How Answer Prediction Can Help You Score Higher on the LSAT

However, this isn’t a skill that comes naturally to most students. When starting out, predictions may feel clumsy or inaccurate. But over time—and with consistent practice—this skill sharpens and becomes second nature.

As one expert noted:
“If you’re not predicting answer choices, you’re not truly studying for the LSAT.”

Predicting answers isn’t just about getting the right answer immediately; it’s about understanding how test makers think and learning how to navigate their traps.

The Learning Curve: Why Predicting Feels Hard at First

When first attempting to predict answers, many students find themselves way off base. This can be discouraging, but it’s an essential part of the learning process. The key is recognizing that improvement comes gradually over weeks and months of consistent effort.

Think of predicting answers as a muscle that needs to be trained. At first, it feels awkward and unproductive. But as you practice, you start to notice patterns in how questions are constructed and how wrong answer choices are designed to mislead you.

Even if your initial predictions don’t match the correct answer exactly, engaging in this process helps you get closer over time. Each incorrect prediction teaches you something valuable about how the test works—and how to avoid falling for traps in the future.

How Predicting Answers Builds Better Understanding

One of the most valuable aspects of predicting answers is that it forces you to actively engage with the question stimulus and think critically about its components. For example:

• Resolve-the-Paradox Questions: These are excellent starting points for practicing prediction because they present two seemingly contradictory facts that need reconciliation. By predicting what could resolve the paradox before looking at answer choices, you train yourself to think like a test maker.

• Skepticism as a Mindset: Predicting answers encourages skepticism—a crucial mindset for success on the LSAT. Instead of passively accepting information in the stimulus, skeptically analyze each part: What if this premise doesn’t hold? Is there another way to interpret this conclusion?

This active engagement not only improves your accuracy but also builds a framework for approaching all types of Logical Reasoning questions.

How to Practice Predicting Answers

Here’s a step-by-step guide to incorporating prediction into your study routine:

1. Start with Easier Question Types: Begin with Resolve-the-Paradox or Must-Be-True questions where predictions are more straightforward. These will help you build confidence before moving on to more complex question types like Flaw or Necessary Assumption questions.

2. Read the Stimulus First: Focus on understanding whether it presents an argument or a set of facts. If it’s an argument, identify the conclusion and think about potential weaknesses or gaps in reasoning before reading the question stem or answer choices.

3. Make Your Prediction: Based on your analysis of the stimulus, predict what kind of answer would address the question stem (e.g., weaken the argument, strengthen it, resolve a paradox). Write down your prediction if needed to solidify your thought process.

4. Compare Your Prediction to Answer Choices: Look for an answer choice that matches your prediction closely in concept—even if it’s phrased differently than expected. If none match perfectly, revisit your understanding of the stimulus and refine your prediction.

Learning from Mistakes: The Value of Falling Into Traps

One counterintuitive benefit of predicting answers is that it makes falling into traps more painful—and, therefore, more memorable. When you predict an answer but choose incorrectly because you fell for a trap, that experience sticks with you much longer than if you had guessed passively without engaging deeply with the question.

This pain serves as a powerful deterrent against making similar mistakes in future questions. It also helps you understand how test makers design traps and what thought processes lead students into them.

Building Skills Over Time: A Framework for Success

Predicting answers isn’t just about individual questions—it’s about building skills that compound over time and create a framework for approaching any LSAT question with autonomy and confidence.

For example:

• Start by identifying whether a stimulus contains an argument or facts.

• If it’s an argument, immediately find the conclusion and attack it (weaken it) before even reading the question stem.

• Use this analysis as a foundation for answering any type of Logical Reasoning question—whether it requires strengthening, weakening, or identifying assumptions.

By practicing this framework thousands of times during your prep, you’ll become a master at dissecting arguments and predicting correct answers efficiently.

Adopting Skepticism: A Key Mindset Shift

One critical mindset shift when practicing prediction is adopting skepticism toward everything presented in the stimulus. Don’t take anything for granted—question every premise and consider alternative interpretations of conclusions.

For example:

• Ask yourself: “What if this premise doesn’t hold true?”

• Consider whether alternative explanations could weaken or strengthen an argument.

This skeptical approach improves one’s ability to predict answers and helps one avoid traps designed to exploit passive reading habits.

Conclusion: Why Predicting Answers is Non-Negotiable

Predicting answers is one of the most important skills for mastering the LSAT—and it’s not optional if you want to reach your full potential on test day. While it may feel slow or awkward at first, consistent practice will sharpen this skill over time and transform how you approach every question type.

By actively engaging with each stimulus, adopting skepticism as a mindset, and learning from mistakes along the way, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how test makers think—and how to outsmart them.

If you’re ready to take your LSAT prep to the next level, start incorporating prediction into your study routine today!

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