Free explanations for LSAT PrepTests, by LSATHacks. These explanations cover Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, with explanations for both the right answers and wrong answers.
Get the explanations that should have come with the LSAT. Scroll to find the preptest you’re working on. Good luck! You can find LSAT answer keys within the explanations for each test.
Additional Resources
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FAQ: Please also see the FAQ for more info and legacy explanations for the prior format.
Free Explanations for Preptests 101-158
Legacy Format LSAT Explanations
These preptests are some of the 22 preptests which LSAC did not convert to the new format. You can find these tests via licensees for additional practice. The full list of unconverted preptests is as follows: PTs 1-18, 21, 23, PT A, Feb 1997 LSAT
LSAT Explanations FAQ
How should I use the explanations
Ideally you should review the questions on your own first. Then, have a look at explanations for questions you had trouble with. You can also use them in a few other ways:
- Do a drillset of a certain question type, then read the explanation for every question. This will
How do I navigate the explanations?
There’s a few ways to get around the preptests:
- Each explanation has a link back to the preptest at the bottom.
- You can use the quickjump tool at the bottom of an explanation to reach a specific explanation
- You can use the LSATHacks preptest converter to reach any explanation
Also if you google “LSATHacks preptest 101” or “LSATHacks [first few words of the question]” you’ll easily find the preptest or question.
Why are some explanations numbered PT 101-158 and others numbered 2-23
Pts 101-158 are the numbers for the current format of the LSAT, which has 2 LR, 1 RC and one unscored section. Back when the LSAT had logic games, the preptests were instead numbered from 1-94.
When LSAC converted its tests to the current format, it left 22 preptest unconverted. These are valuable sources of extra questions you can use if you run out of material. You can access them via licensees, and we have explanations for many of these preptests in the legacy explanations section at the bottom of this page. The full list of unconverted PTs is as follows:
- Preptests 1-18
- Preptests 21 and 23
- Preptest A
- February 1997 LSAT
I’ve been using preptests in the legacy format. Do you have explanations for those?
You can find all the legacy format explanations on this page. They still have the logic games explanations.
Why are some explanations members’ only, and how do I access them?
A small number of questions are members’ only, as we don’t have the rights to display them publicly. You can get them as part the LSATHacks Ultimate Bundle or as part of LSATHacks Extra Explanations.
Why do some preptests only have explanations for a few sections?
Blank sections mean we didn’t write explanations for that section yet. There are currently about 7500 LSAT questions. We have explanations for around 4700 questions, which is well over a million words of writing.
We’re working on writing the remainder. Please leave comment on the page for a preptest if there’s a particular question you’d like to see explained.
Roya:
This is the kind of test you have to develop a certain kind of natural instinct for the test. If I run into a choice that my gut feeling tells me is the right answer I immediately go for it and move on. Imagine all the tremendous precious seconds you can gain by skipping through the rest of the answer choices and moving on to the next questions. These seconds quickly add up over the length of the test, giving you that life saving time you need to kill and attack the harder, much lengthier questions. What makes the test so hard is not necessarily so much the content, but really the pressed timing combined with the large scope of the exam. If you develop a natural instinct for picking the right answer, you will immediately recognize which answer choices are correct and which ones are traps. In many types of questions, such as Flaw and Assumption Type questions, it is worth to take a brief 4 seconds to prephrase a possible answer choice in your mind before you move on to the choices. Many times, you save yourself a great deal of time by prephrasing an answer to these types of questions rather than going right ahead to the choices (blindly) and easily being fooled by the meticulously engineered choices crafted by the test makers and losing a great deal of valuable time in the process.
I always knew about your website but I never really read the explanations. Today I opened an explanation on preptest 73 for one question and I already learned something I haven’t learned from all the other companies over the year that I have been studying for the lsat, which is probably going to save me another minute on the test. You are amazing and a life saver, continue doing what you do!!!
That’s so great, thank you :)
I have a general question. Do you suggest we go through all the answer choices? how did you do it? I have been studying since June 2014 and I suck horribly with timing. People tell me it’s a waste of time going through all the answer choices, but I have grown the habit of reading all the answer choices before picking the right one (I work from wrong-to-right). My prep-course, the books, and the blogs I read say that we need to read all the answer choices…isn’t this time consuming especially when you know you have the right answer?
Hi Graeme,
I have just recently found your site and I am so glad I did. I’ve gone through the recommended studying for the Lawschooli schedule for the Oct. test and am finding myself dropping. Not sure if it is my attention, lack of focus, or nervousness, but your site is helping me dig back up. Your work dovetails so nicely with Mike Kim’s LSAT Trainer, I think you are both brilliant. And I am so glad you are using your powers for good! So, thank you.
Have a great day,
Caryn
Hi, thanks for the explanations! They are really helpful.
Can I ask whether you are still going to upload the explanations for 19-28?
Did you say you sell them in Cambridge LSAT? Which explanations is yours at Cambridge LSAT?
Actually, they are pretty old tests, I know it’s still worth doing, but do you think it is necessary to do those tests?
(If not-if it’s just for extra practice,I’m thinking to just focus on recent ones…)
Thanks and looking for your explanations from 39-61 as well :)
I will eventually. Working on another project for the site right now. I do have a version of them on sale at Cambridge, I think. I know LSAT Blog sells my 19-28 explanations. I need to proofread/format them, which is why they’re not up here yet.
The tests are still useful. Three main uses:
1. Extra sections to use for five section practice tests.
2. Drilling of specific question types, or extra material for RC
3. Extra PTs for those who ran through the rest and need timed material. (It’ll be a bit off, but still useful)
4. Logic games. The newer LSATs have been including “unusual” games. Doing some of the older games will get you used to games that use the same principles but have the same format.
Hi, thanks for the reply!
Just want to double check…so the explanations for 19-28 at Cambridge LSAT is not yours right?
Since you write explanations…do you notice any tendency changes in LG, RC, and LR such as since PT 50?
I feel like LR becomes trickier…
Thanks,
They’re mine at Cambridge, I checked. The author is listed.
LG has started having less upfront deductions, and increasing just tests your ability to organize and remember the rules. Clear diagams are a must.
There are changes in LR and RC, but I can’t say exactly what they are. They’re too subtle for me to put words to.
Thanks for your explanations, they’re great! I’m currently taking Testmasters but still am having difficulty with the strengthening questions. Do you have any tips for that at all?
1. Identify the reasoning and conclusion
2. Ask “how could this be wrong?” This will let you identify the flaw. (known as prephrasing)
3. Look for an answer that helps fix the flaw. (Note that it might not match your prephrase. There are sometimes multiple flaws.
4. Interpret vague answers at their weakest. E.g. if an answer says “Some americans like pizza” assume it refers to one guy in Arkansas. If that weak version *still* strengthens the argument then it’s the right answer.
Your explanations are amazing. Really appreciate it!!!!
I really like your explainations. Where can i purchase your explanations for any or all of PT 39-61?
I haven’t written them yet unfortunately. I’m working on 52-61 right now, but it will take a while. My explanations for 75 will be out in early July after the test is released.
Hi Graeme
I used to completed my tertiary education almost twenty years ago. Most of the people in my age group will think about their retirement plan.
Instead, I have currently determined to further my study in legal aspect because what I found only by enhancing my legal knowledge can enable me to better served for several not-for-profit organizations. I hope I could help to minimizing its operational costs in terms of legal charges/ consultancy fee and protect them from encountering any unexpectedly legal matters.
I have to admitted that it is rather tough for me to study and fully understand the logical contents of the LSAT. But with your help, I believe I can make it.
Therefore, I deeply appreciate your effort in explaining the essence of those prior tests.
Thank you very much
Jennie
That’s great Jennie – never stop learning :) I hope you’re able to help others with legal knowledge. Glad my site’s helped.
I really appreciate this. Thank you.
Thanks :) Glad to help!
Hi Grame,
Thank you so much for putting up the explanations. I was wondering on the status of the explanations for 19-28. Any chance they’ll be put up this month or the next (possibly before the June Lsat)? Please let me know.
Thanks!
Could be a while, I’m working on another project first. I do have a version for sale on LSAT Blog and Cambridge LSAT, so you could buy them in PDF there.
The reason I haven’t posted them here is that they were an early effort and I need to proofread them again + update them before making the free version. It takes a lot of work posting them on the site so I want to make sure they’re the final version first.