing to do with being able to read quickly. Instead, mastering Reading Comprehension depends on reading strategically. That means reading with a purpose: to actively find the most important information – the kind of information the LSAT will ask questions about. Ultimately, that results in more correct answers and a higher score.

The most important information will often be indicated by certain keywords – words that provide structure to the passage. When reading strategically, it’s a good idea to underline or circle these words to make important statements stand out. It also helps to make a note in the margin so that you can find that piece of information later should a question ask about it. For example, if you find a phrase that indicates the author’s main point, circle the appropriate keyword and make a note in the margin that reads, "Author’s point."

The trouble a lot of test takers have is underlining too much or highlighting the wrong words. Take this sample sentence:

  *The results of the experiment indicate that, contrary to traditional scientific theories,
   hepadnaviruses are capable of replicating after mutation.

If you had to underline one word in the entire sentence, what would it be? Replicating? Experiment? Hepadnaviruses? While some of these are okay to note, none of them really indicate the structure of the passage or give any indication why this particular sentence is so important. The real keyword is "contrary." Consider what would happen if you removed that middle phrase from the sentence:

  *The results of the experiment indicate that hepadnaviruses are capable of
   replicating after mutation.

So what? These viruses can replicate. Why do we care? It just seems like some random result of some random experiment. However, compare that to the previous version. In that sentence, the phrase "contrary to traditional scientific theories" tells us why this result is so important and why we want to pay attention to that sentence. This is not just some ordinary run-of-the-mill result; this is a result that goes against the theories that scientists have traditionally adhered to.

In fact, once you recognize this as important, wouldn’t you be less surprised (and more prepared) for a question like this:

  "The passage most supports which one of the following about traditional theories
   of hepadnaviruses."

Being prepared to answer questions more efficiently is what reading strategically is all about. Keep practicing and it will get easier.