It’s that time of year again: after an error-plagued preview in early April, with 80 (!) schools ranked incorrectly, US News has finally re-released their “correct” 2024-2025 law school rankings. In Episode 151, Dave and Jon break down the algorithm behind the rankings, sift through the biggest winners and losers as schools moved up and down the list, and offer insights into just how much weight you should give these standings as you decide where to attend!

With the April 2024 LSATs finally behind us, Jon and Dave are here with a full breakdown! In this episode they analyze all of the April test forms—domestic and international—revealing source tests and how well they match the Crystal Ball predictions (spoiler: nailed it), highlight the most notable content that featured each day, and finally provide a section-by-section scale matrix to help you determine the exact curve for your particular exam.

On July 31, LSAC will introduce a brand new LSAT Writing assessment, moving from the traditional “decision prompt” construction, to a far-more involved—and 15-minute longer—design that includes a real-world issue accompanied by multiple, outside perspectives on it, all up for debate. Candidates will then craft an essay that not only tackles the issue at hand, but also assesses at least one of the accompanying viewpoints. In Episode 149, Dave and Jon break down every detail!

In anticipation of the removal of Logic Games beginning with the August 2024 LSAT, the test makers have released 58 reconfigured practice tests on their LawHub prep platform that conform to the upcoming exam structure. In episode 148, Jon and Dave highlight the key updates, including how the new tests were built, what they contain, and the scoring scale adjustments that accompany them. Anyone prepping for August and beyond should give this a listen!

The February 2024 LSAT is officially over, giving Dave and Jon license to reveal everything you need to know about it. Tune in as they outline the scored and experimental sections used, general impressions of difficulty, and, as always, their scoring scale predictions for every section combination!

The January 2024 LSAT proved a colossal kickoff to the year, with roughly 20,000 people testing over four full days! And as always, Jon and Dave tracked every minute of it and have the full recap: from the domestic tests to the internationals, they cover every section breaking down what was scored and what was experimental, the origins of each reuse (including the accuracy of their latest Crystal Ball), and the expected curves based on the difficulty of each test combination.

2023 provided a host of LSAT milestones, from LSAC’s rocky new partnership with testing provider Prometric to the announcement that Logic Games were soon to be removed, and as tradition demands Dave and Jon are on scene to sum it all up. Kick off 2024 with them as they look back on the events of the past year, and offer insights into what the next 12 months have in store.

In Episode 144, Jon and Dave dig into our student mailbag once again, this time tackling questions focused on law school admissions. Tune in to hear them address graduate school credentials, how and when to write addenda, common character and fitness concerns, and a number of LSAT-related questions from the weight given to the test to how schools view multiple attempts to Score Preview and cancellations!

The last LSAT of 2023 has wrapped, and Dave and Jon have all the details! Tune in as they cover the November test week from start to finish, discussing the many scored and experimental sections, the relative difficulty of everything presented, their expectations for the various scoring scales, and—to top it all off—the accuracy of their predictions from their latest Crystal Ball webinar (spoiler: nailed it again).

Beginning with the August 2024 administration, the LSAT will no longer include an Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section, marking the most significant change to the test’s format in years. In Episode 142, Jon and Dave discuss this monumental transformation, explaining exactly what’s happening, how it will affect students and their prep, and what PowerScore has planned to help test takers capitalize on this seismic shift.

With the conclusion of the year’s second-to-last LSAT (and the first four-day administration ever), Dave and Jon are finally in the clear to discuss all the details. Tune in as they deconstruct a record-breaking number of scored sections—including both domestic and international exams—and provide scaling predictions for all 62 possible combinations, as well as updates to their latest Crystal Ball forecasts for November!

LSAC’s troubled proctoring partnership with ProMetric is once again under scrutiny, as October scheduling—where registrants select their test day and time—has been plagued by numerous issues for both in-person and remote LSATs. In Episode 140, Jon and Dave outline the causes behind the limited test center availability, inaccessible time slots, and hours-long registration queues, and offer guidance for future test takers desperate for a smoother experience.

With emotions running high after a disaster-plagued August administration, test takers were understandably anxious about how the September LSAT would go. Well we’re happy to report that not only was September a far smoother experience, but Dave and Jon were on the scene as always and have all the details you need: the content that was scored and unscored, the tests selected for reuse, and finally the anticipated scoring scales for each test combination!

Testing for the chaotic August LSAT has finally come to an end—after two long weeks and multiple days of make up exams—which means Jon and Dave are here at last to cover all the content! Tune in to hear them break down each of the 13 scored sections used, including what was real and what was experimental, where the sections originally appeared (and how well their Crystal Ball predictions fared), and as always scale predictions for every possible test combination.

The August LSAT has seen an unprecedented number of registrants unable to test as planned, as ProMetric (LSAC’s new test-delivery partner) repeatedly failed to provide the necessary proctoring support. In this episode, Dave and Jon give an overview of the countless problems, examine LSAC’s response thus far, and provide advice for making the most of what’s an objectively unfortunate situation. Anyone testing this year who could potentially face something similar should give this a listen!

In this special admissions episode, Jon and Dave focus on nontraditional applicants: essentially anyone whose resume doesn’t fit the “normal” model of law school in their early-20s, straight out of college. So whether you’re applying several years post-grad, or with a family in tow, or with motivations for pursuing a degree beyond the typical career in Biglaw, this episode will instruct you on exactly how to present your nontrad credentials in the most favorable, odds-improving way!

In Episode 135, Dave and Jon explore the often-overlooked international and make up LSATs given throughout the year, explaining who is eligible for each and exactly how those tests stack up against the more prominent domestic LSATs offered in the US and Canada. If you’re testing overseas, or curious about exam do-overs, give this episode a listen!

As the June 2023 LSAT comes to an end, Jon and Dave are here with the full breakdown! Tune in to hear their overview of student feedback and general difficulty, a section-by-section analysis of what was scored and what was experimental, and, as always, scale predictions for every test form—domestic and international—and what they mean for your results.

One of the most unexpected and misunderstood aspects of the LSAT is the test makers’ frequent reuse of previously-administered, nondisclosed exams. In Episode 133, Dave and Jon take a closer look at this practice by focusing on the repeated appearance of a particular RC passage from early 2009 all the way to its eventual public release in late 2022, examining both how the reuse process works, and the many benefits that come from understanding it.

After weeks of mixed messaging and false starts, US News has finally released its controversial 2024 law school rankings. In their latest episode, Jon and Dave break down this year’s revamped ranking metrics explaining what caused such volatility from top to bottom, and then run through the big winners and losers as schools moved up and down the list!

With the application cycle in full swing and admissions decisions finally finding their way to eager applicants, one topic on everyone’s mind is financial aid. In Episode 131, Dave and Jon cover the delicate process of scholarship reconsideration requests, highlighting the do’s and don’ts that can make all the difference when it comes to what you’re offered!

With the April 2023 LSAT finally behind us, Jon and Dave are checking in with all the details! In this episode they break down the April LSAT, reviewing its source tests and how well they match the Crystal Ball predictions, highlighting the most notable elements that featured each day, and finally offering a section-by-section scale matrix to help you determine the exact curve for your particular exam.

Episode 129 sees Dave and Jon fully explore LSAC’s recent announcement that an in-person testing option would once again be offered for the LSAT starting in August 2023! They break down exactly how this alternative testing format will work, the pros and cons of in-person vs at-home testing to help you decide which to choose, and even reveal which option they’d each pick if they were to take an upcoming exam. If you’re testing in August or later you won’t want to miss this!

In this special edition of their popular Student Mailbag series, Jon and Dave revisited their recent Crystal Ball webinar predicting the April and June LSATs to find student questions that they felt deserved some extra attention, and devoted Episode 128 to exploring those questions in full detail! Tune in as they address LSAT changes and section strategy, test retakes and international exams, and admissions concerns including security deposits and median scores.