LSAT Writing Sample Frequently Asked Questions

LSAT Writing Sample Frequently Asked Questions

The part of the LSAT that is least talked about is the writing sample portion, and probably for good reason. It is unscored, and the last section of an arduous test. Many students wonder how exactly to prepare for it, and what is expected of them. In this blog, we’ll go over the purpose of the LSAT writing sample, and touch on some tips.

LSAT Writing Sample Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the LSAT writing sample?

The LSAT writing sample serves two purposes. The first is that it serves as a measure against which your personal statement is judged. If the law schools you apply to do not conduct personal interviews, your personal statement is the only way for schools to really get to know you. As you might guess, some people try to take advantage of this by having someone else write an impressive statement for them. Your LSAT writing sample is a counterweight to this measure. Admissions directors from several schools have assured us that they use the writing sample as a way to make sure personal statements are honest. Even when fatigued, your word choice and writing tone do not change much. If your personal statement stylistically doesn’t line up at all with your LSAT writing sample, they become immediately suspicious.

The other purposes of the LSAT writing sample is to show that, after a grueling exam, you still have the ability to make a coherent argument. The scenarios presented are usually very straightforward, and can be argued persuasively either way. However, law schools will be able to see your reasoning skills and vocabulary on display, so take it seriously. Use the full 35 minutes to do your best. You can’t leave early, after all!

2. What are some tips for making my LSAT writing sample stand out?

First,  choose a side to the argument. Law schools want to see you make a choice and stand behind it with the information presented. Next, use the scratch section to diagram how you’ll answer the question before you start writing. This will allow you to make more coherent points, and stop you from rambling too much. Develop your main points, and find the information that backs them up. Then, support your reasoning with information given in the passage. Tie in as much of the information that supports your side as you can. Then, provide evidence against the other side of the argument by undercutting some of its supporting material, before concluding.

Law schools are not expecting perfection. But, they will expect something they can logically follow, even if the diction isn’t perfect. And while there are no wrong answers, there are more logically reasoned, well-written ones. These are the ones that stand out, so use your time (and scratch room) wisely!

3. Should I practice the LSAT writing sample, and if so, where can I find examples?

Practicing the LSAT writing sample should not be high on your list of study priorities, but it won’t hurt to do a few before test day. Conveniently,  every officially released LSAC PrepTest has one, so there are plenty of them to practice on. Work it into your LSAT prep, especially as you start to take full LSAT PrepTests. You want to mimic test day as much as possible so you are ready to perform when you sit!

4. How can I grade the LSAT writing sample, if there’s no “correct” answer?

True, there is no objective right answer by which to grade your LSAT writing sample. However, there are some things to look out for. First, make sure that you utilize as much of the information as possible to support your argument.  Also, make sure that your sample makes sense when you read it over. If you find yourself rambling too much, you know you’ll need to work on your diagramming to make your points more cogent before you start writing.

I always advise students to do each writing sample twice, once from one side, and once from the other. Why? Well, this also serves two purposes. First, you can get twice as much practice out of each scenario if you argue both sides. Secondly, you get better at analyzing arguments if you see both sides. This will inevitably help you when you need to perform on test day!

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