From LSAT Struggle to Triumph: A PowerScore Success Story

Written by former PowerScore student, Marvin Dike

What I've Learned

Many of the things I’ve learned took me 2 months to fully grasp. Many sleepless nights, many days forgetting to eat, hours reading blogs and doing research, many missed questions and overlooked assumptions. Let my pain and agony be the shining light in your path. I absolutely believe that the LSAT is learnable.  You can master it. Everyone has a different situation. You may be working, in school, or have kids. Some of you are dealing with all three! Even with obstacles that exist in everyday life, I absolutely believe there’s a path for everyone to master this test. You just have to approach this right and be efficient with your time. 

Humble Beginnings

When I first walked into the PowerScore class, I knew nothing about the LSAT. Seriously, at the time I couldn’t even tell you what the LSAT stood for and I certainly didn’t know what it tested. For all I knew, the test was just different variations of tick tack toe and crossword puzzles. I got a 147 on the diagnostic exam but, I didn’t put too much stock in that score. It just meant that I could only go up. As of June 2017, my high score is a 166. My last 9 practice tests are hovering in the 161-166 range. My target score is a 170 and I still have about 3 months to fully prepare for the September LSAT. You may not need that high of a score, though! So, do your research and see what your chances are with your GPA and potential LSAT score. 

Be an Open-Minded Sponge

For me, my journey started with walking into the prep course with the assumption that I knew nothing. I went with the mindset that I was there to learn and absorb as much as I could. I was there because I wanted to be there. My ego was left at the door and went in with the goal of maxing out my time and money. I was a sponge, soaking up everything. 

It’s risky to prep for the test with a fixed date on when you want to go to law school and/or take the LSAT. The test doesn’t care about your life plans. It will expose your weaknesses if you aren’t prepared. Be open about when you will take the test! This leaves room for the proper chance to master the material and get your target score.  

An Ah-Ha! Moment

It doesn’t matter how hard you’re working if you’re working wrong. A coach once told me that he’d rather me swing the bat correctly one time vs swinging the bat wrong 100 times. What’s the point of practicing if you aren’t practicing right? During a practice test evaluation, I had a eureka moment. This happened maybe 8 weeks after I watched one of Dave Killoran’s videos. At some point in the video, he said that all LSAT’s are essentially the same. Why? Because if you have a wide variance in test difficulty, you can’t properly compare scores. So, the tests have to be similar to ensure they can be properly compared across the board. The LSAT makers need a certain distribution of scores. 

Think of a bell curve and the ideal distribution that a bell curve wants. LSAT makers need the median test taker to fall in the low 150’s. It needs another small outlier of test-takers to fall in the 145 and below range. By proxy, it also needs people in the 170’s range. The LSAT makers do not want a huge distribution of scores too far to the left or right of the median. Why is this important? Because it means the LSAT has to have a certain number of hard-difficulty, medium-difficulty, and easy-difficulty questions. After figuring that out, looked at my test scores again and the analytics behind it. Like clockwork, all of my tests were the same story. I got 95% of the easy questions right, 50/50 on the medium-difficulty questions, and only 10% of the hard questions. 

Adjust Accordingly

It killed me knowing I was the guinea pig the LSAT feeds off of. I was getting the questions right that they wanted me to get right and vice versa. I was the poster child for the LSAT sucker. But, I’ll say it again. LSAC needs people scoring in the 170’s. As crazy and diabolical as the LSAT makers are, they reward the elite for picking up on their clues. They’re willing to reward you for having certain skills in each section. They’re willing because they need the elite to get them right. 

Don't Forget to Take a Breather

Someone recently asked me how long I study each day and whether I take a day off. Breaks are important, so here’s what I do. After studying about 2 hours straight, I’ll watch a few random videos on YouTube, dribble my basketball, anything. I take breaks at random. My studies aren’t 8-10 hours nonstop. Not at all. In fact, when I was originally doing that, I found it was counter-productive. I make sure I have one light day a week. Normally, it’s on Sunday. Saturday is almost always a test day. 

I took a week-long break a few weeks ago where every day was a light day and it’s helped refresh me so much! This test isn’t just a test of facts and memory. It’s not something you can “figure out.” It’s a test that needs you to develop a way of thinking. You need to develop a way to approach things that are different than our everyday interactions and assumptions. For this to cultivate, it needs time and practice. But you also need time away. You need time for this stuff to marinate and become second nature. 

The length of time off varies of course because if you’re only giving yourself 5 months, your window for time off is smaller than someone studying for 10 (like me). You have to listen to your mind when it’s telling you it’s had enough or when you’re not able to focus. For those of you with heavier obligations during the week, dedicate Saturday as your heaviest day of the week. Prep for 10-12 if you can stand it. Let Sunday be your light day of maybe 2 hours. 

Test Day Motivation and Reflections

During my test, when everything was going well, I felt so blessed. Blessed that I had found something I’m passionate about and pursuing. Blessed for the motivation and discipline to work as hard as I did. I’m grateful for being able to learn so much about myself during this process and to have the support group I had. I felt fortunate to have the opportunity to build the relationship I did with Dave Killoran, who wrote the PowerScore Bibles and LSAT Courses. I was just one step closer to fulfilling my dream. There was a time in the past that I didn’t know where my life was going. It’s surreal to look back on that point and compare it. 

One factor that kept me motivated was the idea that going to law school and getting my JD was bigger than me. I have younger cousins that look up to me. My family has sacrificed so much throughout my life and supported me. I owe it to myself to give this my all because I didn’t in undergrad. I owe it to the young boys I mentor at the Boys and Girls Club who don’t have anyone else to emulate or confide in. All of that keeps me going. I’m okay with the pressure of these expectations. Growing up, I was the kid who wanted the ball in his hands when the game was on the line, I wanted to be batting in the last inning when it was sink or swim. Pressure bursts pipes, but pressure also makes diamonds. I prefer to operate with the latter mindset.