Per the headline, my LSAT journey has, until 2 weeks ago, sucked. I started with the full, in-class Blueprint course and, at the end of that, was nowhere near my target score (we're talking 20 points away from it in the 150s). After that, I bought the LSAT Trainer, which was better than the course but I still wasn't really improving as much as I wanted to be. THEN I started using 7Sage which was about as good as the LSAT Trainer. AND THEN I signed up for private tutoring sessions with Powerscore which made me feel less prepared than ever for the LSAT as a whole.

Still in the 150s, thinking "wow maybe I'm just not cut out to go to law school," I had a friend, Ellen Cassidy's former tutoring student, who referred me to this book. I am only on Chapter 8 out of 12 and I have already seen a huge improvement in my LR score. I was missing 12-15 before reading it and I'm already down to a -6 (keep in mind, I was missing 12-15 after ALL of the resources listed above). AND I HAVEN'T EVEN READ THE QUESTION TYPES YET!!!
Her systems of translation and the CLIR have REALLY helped me understand what it is I'm reading (shout out translation drills) and how to critique the stimuli (shotout the CLIR). Again, this is all even before I've started studying the question types, which has made up almost the entirety of all of the resources I used before Cassidy's book. Now, I realize that the answer isn't actually in the question/answer choices (which is what I've been told by every single LSAT instructor/tutor/resource before), it's actually in the stimulus (hard to believe, I know).

All these systems of how to think/approach LR questions are backed by examples that lift you up instead of tearing you down (AKA no weird, misogynistic comments or uncomfortable inuendos like you'd see in Blueprint). Who wouldn't want to read about pumpkin pie and other various desserts and koala's in government as opposed to making uncomfortable examples that covertly insult certain groups of people.

Also, this book just LOOKS better. It has these little teal accents everywhere -- it's like drinking mint lemonade on a hot, summer day. With the other resources, I would open a page and just feel super anxious from the start. Nothing about them felt warm, friendly. But if there's any book that is, it's "The Loophole in LR." I know that this review seems super extra but it's not an understatement, anything that helps me improve THIS MUCH on the LSAT deserves this kind of praise. If you're struggling with LR, READ. THIS. BOOK. Looking forward to posting an update once I finish the entire book. Happy studying, LSAT fiends!!!

UPDATE: A very long overdue update! After months of studying, I just took the June LSAT this week!!!! Before starting my CLIR and translation drills, I was a minus 12-15 per LR section. Obviously, this made me panic because I know that I can't afford to lose that many points if I want to get 170+. In the last review, I talked about how about a month into "The Loophole in LR" I started to miss -6 consistently on both LR sections. I could feel myself kind of slipping on my CLIR and translations at this point in time so I REALLY made an effort to be sure I was CLIR-ing EVERY. SINGLE. LR. STIMULUS (seriously, I didn't move on to the next question until I formed a CLIR).
After about 3 days of CONSISTENT (and I mean CONSISTENT) CLIR drills, I was down to anywhere between -0 to -3 (max, upon review of the 2/3 I always realized that either my CLIR was weak or I really didn't have a good grasp on the translation of the stimulus). Correlation may not equal causation (shout out Causal Reasoning chapter) but I know that there is no way I would've ever hit a -2/-3 on LR without this book (let alone -0). I was able to tackle "this argument is flawed because..." questions super easily because of the countless examples per flaw in the book (these were one of the scariest question types for me at first). I used back-up plans both for prep as well as on actual test day (basically, identifying the back-up plan for each question type/asking the corresponding back-up plan question for every single answer choice) which REALLY helped me understand what the question was asking of me AND what exactly I needed to be looking for in the correct answer (this proved super helpful on all questions types but particularly helpful on Sufficient Assumption and Necessary Assumption questions).

About 3 weeks before the June test date, after being super consistent on CLIR, I FINALLY started to hit scores around my ultimate goal score (highest PT score being a 178) -- these. are. the. reasons. why. For future test takers out there, USE THE CLIR AND USE TRANSLATION! Both of these processes will really help you understand how to poke holes in the stimulus regardless of what kind of question stem comes after. Do this repeatedly until you do it almost unconsciously during timed sections (trust me, you WILL get there). And if you're having trouble understanding how to attack question stems, rely on the back-up plans. I am not joking when I say that every most strongly supported question I have ever seen on ANY test has been followed by "does this pretty much have to be true? No. Does this pretty much have to be true? YES." It gets me to the correct answer every time, as long as I do it correctly and consistently. Lastly, know the flaws. Make flashcards using the examples in the book. They are everywhere on the LSAT and, out of all the prep material I've ever used (which is a ton), the descriptions in this book really help them stick. I went in on test day with a much more mellow, calm mindset than before and it was only because I felt like I finally knew all the information that I needed to know to get 170+. It wasn't panic or "FREAK OUT THIS IS SCARY." CLIR-ing, navigating different question stems, and asking the corresponding back-up plans came so naturally and so easily (and 9/10 times my CLIR was in the answer choices which is the best feeling). That change in mindset is seriously the difference between a 150 and a 170+. Best of luck to everyone continuing to study -- keep pushing forward!!!
TL;DR -- Want to raise your LSAT score? This. Is. The. Book.

Per the headline, my LSAT journey has, until 2 weeks ago, sucked. I started with the full, in-class Blueprint course and, at the end of that, was nowhere near my target score (we're talking 20 points away from it in the 150s). After that, I bought the LSAT Trainer, which was better than the course but I still wasn't really improving as much as I wanted to be. THEN I started using 7Sage which was about as good as the LSAT Trainer. AND THEN I signed up for private tutoring sessions with Powerscore which made me feel less prepared than ever for the LSAT as a whole. Still in the 150s, thinking "wow maybe I'm just not cut out to go to law school," I had a friend, Ellen Cassidy's former tutoring student,

I was already deep in the financial hole when it came to LSAT prep materials, and then I came across the Loophole (recommended in a reddit thread of all places!) I snapped it up and let me tell you, not only was the book exceedingly helpful in breaking down LR (and I mean literally- it starts with a fundamental review of grammar and sentence structures that will set the stage for later understanding of complex passages!) but it was also a genuine pleasure to read. Can’t recommend this more highly!

When reading the book, I felt like Ellen was sitting right beside me tutoring me! And I feel connected to her through her book as her student! :’) I legit can’t stop talking about this book to everyone around me, and how much it has helped me, so do yourself a favor and get this amazing book NOW!!

Three months into using the Loophole and wow it has been eye-opening and beyond helpful for my LR journey. Currently learning how to hone in my skills for specific question types and improve on timing, especially for those more difficult questions at the end of a section.

Before the Loophole, I used to average -10 to -13 on individual LR sections but now I am averaging -2 to -5!

I heard such amazing reviews of this book I was so scared that it wouldn't live up to the hype! I'm happy to say that it did. For context, I've been studying for the LSAT since January.

I knew what I was supposed to do, but failed in the execution. I was super inconsistent with my scores . This book truly breaks everything down in a fun and simple way. Ellen Cassidy passion for the LSAT jumps off the page and it's infectious. You can't help but be like...oh yeah that is super interesting that this question would work like that! Neato!!

Loophole is a definite buy. Currently, I'm still working through Loophole but on two different occasions I had to reach out to Ellen / Customer Service Dept and they are outstanding Ellen (the author of the book) responded to me (who does that) within 5 hours and her Customer Svcs Dept responded to me another question (re: RC Material) the very next day. Ellen and her Team are top notch (Nordstrom's at it's best) , she's extremely bright, humble and unselfish (has no problem sharing her shortcuts, study strategies and tricks). Additionally, when she answers a question she's very thorough so as to ensure complete and total clarity. It's nice to know that in today's day and age there are still people in this world that despite their success are willing to take the time to bend down, reach out and help the rest of us up!

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I am just about a month into my lsat journey but this book has already made such a difference! Ellen Cassidy’s curriculum is such a fun, engaging, and approachable way to learn how to crush the logical reasoning section of the lsat. With persistence and hard work, this book is a perfect tool to help you achieve your lsat goals.

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I LOVE YOU ELLEN CASSIDY!!!! I still haven't taken the LSAT, but I've noticed significant improvement in my LR skills. The book is incredibly engaging, simplifies concepts, and is easy to understand. As a non-native English speaker, the translation methods have been especially helpful in understanding the stimuli. Don't think just buy it!!!!!!

Amazing, don’t think - just buy this book now! It’s game changer! I had not clue that I didn’t even know what the foundations and basics were to LR until I started reading this book. Now I feel confident that I’ll be ready to take the exam this spring or this summer.

This is the only resource that has increased my confidence in taking the LSAT. I now feel that it is a test I can do well on; confidence has been my biggest hurdle in my years of on and off study prep. The material is digestible and engaging without being overwhelming. I’ve read about people saying that the LSAT suddenly “clicked” for them, and I had that experience thanks to The Loophole. If you’re struggling, $35ish is a steal for the skills and confidence you will hone.

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This book helped me so much with logical reasoning. Do not hesitate to buy. I went from averaging -8 on LR sections to -4 in less than 3 months.

This book and the methodologies in it drastically increased my LR score and demonstrably changed my law school prospects. Before I started prepping, I thought I would be heading to a law school ranked in the 50s, best case scenario. I am now at a T10 law school.

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Reasoning questions. She gives practical advice on how to answer each type of question with information on each type of answer choice. But what makes this book stand out most of all are the translation and CLIR drills, which have been more effective in raising my LR score than anything else out there.

I was panicking a little the weeks leading up to the LSAT as I was around 5 points away from where I wanted to be. This honestly was the push I needed to get to my goal score. In practice tests, I was consistently getting -2/-1/-0 after reading this book instead of -4/-3/-2. Truly made me feel much more confident in logical reasoning. I took the August 2024 LSAT and felt absolutely horrible about the reading comprehension section, but somehow got a 174. I believe it is because I was able to do so well on the logical reasoning sections, and I have this book to thank!

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Trust me and buy this book. You will not regret it. You do need to actually READ (not skim) and PROCESS the information for it to actually help you with the exam. If you do take it seriously, it’ll pull through!

Highly recommend this book!! After studying for months with another prep course and seeing plateaus in my score, this book helped me achieve a 10 point higher score within a month. Best resource for improving LR!

Fantastic book. The author is a language expert, and is able to dissect every element of the LR section. She does it in a way that no other book does, and makes it easy to see the underlying reasoning in a question.

Ellen's Loophole has by far been the most impactful resource in my LR journey. The way she breaks down the fundamental concepts in the early chapters were easy to understand and (thankfully) made the whole 'logic' element of it less intimidating.

Great book and really helps you master LR....just make sure to actually follow the advice the book gives.

Ellen Cassidy dispels the notion that one cannot improve their reading and understanding abilities. I love her unique approach of translating question stimuli and emphasizing the importance of developing foundational reading memorizing, and understanding abilities before grinding out Question Drills and PT's right from the gun. I especially recommend this book to anyone who has a longer LSAT timeline and is patient enough to work on fundamentals if necessary (which I believe for most it is).

If you are preparing to take the LSAT and feel unsure about the way they word things, this book will do wonders for you. This book is not laid out like your average test prep bible or practice booklet- it completely guides you through the process of deciphering and answering logical reasoning questions. The logic in this book also really helped me get better at the reading comprehension section.

I went from missing 7 or 8 questions in LR and RC sections to missing 3 or 4 questions, which bumped my score up like you wouldn’t believe. A lot of the material available to people studying to take the LSAT is not particularly understanding of how frustrating it can be to prepare for this thing, but Ellen’s writing really makes you feel seen and heard while you navigate your way through studying. I couldn’t recommend this more.