Do I really need to spend $1200 on a Kaplan course?

[Cynicalsoul]

Help me. I have just begun a dilligent, six-month study session(no more than 10 hours a week because I work a grueling full-time job) for the September 2006 LSAT. I'm contemplating whether investing in a $1200 Kaplan preparation course will defeat the practicality of sticking to my LSAT study book--costing me no more than $20. My co-worker, who is a law-school graduate, says $1200 is a small investment into my aspirations, noting the Kaplan course is worth the money. However, I find that my Barron's study book provides thorough lessons and detailed explanations of test questions. I don't make a significant amount of money, and I would rather not spend over a thousand dollars on a test that costs $115.  I figured if I'm unhappy with my first score, I'll just take it again. What do you think I should do?

[almuhajaba]

have you taken an actual LSAT practice exam? How are you scoring?

If your self-prep is helping to raise your score into the range that you'd like, then don't take the Kaplan course. You're fine.

If you feel like you would like to do better than you are right now with just the self-prep, however, then take *a* course.

I, personally, would recommend Testmasters, Powerscore, or Blueprint over Kaplan though. I think the only real strength of Kaplan is that they have every released LSAT plus explanations so you can just sit there and take every single one of those exams if you feel like it. Other than that, everyone seems to rave over the instructors at Blueprint, Powerscore, and Testmasters.

good luck!

[krjs1908]

My answer is you certainly shouldn't spend $1200 on a Kaplan class.  If you find that you need to take a class.  I would strongly suggest Testmasters180 or Powerscore.  Kaplan and Princeton Review just aren't nearly what you need. 

[Osmosis1]

The main consensus on Kaplan is that it is better known as Craplan. Do not spend your money on prep tests.......yet. Go to this thread and pay attention to Sunfunliving's advice
http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/index.php/topic,55848.0.html
Now mind you, I am not replying to your thread to get you to purchase her study plan. I am pointing you to her advice. If you get a chance try to look at all if not most of her posts, they can give you enormous information. As for me I wish I had known about Sunfunliving's advice before dishing out over $1600 on a prep test and other books that weren't very helpful.
Main point here is per Sunfunliving's advice among others I have seen is: purchase Powerscore's Logic Games Bible and Logical Reasoning Bibe, LSAC's Superprep, and Nova's Master the LSAT. These books can be purchased via Amazon etc. If after all this you feel you can gain more knowledge then by all means take a prep course.
Good Luck!

[Groundhog]

The above posters are correct. You do not need a Kaplan class. If you do need a class, it should almost certainly be Testmasters or Powerscore.

[sunfunliving]

I most certainly agree with the above posters. I have seen the Kaplan books that are used for their classes and unless you are taking the $1,399 class, the expense is not worth it. You can easily self study for the LSAT, especially since you have enough time to prepare.

You need the following books:

1.   LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible-Powerscore, David M. Killoran, Powerscore, 2004, ISBN: 0972129618
   Price ranges from $20.00 used to $ 49.99 new

2.   The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible, David M. Killoran, Powerscore, 2005,
ISBN: 097212960X   
   Price ranges from $10.00 used to $ 41.99 new

3.   NOVA: Master the LSAT, Jeff Kolby, NOVA Press, 2005,
ISBN: 1889057312
   Price ranges from $7.50 used to $49.95 new

4.   The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Ultimate Setups Guide, Powerscore, 2005,
ISBN: None, Provides Setups for Tests #14 through #39
      Price ranges from $10.00 used to $ 24.99 new

5.   The Next 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests (Contains Prep tests 29 through 38), LSAC, 2004
ISBN: 0942639898
Price ranges from $9.50 used to $30.00 new

6.   The Official LSAT SuperPrep (Contains Prep Test from February 1996, February 1999 and February 2000 – with explanations), LSAC, 2004
ISBN: 0942639936
   Price ranges from $12.00 used to $28.00 new

7.   The following are individually published previously administered LSAT’s:

Prep Test 39 (December 2002), LSAC, ISBN
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 40 (June 2003), LSAC, ISBN
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 41 (October 2003), LSAC, ISBN: 0942639820
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 42 (December 2003), LSAC, ISBN: 0942639839
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 43 (June 2004), LSAC, ISBN: 0942639944
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 44 (October 2004) LSAC, ISBN: 0942639952
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 45 (December 2004), LSAC, ISBN: 0942639979
Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 46 (June 2005), LSAC, ISBN: 0976024527
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 47 (October 2005), LSAC, ISBN: 0976024535
         Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new

Prep Test 48 (December 2005), LSAC (Available January 2006)
   Price ranges from $3.00 used to $8.00 new


Please throw away that store bought book, it will not get you the results that you want. There are no classes that do a better job at explaining the Logical Reasoning and Games than the Powerscore books. Then you need to take lots of practice tests and review the tests.

Log onto www.lsac.org and click on "LSAT" from there you can download a previously administered LSAT test (#20). Take it under timed conditions and see how you do.

"If you answered 58 or less correctly, you would have received a score of 150 or below. If you fall in this range, you may want to consider taking more than two months to properly prepare for the LSAT. You need to learn most of the skills that encompass a successful LSAT scoring ability. Consider taking at least four months to prepare in order to get a score in the high 150’s and at least six months to prepare in order to get a score in the low to mid 160’s. If you are serious about getting a score in the high 160’s and low 170’s, you will need to at least study for six to nine months. The good news is that the LSAT is a completely learnable test. (Please also read and follow the advice for the 151-155 score range.)

If you answered between 59 to 67 answers correctly you would have received a score between 151 and 155. If your practice score falls in this range, you are in pretty good shape. Ask yourself if the score was because you were not able to finish the test? Or did you finish the test and the score is this low because you rushed through the questions? It is really important to analyze your score and why you received the score you did receive. If you did not have enough time to finish, complete the rest of the questions now, untimed and rescore your test.

If you found that you ran out of time, but you scored in the 156-160 range once you completed the questions that you did not get to answer, then you are in good shape. You will be able to achieve a higher score by consistently taking timed practice tests and you should be able to complete your studies in two months. If you are aiming for a score in the mid 160’s, you should give yourself at least four months to study.
If you answered between 67 to 75 correctly, you would have received a score between 156 and 160. If your practice score falls in this range, you are in good shape. Same as for the lower scored advice above, ask yourself if the score was because you were not able to finish the test? Or did you finish the test and the score is this low because you rushed through the questions? It is really important to analyze your score and why you received the score you did receive. If you did not have enough time to finish, complete the rest of the questions now, untimed and rescore your test.

If you found that you ran out of time, but you scored in the 161-165 range once you completed the questions that you did not get to answer, then you are in good shape. You will be able to achieve a higher score by consistently taking timed practice tests and you should be able to complete your studies in two months. If you are aiming for a score in the above 170, you should give yourself at least four months to study.

If you answered between 76 and 83 correctly, you would have received a score between 161 and 165. If your practice score falls in this range, you are in very good shape. Same as for the lower scored advice above, ask yourself if the score was because you were not able to finish the test? Or did you finish the test and the score is this low because you rushed through the questions? It is really important to analyze your score and why you received the score you did receive. If you did not have enough time to finish, complete the rest of the questions now, untimed and rescore your test.

If you found that you ran out of time, but you scored in the 165-170 range once you completed the questions that you did not get to answer, then you are in good shape. You will be able to achieve a higher score by consistently taking timed practice tests and you should be able to complete your studies in two months.

If you answered between 84 and 89 correctly, you would have received a score between 166 and 170. You are in great shape! For the next two months take the practice tests under timed conditions and study the LR question types that are giving you some “trouble”, do the same for the game section and take some timed reading sections. Take a few more practice tests to ensure that your score are an accurate reflection of what your score from this test and not just a “fluke”.


If you answered between 90 and 101 correctly, you would have received a score above 170 to 180. – You won’t need this guide, just take a few more practice tests to ensure that your score are an accurate reflection of what your score from this test and not just a “fluke”.

Be aware that the LSAT scores are based on a bell-shaped curve. Approximately 50 percent of all LSAT takers score below 150 and the other approximately 50 percent of all LSAT takers score above 150. The majority of LSAT takers score between 145 and 155.

Please Note! In recent tests, the scoring scale seems to have gotten a bit tougher. For example the number of correct answers needed to score a 170 may have been 87 correct questions in older tests, yet on the more recent tests, 87 correct answers would have resulted in a score of 166." (from my study guide)

If you do not have the self discipline to study on your own and feel that you need a class format for that reason, then go ahead and sign up for a class, either Powerscore, Blueprint (if you are in California) or Testmasters.

Hope this helps.

Vera
 

[rhythmbomb]

I think if the course (not necessarily Kaplan) gets you 2 or 3 more points than you would get without it, then it's totally worth it.  With a good course and instructor you can't go wrong.  $1,200 is nothing considering what's at stake... where you get in, scholarships, your career, etc.  Hell, 2 or 3 points could be worth tens of thousands of dollars just in scholarships!

[rhythmbomb]

What will really tell you are your practice tests... we're all different.

[krjs1908]

I can't stress enough that self study is only an option IF you KNOW you are self-disciplined enough to really put in the effort to make it work for you.  One must really do some soul searching to determine that.  How easy is it for those who were successful at it to say... "just self study...I did and it worked for me."  So, for that some people think they can do the same.  

Many times it isn't the most viable option.  Those who self study also can't really weigh in on how much taking a Powerscore or Testmasters class actually can help because they never had the benefit of an instructor.  Don't underestimate the actual difference this makes.  You have the benefit of someone to ask questions to and get feedback from.  The instructors are highly qualified given the hiring requirement of scoring in the 99th percentile for TM and PS.  Testmasters180 offers a student helpline (you are generally limited in how much time they'll spend with you...but is an option)....you have an extra 30 minutes prior to class to ask questions....you never have these options on your own.  You have to go in search for answers on your own.  I'm not knocking those that can do self-study and have great results.  I wish I could have done that.  But for me....I realistically couldn't do it all on my own.  The class route was great!

[Futboller]

It is true that many people here hate Kaplan. However I had read success stories with it. As other posters pointed out I am not self disciplined enough to study on my own, which is why I enrolled in a Kaplan course starting March 18th.

From what I've read Kaplan has changed over the years. They didn't always use real LSAT's, they now do. I am not discouraged about the negative feedback from former Kaplan users. All I know is that with continued practice in addition to attending the classes, I feel that the results will be promising. It's what you make of it really, if you hardly attend the classes, and never do the HW, of course you will not improve. I prefer the optimistic approach.