Error Prevention I: Double-Checks

When I was a lawyer, the briefs I wrote always went through at least 3 reviews: mine, a senior associate and a partner. This pattern of review is not just about senior attorneys weighing in on the arguments. It’s also about catching typos and mistakes. Multiple reviewers, each with fresh eyes, will usually eliminate all but one or two typos.

I want to emphasize something: I made typos and errors, and sometimes I didn’t catch them before the next level review. This is normal. Any senior attorney that screams at you for typos in the first final draft is a shithead, and you should avoid working for them at all costs.

It’s not just about preventing typos. It’s about having a system of secondary checks to catch mistakes as they happen. Multi-level review is how lawyers handle mistakes. And it’s very, very effective.

So here’s my advice:

1. When you create a “correct” board in logic games, take a few seconds to do a double-check. Run through the rules, in the order they were provided, and apply each rule one last time. This is very, very effective at preventing LG errors.

2. When you’re selecting an answer choice in Logical Reasoning, double-check the question stem and the conclusion. Make sure you’re answering the right type of question, and make sure your answer choice is directly relevant to the conclusion. This prevents a sizeable majority of LR errors.

3. Reading Comprehension is the hardest to build double-checks in. But again, re-read the question stem after you choose a final answer. Also, pay extra careful attention to descriptive words in answer choices. Trap answers in RC usually come from slightly incorrect descriptors being applied. These tactics will reduce RC errors.

Training Guidance

In terms of training, it’s simple: do untimed sections and force yourself to start doing double-checks. At first they might take a bit of time, but you’ll be more and more efficient as your practice. We want to create new habits. Practice, force yourself to do it, and eventually it will become habitual.

Remember: no one is capable of writing a paper with no typos. Same for the LSAT. The goal is to both minimize errors and build double-checks to catch errors. Without both, you will continue to make errors.

I’m continuing to work with my students on various error-proofing methods and effective error-proofing training. So this will be the first in a series!

Obligatory Social Media Links and Tutoring Pitch

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