A student, 153 and working toward 165: a live LSAT coaching session
This is what LSAT Unplugged coaching looks like. A student came in at 153, aiming for 165 on the November LSAT. Steve Schwartz coached him live for about 5 minutes on Logical Reasoning, and the whole session and transcript are below.
The numbers here are where A student started and the goal we set together in this session. Individual results vary.
- Student: A student
- Score when recorded: 153
- Goal: 165
- Target test: November
- Focus: Logical Reasoning
- Worked on: Parallel Flaw, Regular Parallel Reasoning, Necessary Assumption, Inference
What we fixed in this session
You're applying a structural approach when you don't need to, and that's more time consuming than just identifying the flaw.
Steve Schwartz
This is one session, in the middle of the work. I've been coaching the LSAT since 2005, and every session runs the same way: find the real problem, fix the process, reset the plan.
The student was using a slow structural comparison approach on parallel flaw questions; I redirected her to identify the flaw first. That matters because that is faster and parallel flaw questions are actually easier once the flaw is named.
The student was focused on drilling parallel flaw, a rare question type; I told her to prioritize the three most common LR types, necessary assumption, inference, and flaw. That matters because improving those gives more return.
The student worried her law school application story was not distinct; I told her that starting advocacy work at age 7 already makes it stand out. She just needs to show how it shaped her.
If your prep looks like A student's did, that's fixable in one session.
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In the student's words
Usually I take the structure of it and compare it to the choices, but that takes me a while.
A student
Got it, got it. Thank you.
A student
How do I make that stand out and connect so it feels like pick me?
A student
Questions people ask about LSAT Unplugged coaching
What happens in an LSAT Unplugged coaching session?
The coach finds the specific habit that's costing points, fixes the process, and sets the plan for the weeks ahead. In A student's case: The student was using a slow structural comparison approach on parallel flaw questions.
Who runs the sessions?
Steve Schwartz recorded this one. Every LSAT Unplugged coach scored 170 or higher on an official LSAT, and students are matched to a coach on learning style and weak areas.
Where can I see finished results?
On the student reviews page at unpluggedprep.com/reviews, with video interviews and official scores.
Learn the fixes yourself: necessary assumption questions, flaw questions, must be true questions.
Student reviews and finished results.
Full session transcript
Recorded December 2025.
Student: My current score is a 153. My goal is a 165. I'm taking it in November.
Steve: Okay, 153 to 165 by November, a month and a half. What areas are you looking for guidance on?
Student: The area I have the most trouble in is parallel flaw. They take me so long. My prep coach said it's one of the harder question types, so I was wondering if you had a trick for it.
Steve: There are two steps: the flaw part and the parallel part. For the flaw part, which I recommend tackling first, can you ID the flaw in the stimulus, predict or paraphrase it, then look for the choice with the same flaw? These are actually often easier than regular parallels because of that flaw element. Are you able to fairly consistently ID the flaw in the stimulus?
Student: Yes, I would say so.
Steve: Okay. So the second step: can you hold that flaw in your head and scan the choices to ID the one with the same flaw?
Student: Usually I take the structure of it and compare it to the choices, like "one ant has three apples," I use that same logic through the answers. But that takes me a while.
Steve: My thought is you're applying a structural approach when you don't need to, and that's more time consuming than just identifying the flaw. For regular parallels, unfortunately, you do need the structural approach, since presumably there's no flaw there. For parallel flaw, since you know there's a flaw, just look for the flaw.
Student: Got it, got it. Thank you.
Steve: Yeah, of course.
Student: The second part of my question was, any tips on applications?
Steve: What about them? Narrow it a bit and I could give you better advice.
Student: Standing out in essays feels harder these days. My application goes along with my personal story: I've been interested in law since I was a kid, because I've worked with homeless advocacy groups since I was seven, which not everybody does at that age. How do I make that stand out and connect so it feels like "pick me"?
Steve: That already stands out. Seven is a pretty early age, most folks aren't doing advocacy that young. You've had a long experience with this, presumably over a decade or two, so you've had time to grow through that exposure. I'd just tell that story, it stands out already. Talk about how it shaped you.
Student: Thank you. Any last tips for test day?
Steve: Going back to what you said: if you're in the 150s now, looking for 165, I wouldn't focus on parallel flaw, that's a relatively less common type. Anything parallel is notorious because they're so long, you're reading six stimuli for the value of one raw score point. There's lower-hanging fruit for you to go from the low 150s to a 165. If you were in the 171 range, parallel flaw might be worth it. But to get to 165, there's an easier, higher-leverage path with a more common question type.
Student: Got it, got it. Thank you.
Steve: I'd look at your practice test results, talk it over with your coach, and see if there's a type where more return comes from the volume of questions. The three most common types in logical reasoning are necessary assumption, inference, and flaw, all far more important than a less common type like regular parallel, parallel flaw, or evaluate the argument. Nail those three first, get your accuracy up, then dig deeper on parallel flaw if you'd like.
Student: Got it. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Steve: Of course. If anything else comes up, reach out, I'm happy to help.
Student: I will. Thank you. All right.
Steve: Of course, you have a good one.
Student: You too.
More coaching sessions: Zabdi, 141 to 155, Abigail, 147 to 160, Leah, 153 to 170, Dominic, Alina, 157 to 170. Student results and reviews.
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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