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Detailed exam pattern of LSAT
At the outset, let there be no doubt that the LSAT – India is distinctly different from the CLAT exam conducted for admission into law colleges and universities across India.
When we say different, we mean the methods and approaches to assess potential are far more superior. It is the most advanced and scientific evaluation that tests the aptitude of candidates. To begin with, this is a grueling test of reading and reasoning skills. It traverses nowhere in the direction of testing your rote-based learning. Whether you have the facts correct or equations bang-on makes no difference.
Sustained exposure to studies over the years should enrich students with critical thinking powers. It is based on the premise that critical skills form good intellectual infrastructure and these honed skills are crucial when it comes to studying a complex subject like Law.
Sharpened critical thinking skills can be developed in educational programmes in any part of the world because of its rigorous nature and refined quality. As a result, no prior training is required in any specific domain or a particular set of fields to perform well on this turf.
LSAT-India rejects much of what is prized as erudition in other law entrance exams in India. Remember, if you are game for a thrilling tryst, this test rewards candidates who possess generalized abilities that are fit to adapt to a variety of situations.
OPUS spells out the LSAT-India for you in minute detail so that you become aware that this test is organically different from what you expect to encounter in other law tests conducted in India. Your clinical preparation in tests like CLAT does not make you a fit candidate to try your luck on this platform. This should be clear in your mind before taking the plunge.
LSAT – India 2019 at a glance
Pearson VUE conducts LSAT-India 2019. It is an entrance examination to as many as 68 colleges for undergraduate study programs of law such as B.A. LLB, B.Com LLB, and B.Sc. LLB. LSAT – an offline pen and paper based examination with multiple choice questions – is scheduled to be held on 15th May 2019.
100 Questions in the examination have to be answered within 2 hours and 20 minutes. Question Paper carries four sections. Analytical reasoning, Logical reasoning I & II and Reading Comprehension. Each section consists of an equal number of questions: 25 in each section.
Skills matter
The LSAT—India, a test of reading and verbal reasoning skills designed by the US-based Law School Admission Council (LSAC), is meant for law schools in India. Developed by testing professionals with advanced degrees in psychometrics, English, linguistics, and logic, it follows the world-renowned LSAT®. Unlike other law exams created by ad hoc faculty bodies in India, the LSAT—India pattern rigorously follows prescribed specifications that remain unchanged every year. Each question undergoes multiple levels of review and a system of pre-testing. Candidates are sure that there is only one correct answer to each question.
Just have a look at the several advantages on offer. OPUS gives a wide view of the plus side.
The LSAT—India is suitable for those with developed critical thinking skills. No need to fret and fume about legal knowledge. Cast away your worries regarding draconian mathematics. No questions on general knowledge to make you sulk. No piece of grammatical baggage to burden you with. Well, it should be music to many ears.
OPUS gets inundated with queries from candidates who express their sorrow regarding mathematics and grammar. Their worries have been laid to rest. Exult, cheer, and celebrate. Here is a prestigious law entrance test that bypasses these areas. Jump at it and test your luck.
The LSAT—India splits critical thinking skills into three types: logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. As the first one is most predictive of success, there are two sections of logical reasoning. There is one section each of analytical reasoning and reading comprehension questions, which contribute to the predictive validity of the test.
Important to note in this regard is the absence of negative marking for guess work. Enjoy the absolute freedom to indulge in wild guesses as you are not assailed by the fear of losing a part of your hard-earned score. Correct answers increase the score but wrong answers do not take away anything from your total. OPUS advises you to attempt all questions even if you do not know all the correct answers. A couple of correct guesses might take you inside the hallowed portals of the law college of your dreams.
There is no particular order in which the sections on the LSAT-India appear. Nevertheless, it consists of analytical reasoning section, one reading comprehension, and two logical reasoning sections. There are some with four answer choices and others with five. Answers are collected in the scan-compatible answer sheet.
Interesting here to note there is no sectional break in the test. Each section is timed by invigilators and candidates are not allowed to return to the same section after its allotted time is over. No going back, no skipping a section to attempt the next one first. You cannot save time to use it in another lengthy section. These restrictions are not found in other law entrance tests like CLAT. But every test has some plus points and some downside as well. OPUS tells you to consider the pros and cons before taking a call.
Let us pore over the modus operandi of this test.
Analytical Reasoning Questions measure the ability to understand structural relationships and to infer logical conclusions about that structure. The aspirant has to reason deductively from a set of statements and rules or principles that describe relationships among persons, things, or events. Analytical Reasoning questions mirror the complex analyses every law student has to perform while solving legal entanglements. However, this remains the easiest section in comparison to others. It is like solving logical puzzles about arrangements and requires sufficient practice. The data provided in the questions is interlinked and lengthy. Making flowcharts or tables is required to solve the conundrum.
Logical Reasoning Questions assess the ability to analyze, critically evaluate, and wrap up arguments in simple language. Each Logical Reasoning question requires the candidate to comprehend a short passage and then answer a question. These are designed to assess a wide array of skills involved in critical thinking, with an emphasis on key skills for legal reasoning. These skills include arriving at well-supported conclusions, analogy-driven reasoning, determining how supplementary evidence alters an argument, applying principles or rules, and identifying loopholes in an argument. Questions asked in LSAT are based on topics like:
- Assumptions
- Conclusion
- Method of Argument
- Principle
- Point of Contention
- Role of Fact
- Flaw
- Paradox
- Parallel Structure
Reading Comprehension Questions measure the ability to read with insight, particularly the examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those faced in law school. This section comprises four sets of reading questions, each carrying a selection of reading material, followed by four to nine questions that investigate reading and reasoning skills.
LSAT scores accepted by top institutes
If you are preparing for CLAT and AILET exam, in addition to your local Law school entrance exams, then why do you need to undergo preparations for LSAT- India that calls for a different mindset? The answer is simple. Your LSAT score is accepted by leading Law Schools in the country like:
- Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law-IIT Kharagpur Law School
- Galgotia University Law School
- The Jindal Global Law School
- UPES Dehradun
- KLE Bangalore
- Greater Noida
- Amity Law School, Gurgaon
Before ending the discussion on LSAT –India, OPUS wishes to remind candidates to keep in mind the key areas of differences between this test and the others conducted in the country. The strategy here is quite different from what you employ for the other tests. Before taking a shot here, be aware of what you are likely to expect. If you are a strong advocate of critical thinking and that is also your forte, this could well be the solution to end the problems you have been facing till now. It rejects with the rote-based learning process that is so popular in India and shows the right path to groom oneself in the field of law.