You open up the Qbank and are ready to start digging into some LSAT practice questions, but where to start - there are so many options! This article will give you a run-down on all of the filters, modes, and hints we offer. Then we'll give some recommendations on how to tailor your practice sets based on where you are in your prep journey.
The Filters
Filter by subject
Beginning with subject matter, you should first choose the section you want to cover in a practice set. Within each section, there are filters for each type of question and passage. Additionally, there are specific skill filters within each type. For instance, you can select diagramming or causation questions for an LR set. Or, if you want practice with a particular secondary structure, then you can select one or more of those RC filters. Whatever the question, you bet we have a filter for it!
Filter by size
For LR sets, the QBank size corresponds to the number of questions that you want to attempt in a set. For RC, you will select the number of passages you'd like to attempt in a set, and each passage contains 5 to 8 questions.
Filter by difficulty
You can either set a difficulty level (or a range of difficulty levels) or select the adaptive feature. Adaptive difficulty relies on our algorithmic estimation of what difficulty level you most need. Additionally, you can filter by language difficulty. If you feel overwhelmed by language density then this can be a great filter to build your confidence (low) or challenge yourself (high).
The Options
Modes
In question-by-question mode, you will see the Blueprint explanation after each question you attempt. If you use this mode, you should plan to review the explanation and think through:
1. What this question illustrates
2. What you did well
3. What you need to work on
In test mode, you will need to complete the entire set before having access to the Blueprint explanation. This gives you the option to skip around and come back to questions that you flag before registering an answer choice. In either of these modes, you have the option to pause a set and return to it another time. You can also select “Reset” to wipe clean your previous answers and hints so you can begin fresh. Each practice set can be reset a single time.
Hints
Narrow it Down narrows your options to only two answer choices, one of which is correct. When you have less to focus on you can look for specific reasons to eliminate one answer choice over the other. Popular Opinion shows you the most commonly selected answer choice among Blueprint students. This is more helpful when you are leaning toward a particular answer choice but are not entirely sold. If you struggle with confidence, this hint can provide affirmation that you’re on the right track. On the other hand, it might be a reminder to review your selection before marking it. Ask an Expert provides a big-picture clue to help you anticipate. This can be a great way to reinforce the method and remind yourself of the questions you should be asking yourself on test day!
Generating Qbank Practice Sets at Different Stages of Prep
If you are just getting started...
Goals: familiarize yourself with the basic strategies and practice anticipation
Subject: keep sets homogenous (one LR question/RC passage type at a time)
Size: keep practice sets small (5–10 LR questions, 1–2 passages)
Note: once a question/passage is generated in a Qbank set, it can’t be used in a future set. If you make practice sets too large and don't finish them then you risk missing out on those questions
Mode: question-by-question, and you should review each answer thoroughly before moving on
Timing: all untimed - you should not be thinking about timing at all
Difficulty: lowest to medium
Hints: encouraged! Just remember to review explanations for all the answer choices so you know (i) why the correct answer is right and (ii) why all four incorrect answers are wrong
If you are in the middle of your prep...
Goals: gauge strengths and weaknesses by incorporating some mixed question sets and timed practice
Subject:
For LR, an Implication mix is a great way to see how the strategies differ for Must Be True questions vs. Soft Must Be True questions
For RC, you might want to mix Thesis and Antithesis passages.
You might see a dip in accuracy when you first practice with mixed sets. That’s totally normal, and it’s important to reflect on why you might be having trouble. It’s often because it’s tough to navigate between different tasks so quickly. For this reason, it’s best to start off doing these mixed sets untimed. Once you build your accuracy to around 80% you can start timing yourself.
Size: to build endurance, you should see if you can get through medium sets (~10–20 LR questions, 3–4 RC passages)
Mode: question-by-question for new material, test mode for familiar material
Timing: once you are at a solid 80% accuracy, you should start incorporating timed practice
Difficulty: at this point in your prep, stick to mid-range difficulty and avoid the lowest and highest difficulties. It might also be helpful to use the adaptive feature.
You should have enough data points from Implication/Characterization families and Thesis/Antithesis passages where the algorithm can gauge your strengths and weaknesses.
Hints: should be weaning off at this point. Asking an expert is ok if you are not sure how to approach the question, but, if you need that hint, then it's an indication that you need to focus a bit more on your strategy for that particular type of question.
If you are close to testing...
Goals: practice with a test-day mentality, aiming for smooth, steady practice
Subject: practice should be mixed unless you are still targeting weak areas
You should prioritize (i) your weaknesses and (ii) the material most frequently tested
Size: keep practice sets medium (max: ~25 LR questions, 3–6 RC passages)
You should be taking and reviewing 1–2 practice exams per week, so you won’t have as much time for QBank sets
Mode: test mode
Timing: all timed
Difficulty: a wide range or adaptive
Hints: you should no longer be using these