148 to 171: Ryan’s LSAT Success Story

Ryan, an LSAT Demon student, achieved a significant jump in his LSAT score, improving from a diagnostic score of 148 to an impressive 171. 

We recently interviewed Ryan for the LSAT Demon Daily podcast. You can find Ryan’s story, including how he altered his approach to achieve a 23-point score increase, in this article. 

Ryan’s Story

Ryan’s LSAT journey began in March 2023, during his final year of undergrad, when he took his first LSAT diagnostic and scored 148. He wasn’t satisfied with this score and started to study seriously. 

It wasn’t until he started listening to LSAT Demon podcasts that he found a method that resonated with him, and eventually switched to LSAT Demon for focused test prep.

First Official LSAT Attempts

Ryan's first official LSAT attempt was in August 2023, where he scored 154, followed by a 158 in September. Both scores fell short of his expectations, as his practice tests indicated he had more potential. 

He identified that his problem on test day was overthinking and going too slowly, particularly during the Logical Reasoning sections. Ryan described how focusing too much on eliminating wrong answers led to second-guessing and slowing down, which hurt his overall performance, a common test-taking mistake. 

Reassessing His Approach to LSAT Study

After these initial scores, Ryan decided to take a step back and reassess his approach. He implemented a long-term study plan. He took full practice tests every other weekend and focused on taking timed sections and reviewing them during the week. By integrating study into his daily life, such as using his lunch break for targeted practice, he found a rhythm that worked well for him. Ryan has sat for the LSAT seven times, although two of those attempts were disrupted by technical issues and led to retakes. 

Achieving a 171

Despite the setbacks, Ryan remained focused. By his fourth test, he achieved a 171 and the score made him reconsider whether to take another test. He decided on a fifth attempt before the application cycle began.

Consistency is Key

Ryan attributed his consistent practice, especially his approach to Reading Comprehension, to his score improvements. Initially, he thought Reading Comprehension was his strength, but his cold diagnostic was a fluke. It took almost a year of regular daily practice to bring his Reading Comprehension to the level needed for success. By doing at least one passage a day, he became more comfortable with the material, eventually learning to enjoy Reading Comprehension.

Takeaway

For students in the midst of their LSAT prep, Ryan's advice is simple: accept that scores will vary, but with consistent effort, progress will come.