July 25, 2019

Kaplan Test Prep Surveys the First Takers of the Digital LSAT®: High Marks for Technology, More Mixed on Overall Difficulty

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep

New York, NY (July 24, 2019) — The inaugural administration of the digital LSAT is in the books and Kaplan Test Prep, which has been preparing aspiring lawyers for the transition since it was announced last year, has polled the first test takers on their experiences. Based on a survey of 118 Kaplan students who took the LSAT in its new format (half of test takers that day were assigned to take the exam in its now retired paper-and-pencil format), 37 percent say the overall difficulty of the digital exam was easier than they anticipated; 32 percent say it was harder than they anticipated; and 31 percent say it was about what they anticipated*.

While those results are somewhat mixed, digital LSAT takers were more conclusive when specifically asked about technological aspects of the exam like touch-activated page turning, stylus functionality, and time keeping. Seventeen percent rate this experience as “very good’; 36 percent describe it as “good”; 30 percent call it “fair”; 14 percent, “poor”; and 3 percent say it is “very poor.”

While marks were generally positive for technology, some students called out specific challenges they faced. The most commonly cited issue was with the stylus, with one student saying, “The only thing that was really annoying was the highlighting/underlining interface. I kept underlining or highlighting things that I didn’t mean to, or undoing my earlier annotations when I accidentally highlighted more than I needed to. It was hard to control how much I was highlighting and time consuming to highlight individual words or select phrases.” Other students also described the stylus as “sensitive.”

According to the Law School Admission Council, the makers of the LSAT, over 99 percent of test takers who were registered at digital test centers were able to complete the July exam. The test makers says it “won’t be satisfied until that number is 100%.” At two digital testing sites, both in Florida, the exam had to be rescheduled because of tablet-related issues.

“There is always some uncertainty with a test change of this magnitude, which explains why 58 percent of our students overall were hoping to take the exam in its now defunct paper-and-pencil format. Overall, our students cited they were well-prepared with the practice and instruction we provided them and they largely faced the changes in stride. We know the test maker is listening to what pre-law students are saying and we’re confident they will make some adjustments to give students an even more seamless test taking experience,” said Anthony Coloca, director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The next LSAT, which will be given in September, will only be administered in a digital format, so students will face no uncertainty about what they’ll encounter. At Kaplan, we will continue to prepare students for Test Day with up-to-date, realistic practice materials that will make them feel confident and ready for the new digital format.”

For more information about the survey and test change, contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The e-survey was conducted in July 2019 and includes responses from 118 students who prepared for the LSAT with a Kaplan course and were assigned to take the digital LSAT. Percentages were rounded up to the nearest whole number.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of Law School Admission Council, Inc. which does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 200 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Among those tests are the SAT®, PSAT®, ACT®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep

New York, NY (July 8, 2019) — The LSAT, the most widely taken admissions exam to get into law school, is just days away from its biggest change in decades. Beginning July 15, the exam begins its transition from a paper-and-pencil format to a digital and mobile interface, on a tablet. For the July administration, upon arrival, approximately half of test takers will be assigned to take the exam on a tablet, while half will take it using paper-and-pencil; but beginning in September every student will take it on a tablet.

Kaplan Test Prep has released a free downloadable 25-page e-book outlining everything test-takers need to know about the digital test, including a walkthrough of the new testing interface. Below are some must-knows and best strategies:

To Scratch or Not to Scratch: For the paper-and-pencil LSAT, test takers are not given any scratch paper — all scratch work is done in the test booklet — and are barred from bringing any to the test site. Now, each test taker will be provided with a booklet of blank paper (you still may not bring any from outside the test site) along with the digital tablet. It will be important for digital LSAT takers to practice taking notes and drawing Logic Games sketches on paper separate from the test questions. As you’re practicing, think about details such as where you want to keep the tablet and scratch paper on the desk as you work.
No More Bubbling: On the paper-and-pencil LSAT, test takers could circle or cross-out answers in the test booklet, but you did not get credit for an answer unless you accurately bubbled it on the answer grid. In the digital interface, your only concern is clicking on the correct answer. If the correct answer for Question 2 is (E), all you have to do is click (E) to the left of the answer choice. The tablet will record your answer choice for each question, making mis-bubbling a thing of the past.
Flagging It: The digital LSAT has a FLAG tool that allows test takers to note questions to which you want to return, time permitting. Get used to flagging questions you skip and those for which you choose an answer but want to reconsider or review. In combination with the new functionality allowing you to grey out and eliminate answers, including collapsing answers you know you can safely eliminate, narrowing down your answer choices with visual cues becomes easier. Plus, while on the paper test you couldn’t “un-highlight” a sentence or “uncross” an answer choice, the tablet interface and stylus make this process simple and reversible.
Timing is Everything: On the digital LSAT, the proctor will tell you to get ready for a section to begin, and then they will press a button that starts the section for all of the tablets in the room. When five minutes remain in the section, test takers will see a pop-up alerting you to time remaining. You will not be able to proceed in the section until you actively close the 5-minute-warning pop-up. From that point until the end of the section, you will not be able to hide the countdown timer. When you have less than five minutes remaining in a section, take a moment to click an answer (even if it’s a guess) to each unanswered question you have remaining. Check your flagged questions to decide which you want to go back to review in the time remaining.

Anthony Coloca, Kaplan Test Prep’s director of pre-law programs notes that just as important as what is changing on the LSAT this month is what’s not changing: “The LSAT’s sections and questions will stay the same, save for the LSAT Writing Sample which you’ll now take on your own from home. Since July test takers will not know which format they will take the exam in until they show up on Test Day, it’s important for everyone to be equipped with digital test-taking strategies.”

One added bonus: for the July exam only, regardless of format taken, test takers will have the opportunity to see their score before they decide whether to cancel it. Those who decide to cancel can choose to retake the test again through April 2020 free of charge. July LSAT scores will be released on August 28.

For more information about the test change, journalists can contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of Law School Admission Council, Inc. which does not review or endorse specific test preparation materials or services.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 200 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Among those tests are the SAT®, PSAT®, ACT®, GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN® and bar exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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