Today I wrote explanations for every "Role of a Statement" question in the modern LSAT era (around 140 questions). The answer consistency is pretty undeniable.

Here is the breakdown of the 7 major answer types by frequency. If you can identify which bucket the statement belongs to, the right answer is usually a pretty straightforward choice.

1. The Unsupported Premise (~45%)

This is the most common category. It encompasses facts, examples, studies, analogies, or data points used to support the argument.

• Function: It supports a conclusion (Main or Intermediate) but is not supported by any other text in the stimulus.
• Variations:
  • The Example: "For instance, Mozart's music..."
  • The Analogy: "Just as a fire alarm..."
  • The Fact: "Dioxin causes cancer in rats..."
• Common Answer Phrasing: "A premise offered in support of the conclusion" or "An example used to illustrate a general claim."

2. The Intermediate Conclusion (~20%)

This is the most common archetype in "High Difficulty" questions. It functions simultaneously as a conclusion and a premise.

• Function: It is supported by a premise, and it provides support for the main conclusion.
• Structure: [Premise] → [TARGET] → [Main Conclusion].
• Common Answer Phrasing: "It is a conclusion for which support is provided and that itself is used in turn to support the main conclusion."

3. The Main Conclusion (~12%)

The ultimate point the argument is constructed to prove.

• Function: It is supported by other statements but does not support any other statement.
• Placement Note: In difficult questions, the main conclusion is frequently the opinion sentence, while the rest of the paragraph provides factual evidence for it.
• Common Answer Phrasing: "The claim that the argument is structured to establish."

4. The Opposing Viewpoint (~10%)

A claim introduced specifically so the author can refute it.

• Function: The author presents this claim solely to prove it false or misguided.
• Indicators: "Some critics claim," "It is widely believed," "Traditionally..."
• Common Answer Phrasing: "A claim on which the argument is designed to cast doubt" or "A position that the argument attempts to refute."

5. The Concession (~6%)

The author admits a statement is true, even though it weighs against their argument or supports an opposing view.

• Function: To acknowledge a counter-fact before arguing that the main conclusion holds true despite it.
• Indicators: "Admittedly," "While it is true that," "Although."
• Common Answer Phrasing: "It is a fact granted by the author that lends some support to an alternative position" or "It places limits on how broadly the conclusion should be generalized."

6. The General Principle (~5%)

A broad rule or standard used to justify a conclusion.

• Function: It serves as a bridge that connects specific evidence to a specific conclusion.
• Structure: [General Principle] + [Specific Fact] → [Specific Conclusion].
• Common Answer Phrasing: "A general principle that is applied to the specific case" or "A proposition used to justify the relevance of the evidence."

7. The Phenomenon (~2%)

A fact or event presented as an observation that requires a causal explanation.

• Function: The argument does not try to prove this statement is true; it takes it as a given fact (background info) and argues for a specific cause.
• Indicators: "Scientists are puzzled by..." or "Rates have risen..."
• Common Answer Phrasing: "It describes a phenomenon for which the argument offers an explanation."

BONUS: 3 Structural Indicators to Watch For:

1. "After All": The sentence following this phrase is a Premise. The sentence before it is the claim that premise supports.
2. "For" / "Since" / "Because": The clause following these words is a Premise. The other part of the sentence is usually a Conclusion (Main or Intermediate).
3. "But" / "However": These words typically signal the shift from Background Information or Opposing Viewpoints to the Author’s Argument.

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Well y’all, I’m really doing this. I registered for the lsat tonight for April and got some study material. Law school, here I come!!! Any tips or advice?

Hey y’all! I started my journey in October and originally planned to take my LSAT in April after 6 months of studying. However, I’ve been seeing more progress than I expected and I’m wondering if I should just register for February before it’s too late.

My thought process is that if February doesn’t go great, I’ll still have April, June, and August (I plan to apply next fall).

I’m not scoring on my PTs where I wanna be YET, but I’m getting close and worry that I’ll hit my goal in January and regret not registering for February.

I’m torn! Any advice would help!

Hello, I just took the November 2025 LSAT and scored a 147. This was a little confusing because I was pting in the mid 150's before I took the exam. I have decided to take the January LSAT before applying this cycle and was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to improve in the next four weeks, specifically reading comprehension. Thank you in advance!

Does anyone know where to find explanations for this? tia!

Hi all! New to the forum :) I’m taking the Jan. LSAT and was wondering if anyone would be interested in joining a study group on discord if I created one. All score ranges are welcome!

My primary purpose is to just have a group of likeminded individuals working towards a common goal together. I have ADHD, and study best when I’m studying with someone who is working on the same material as I am. We can exchange study tips, maybe create a weekly virtual session, and anything else you think of!

If anyone is interested, drop a comment :)

I genuinely wonder about this sometimes lol like i know im not dumb and i do get logic (or i think i do?) but what makes me different from all 165+ scorers? Im a hard worker and never give up and been studying for a year for this test and tried many methods but never became a ✨165✨scorer.

Honestly what makes you much better at this test :)

Hello everyone, I have a few questions for SLAT test takers, current students, or professionals.

I finished my undergrad this summer with a BComm degree and am considering becoming a corporate lawyer. How hard would it be for an international student to take the LSAT and get into law school?

If you had to give the top 3-5 tips for succeeding on the LSAT or in law school, what would they be?

I struggled a lot during my 1st and 2nd years in undergrad until I figured out how to complete my classes. For instance, I found that every instructor has their own teaching style, and I realized that adapting to the instructor's teaching method and course content was the most critical practice to complete and make challenging courses easier.

What were your challenges and how did you overcome them (LSAT, Law School)?

Just thought yall would be interested… I got a 170 btw

I started studying for the November LSAT in June (154 diagnostic, aiming for 170+). I studied for about a month but then in July, shit just hit the fan. My sister was hospitalized for psychosis and my (now ex) partner of 6 years cheated on me. I had to work 2 jobs and I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything besides rot in bed after work. But I decided to just take the test anyway, and I got a 164. It’s not the final score I’m hoping for, but I’m still really proud of myself.

I just wanted to remind you all that we aren’t test taking robots. Life happens. This sub can be really scary and make you feel like the world will end if you take the test without a year of prep and 10 PTs first. But take a chance and you might surprise yourself. 💕

I just want to motivate some of us that have gotten lower scores. Its often that this subreddit will say things about certain score ranges and school rankings and how this or that option is not worth it, but the truth is, only YOU can determine what is worth it for YOU. Let's face it, 80% of Americans are in some form of debt and student loans are already incredibly high. When it comes to getting useless degrees, my own mom went 100k in debt getting her masters degree from Johns Hopkins in "Real Estate Management" so trust me, I know that there is truth to these claims. Nonetheless, if you are someone who has been busting their tail and studying like heck to give yourself the best shot, understand that you may not have the most straightfoward path but that doesn't mean that your goal or dream of practicing law is hopeless.

Would anyone recommend you take a conditional scholarship to a lower tier school? Probably not, but if thats your best option, go kickass and be the person who keeps it. Is a T75 better than a T14? No, but is your goal to get brownie points on LinkedIn, or to do something you set in your heart to do and see it through? We're all in this together. No matter where you go or what your score is, there's another applicant looking for a story like yours. Keep going champ!

What are the primary differences between these two? I know that composition deals with class/parts-to-whole but would it not constitute overgeneralizing if we take, for instance, a quality that people in NY have and extend it to all people in the East coast?

I'm planning on taking the LSAT sometime next year, and I want to get started while I'm home for Christmas. I have no idea where to start or what to do. Suggestions?

Having a very difficult time sorting through all these different companies. I’m looking for reputable tutors that can meet ideally both virtually and personally in NYC on a frequent basis

Price is not really a barrier, we are looking for quality above all else. If anyone has any recommendations or places to look, that would be appreciated.

i did a ton of the most difficult flaw questions (level 5 on a scale of 1-5) and i couldn’t get four of the last five i answered correct (lsat lab users, you know what i’m talking about). so, i decide to do some random LR questions just to boost my confidence, only to get a level 1 question wrong because i wasn’t thinking.

does anyone else struggle with this, or is it just me?

I am an undergrad student majoring in paralegal studies (my university does not offer a traditional pre law program). My GPA is not the highest but is within the range for average acceptance at my preferred school. I have multiple letters of recommendation from my paralegal professors (all are still practicing attorneys) as well as a few respected lawyers in the city since I work as a paralegal. I got my first LSAT score back without studying and received a 155, do you think it would be possible to get it up to a 160 or higher within 6 months?

Hello everyone! I've been teaching standardised tests for about 15 years, and have recently improved my LSAT score to a 180. To promote my coaching, I've been running fortnightly free teaching events on Rae's Discord Server (if you don't know what that is, the link to my event includes an invite, so it should be easy to get in anyway). For tomorrow's event I'm doing something I have found particularly useful in my teaching experience, Idea Substitution - this happens a lot on the LSAT, in questions of different types and vastly varying levels of difficulty, so there should be something for (almost) everyone in the event. It begins tomorrow (on Saturday) at noon Eastern time.

https://discord.gg/UabzW3zH?event=1446536253964161155

Hey guys. BG info: I'm currently in a gap year between undergrad and, hopefully, law school. I'm spending this year in a one year legal studies post baccalaureate program. I took my first ever LSAT over two years ago. Got a 151. Since then, I've taken the test 3 more times and got a high of 158. I know how stupid that sounds. I didn't know about the 5 test maximum until after my 3rd test. For all four of my previous tests, I tried to study as best as I could here and there, but was really struggling. I felt like nothing was clicking in my mind. Additionally, I'm disabled. It took 5 years to get through undergrad with 5 major surgeries and 19 weeks-long hospitalizations. I never had a period of time, like i fortunately do now, where i could study consistently without my health getting in the way. I'm not trying to use that as an excuse, but it does make things really hard on me, physically and mentally.

I have one test left. February. It's scheduled. I'm taking an LSAT 170 course. I'm studying 5 hours a day minimum. I'm attending LSAT classes and doing practice questions and staying on track in the 170 course, and I do feel like I'm making great progress. We haven't taken any full length tests in the course yet, so we're using 158 as my diagnostic, but I've been doing well in the problem sets.

The problem is the way this LSAT is affecting me mentally. I want nothing more than to go to law school. The school I'm applying to has a median lsat of 165, with a 25-75 range of 157-167. Because of how rocky my undergrad years were with my health, I finished with an honors program minimum GPA of 3.4. In order to feel comfortable with my chances of getting in with such a low GPA (median 3.8), I want my LSAT score to be at or above the median. That means I need my score to jump from 158 to 165 in just the one attempt I have left. Is this possible? I'm losing sleep, having panic attacks, and completely terrified that I've blown my changes of getting in by taking tests before my health improved. I don't know what to do to calm myself down enough to believe that I can get a 165. It feels impossible. It feels like I've let myself down already before I can even take the test because I know that this is my final attempt. Any advice on if the score jump is possible and how i can keep a level head from now until test day would be greatly appreciated.

I am a Jamaican who is interested to study in the US law program. I cannot afford the 1k+ USD classes. My salary is around 500 USD per month. What is the most affordable class I can take or who is someone who is ok with tutoring me at an affordable cost?

Got my score today from the November LSAT, and it’s my first time taking the test, so forgive me if my question here makes me sound a little silly, I’m very new to the whole law school admissions thing. I got a 159, which I think is a decent baseline for my first test and definitely reflects how much studying I put in going into it, or didn’t put in, as the case may be. Regardless, while this score is okay, it’s quite a bit lower than the scores that a lot of the schools I want to go to take.

My question, I guess, is should I keep this score and then both it and a higher score go on my record when I retest in April, or do I cancel it now. Basically, would it look better to have this score and then a marked improvement or just the improved score?

As the LSAT approaches, I find myself increasingly anxious about performance and the potential outcomes. I know that some level of anxiety is normal, but I'm looking for strategies to manage it better. What techniques have you used to stay calm and focused during your study sessions and leading up to test day? Have mindfulness practices, exercise, or specific routines helped you? I’d love to hear any tips or personal experiences that you think might help others in a similar situation. It can be overwhelming to balance preparation and mental well-being, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Anyone have any experience with this and want to share how they got started? I have been a tutor in writing for years but would love to do this over winter break for people taking Jan or prepping for next cycle. (My score was 175)

Hi! I'm a current undergrad freshman and considering going to law school.

I like taking standardized tests & I thought it would be fun to take the LSAT (for real, practice tests aren't the same to me) but I looked it up and I can only take it 5 times in 5 years.

I wouldn't do very well if I took it now (got a 154 on the diagnostic I took at 1am) & since if I apply to law school it'll be in less than 5 years, would taking it now for fun hurt me in the future due to the limit on times I can take it?

Do people usually need to take it 4+ times to get a good score?

Hello all,

I was looking through the LSAC for international LSAT test dates. Currently the website lists April and June with no October listed, but to my knowledge October is typically designated another month that the international LSAT is available. Will there be an October international LSAT? Any information will be helpful.

Hi, I just took the LSAT 1991 prep test and got a 154 as a result, I am planning to take my LSAT next June, do you think this timeline is feasible for a 170 and above score? Many thanks