153 to 177: Levi’s LSAT Success Story

On this episode of LSAT Demon Daily, Erik Johanson and LSAT Demon Student Levi discussed how he achieved a 177 on his first official LSAT. Here’s how Levi went from a 153 on his cold diagnostic to a 177 on the official LSAT—and his best tips for LSAT students just getting started.

Getting Started

Levi began his LSAT journey in December of 2023 with a diagnostic score of 153. Levi fully committed to improving at the LSAT, and started studying with LSAT Demon. He set a high goal of scoring 175 or better and got to work. Levi’s commitment to excellence in not only his final goal but also in his daily prep was the key to his success.

Consistency Over Cramming

Rather than spending long, exhausting days on LSAT prep, Levi found that a more sustainable approach worked best. He settled on a routine of studying for three to four hours a day, six days a week. This structure allowed for consistent progress without leading to burnout.

Occasionally, Levi attempted marathon study sessions, only to find that they left him mentally drained. He quickly returned to his more balanced schedule, which became the cornerstone of his preparation.Three hours daily is more than enough. We’ve seen students succeed by following our one-hour LSAT study plan.

Falling in Love with Logical Reasoning

Levi’s love for the LSAT really blossomed when he dove into Logical Reasoning (LR). Logical Reasoning quickly became Levi’s favorite section. He approached each question like a mini puzzle, enjoying the challenge of identifying flaws, assumptions, and inferences. Levi emphasized that engaging deeply with each sentence in the stimulus was a turning point in his understanding.

He noted that active reading—reacting to each sentence as it’s presented—was a key breakthrough. This approach allowed him to predict answers with greater accuracy. Levi explained: “I had this ’aha!’ moment where I realized I wasn’t actually engaging with what I was reading. You have to react to every sentence, not just wait until the end to start thinking about it.” 

Breakthroughs in Reading Comprehension

Even though Levi’s initial diagnostic showed strength in Reading Comprehension (RC), he still had to improve to get his goal score. His progress in RC echoed the lessons he learned in LR: engage deeply with the material, sentence by sentence. As Levi put it: “I remember seeing an LSAT Demon video that said, ’Don’t just read and hope it clicks.’ You’ve got to stop, digest the confusing sentences, and understand why they’re there.” 

Focusing on understanding the passage helped Levi identify the broader purpose of each paragraph. Understanding each sentence’s role in the author’s argument often provided enough clarity to push through tricky RC passages, even when some jargon or dense academic phrasing threw him off.

Overcoming Test-Day Nerves

Unsurprisingly, even with all his prep, Levi didn’t feel completely zen leading up to test day. “I was super nervous,”  he admitted. “I had put in hundreds and hundreds of hours, and it was finally time.”  But Levi had a strong support system in place—specifically, LSAT Demon’s meditation exercises—which helped him ground himself before diving into the test.

Once he got started, Levi’s consistent practice allowed him to quickly find his rhythm. After a few moments of initial nerves, the test felt no different from a regular practice session. Levi’s message to those nervous about taking the official LSAT: The real test is just like any other practice test. All the skills you’ve developed apply, and there are no surprises once you sit down and face the questions.

Levi’s Advice for LSAT Students

Levi is quick to offer up his best piece of advice for anyone currently studying for the LSAT: start with LSAT Demon’s Start Here lesson. That specific lesson teaches foundational principles like focusing on accuracy over speed, setting up a consistent study schedule, and not falling into the trap of taking too many practice tests without carefully reviewing mistakes. Levi attributes much of his success to internalizing and living by these foundational concepts.

Takeaway

Levi’s LSAT journey is a testament to the power of consistency, strategy, and falling in love with the process. Starting with a diagnostic score of 153, Levi committed himself to honing accuracy first, following a sustainable and structured study routine, and—most importantly—learning to enjoy the process of solving LSAT puzzles.

Preparation and mindset are the real keys here. As Levi put it, “At the end of the day, the goal is to make the questions feel easy and intuitive. If you’re trying to overthink everything and make it hard, you’re going to burn yourself out.”