155 to 180: Brandon’s LSAT Success Story

Brandon, an LSAT Demon teacher, achieved an impressive leap in his LSAT score from a 155 diagnostic to a perfect 180 on his official LSAT. 

We had the chance to interview Brandon on an October 2024 episode of the LSAT Demon Daily podcast. Here, we’re sharing his key insights to help you achieve your best possible score. 

Building the Right Mindset

Brandon emphasizes the importance of mindset when tackling the LSAT. As a seasoned teacher, he began his LSAT studies by setting ambitious goals, aiming for a 180 score from the start. This wasn't just about pushing himself academically; it was about applying the same high standards he set for his students to himself. 

In his teaching career, Brandon frequently encouraged his students to aim high, even if the path looked challenging. He carried that mindset into his LSAT studies.

If you’re studying for the LSAT, having high standards can be transformative. The LSAT doesn’t only test your skills; it’s also a test of focus, resilience, and consistent self-belief. Starting your preparation with a clear goal in mind and committing to reaching it can make a world of difference.

Brandon’s Study Approach

Brandon’s background in teaching high school science and standardized test preparation helped him understand the value of positivity and resilience. He learned that confidence and optimism were essential tools for himself and his students. He then applied these tools in his LSAT preparation.

If you don’t have a teaching background, you can still consider the benefits of approaching the LSAT as an educator would. Take a positive approach, stay focused on incremental progress, and trust that putting in consistent effort will help you to improve significantly over time.

Reaching 180

By the time Brandon took his third official LSAT, he felt fully prepared, and he reached his goal of a perfect 180. 

His experience shows that LSAT success is about more than just knowledge; it’s about setting up the right approach, and sustaining the right energy by practicing positivity, self-belief, and holding onto high standards. 

The Power of Prediction

Brandon emphasizes the role of predictions in LSAT success. When you start with a clear sense of what the correct answer should look like, you can more easily identify incorrect answer choices. 

Through repetition and practice, he became proficient at predicting answer choices. Once you develop this skill, you can tackle questions with greater accuracy and speed.

Focused Reading

One of the biggest milestones Brandon encountered was learning to read with complete, undivided attention. Training himself to absorb every sentence fully was a turning point in his RC preparation. This helped him recognize answer choices that didn’t align precisely with the text, allowing him to improve his accuracy significantly.

Brandon experimented with various strategies early in his LSAT journey, like diagramming in LR and taking notes in RC. However, he found these strategies to be overcomplicated and ineffective.

Rather than overcomplicating the process, he focused on understanding the passage’s language and logic directly. This straightforward approach worked best for recognizing answer choices that deviated from the core conclusion. Now, he teaches his students at LSAT Demon how to do the same.

Embrace the Long Haul

Brandon’s final piece of advice was to treat LSAT preparation as a long-term commitment, especially if you’re aiming for a significant score increase. 

He recommends that you create a realistic, sustained study plan, whether that means studying one hour a day over several months or finding a different schedule that works. He also emphasizes the importance of resources like LSAT Demon for structuring an effective study routine, noting that even if test prep feels like an investment, the potential for scholarships and reduced debt makes it worthwhile.

Study with Brandon

For anyone seeking further guidance, Brandon offers free motivation classes and beginner-level Reading Comprehension sessions to help students build a strong foundation.