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Miranda's LSAT Diary: 159 to 167

Updated September 7, 2026 · Steve Schwartz

LSAT Diary, 2014

Miranda took the LSAT 3 times over about a year, working full time with ADHD and no prep class, before finally raising her score from 159 to 167 on the December 2013 LSAT using Steve's Premium course. Reading comprehension stayed her hardest section throughout.

  • Starting score: 159
  • Official LSAT: 167 (December 2013)
  • What she used: Steve's LSAT Premium course, particularly the logic games and logical reasoning video courses
  • Situation: 25 years old, has ADHD and several respiratory health issues, works full time, went to Cornell for undergrad with an average GPA, took the LSAT 3 times (December 2012, June 2013, December 2013) over about a year
  • Written: 2014

In Miranda's words

Motivation was not easy to come by after I received my 2nd score, which was exactly the same as the first score.

Miranda

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

Miranda

I am so excited that I am finally applying to law school, and with confidence to boot.

Miranda

Why this diary is here

I've been coaching the LSAT since 2005. From 2009 to 2021 I ran the LSAT Diaries on my blog: students wrote up their own prep and I published it as it came in, rough edges and all. Miranda's is here because it ends with a number: 159 to 167.

Underneath the score, it's about staying motivated through 2 disappointing retakes and studying with ADHD without accommodations or medication, while reading comprehension stayed her persistent weak spot.

Written in 2014. Any Logic Games references are from the old format; that section was removed in August 2024. Everything else still applies.

Individual results vary. Score increases depend on starting point, study time, and effort.

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Miranda's diary, as written

Last Thursday [December 2013 LSAT score release date] was a very triumphant day for me. The December 2013 exam was my 3rd and final chance at raising my score, and my heart started beating a million miles an hour when I saw the LSAC email in my inbox. I just turned 25, and my one year off in between undergrad and law school is now going on three.

I went to Cornell University for undergrad, where I worked really hard to get my very average GPA, so my LSAT score needed to be relatively high to get me to "splitter" status. I essentially studied for a full year, taking the LSAT in December of 2012, June 2013, and finally achieving the score of 167 on the December 2013 LSAT, which was exhausting mentally and emotionally.

Studying with ADHD and a full-time job

So how did I finally get a score that I'm ecstatic about? It was no easy feat for me because I work full time and have several respiratory health issues. Also, I did not have the financial means to sign up for a prep class. But thanks to Steve, I was able to succeed without one. I used the study schedule, and read and re-read every single blog post.

Among the most useful tools for me were his logic games and logical reasoning courses. I have ADHD, and viewing the materials in video format really helped me to learn them at a more intuitive level. And before this sparks up a debate on whether ADHD people are disadvantaged or advantaged, I'd just like to set the record straight and say that I did not request more time, and I did not rely on medication during my studying or the exam. I focused a lot of my energy on breathing exercises and yoga, and that really helped me stay focused.

Fighting to stay motivated through two retakes

I had 2 major problems while prepping for the LSAT. The first one was the motivation to continue studying after so long of not living up to my own expectations. The second one was reading comprehension. Motivation was not easy to come by after I received my 2nd score, which was exactly the same as the first score. I was also tired of people continually asking me when I was going to law school, and felt embarrassed that I was retaking the exam. Again. But I am not one to give up or change my dreams, and my dream is law school. I drew inspiration from other LSAT Diaries, which is why I thought it was important for me to share my story.

Also, I looked up quotes, and plastered this one everywhere: "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier. It may seem silly, but when I followed the wisdom of that quote, I finally saw results. For example, I used to try to study a few days a week for several hours, but I figured out that I learned and retained information better when I did a little bit every day instead. I wasn't able to overcome my poor reading comprehension skills, and it was the area that kept me from scoring even higher. This still puzzles me because I have always been an avid reader. But I definitely spent more time on the games and logical reasoning sections. My advice would be to start working on the reading comprehension sooner rather than later.

Last but not least, I just want to truly appreciate Steve. I can't begin to say what a huge part his knowledge and materials had in my success. I am so excited that I am finally applying to law school, and with confidence to boot.

More student stories: LSAT Unplugged reviews and finished results, all success stories.

I've written free explanations for every question in LSAT PrepTest 159, 158, 157, 156, 155 and 154, with the right answer and why each wrong answer fails. All LSAT explanations are here.

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