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Blueprint vs Kaplan LSAT
Determine which LSAT prep course is better for you in this comprehensive comparison of Kaplan and Blueprint
Blueprint and Kaplan are both extremely popular LSAT prep options; yet, each company has distinct strengths and weaknesses. So how do you pick the right one? After using and reviewing both prep courses, we have some thoughts on how the pros and cons of each program would effect different types of learners. In this comparison, we cover how their prep materials stack up, so you can make a decision as to which is best for you.
Given this is a lengthy, comprehensive comparison, we’ve included jump-to links above for easy navigation.
Video Review: Which LSAT Prep Course Is Better?
In the above video, team member John provides our team’s thoughts on how these two LSAT prep courses stack up. Please keep reading for more detail and analysis.
To compare the LSAT courses from Blueprint and Kaplan, let’s break down the strengths and weaknesses of each program. Let’s start with the major advantages of using Blueprint to help you prepare for the LSAT.
Our Assessment of The Blueprint LSAT Prep Materials
Blueprint’s self-paced course is anchored by hundreds of short video lessons. These videos are purposefully presented in a very unique style – to be highly engaging.
They’ve clearly designed the videos in this manner with the goal to grab and hold your attention, and thereby improve the learning experience and retention of the course material.
In this regard, they exceeded my expectations. By a mile. I found the videos to be smart, highly entertaining, and presented in a clean dynamic format – instructors appear on screen as graphics, notes and cartoons appear around them.
As designed, the videos make for an engaging and interesting learning experience. Full stop. The video lessons are then followed in the study materials by assessments and quizzes, detailed homework assignments, drills, and practice problems.
Blueprint LSAT video lesson example
When combined, the video lessons, assessments, and homework methodically break down all the complex concepts in great detail, and offer the ability to customize explanations to your learning preference.
Overall, I found the quality and quantity of Blueprint’s primary study materials to be among the best of any LSAT prep course we have reviewed.
Blueprint supports their online coursework with a full suite of hardcopy prep books and a comprehensive live online classroom experience (assuming you choose that option). Blueprint’s classroom coursework offers students 15 virtual classroom lessons, meeting two days per week, with two of Blueprint’s LSAT instructors. In addition, there are several proctored exams.
I thought the instructors were excellent at analyzing complex concepts and problems, all while keeping the lesson fast-paced and light. They would often break away to speak about different law schools, career goals, and other questions posed by students.
The hardcopy textbooks serve as a supplement to the core curriculum, and contain lesson notes, practice problems, and drills. The books are thorough, well-written, and provide excellent ancillary study material.
Blueprint LSAT problem review
Blueprint also utilizes official past LSAT questions in its study material and practice tests. Similar to their competition, they do this through a subscription to the LawHub program providing access to every LSAT administered since 1991.
Studies consistently show that practicing on official past LSAT exams provides for greater relevance and better scores. So there’s that.
After every practice exam, Blueprint also provides students with a detailed score report – a scoring analysis tool breaking down how you performed on every component of the test, and where you might need additional help.
Through their analytics, not only does Blueprint know what problems or questions you got wrong – they know why you got them wrong. I found such feedback to be extremely valuable.
Blueprint uses a proprietary learning platform to tie the whole user experience together. The platform uses an advanced algorithm to produce the most optimal learning methodology and schedule for each student. The platform captures data on every interaction with the course material and analyzes performance against dozens of metrics.
Another Blueprint LSAT problem explanation
User interaction between the platform and course material is accomplished through Blueprint’s advanced dashboard. The dashboard’s interface is simple, intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. It’s simply one of the best and most advanced of any I’ve encountered. The banner at the top of your screen moves you smoothly and seamlessly through all the coursework components.
Overall, combining Blueprint’s quality content with its learning platform makes for one of the most user-friendly experiences of any LSAT prep course.
The video lessons are based on the idea that test prep can actually be entertaining. In essence, that you learn and retain more when you’re having some fun.
The video lessons from Blueprint are top-notch
In my opinion, Blueprint’s cutting-edge video production actually makes the learning experience engaging and enjoyable. The videos roll through a series of dynamic notes, images and diagrams, are fast-paced, and use game-like features and other software tools to grab and hold your attention throughout the entire video lesson.
Their LSAT video instructors are masters at making dense and intimidating material actually understandable. Blueprint has built their reputation on the ability to help students understand very complex material, and their video lessons definitely enhance that goal.
Now that you have a better idea of the areas in which Blueprint wins over Kaplan, let’s turn the tables and discuss the major advantages of using Kaplan to help prepare you for the LSAT exam.
Our Analysis of The Kaplan LSAT Study Materials
Kaplan must believe in leaving nothing to chance, because you’re almost overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of their study materials. There are literally hundreds of hours of lessons, assessments, practice problem tests, drills, and problem explanations.
Kaplan’s course curriculum is clearly designed by experienced teachers, and has been perfected over decades. It is broken down into six core sessions closely mirroring the different LSAT sections. Each session is further broken down into units with their own video lessons, assessments and ancillary coursework.
Whether you choose the On Demand Course or the Live Online Course, Kaplan provides 24 hours of core lesson instruction, and over 150 hours of video content through their LSAT Channel.
The LSAT Channel is a key feature of Kaplan’s study materials, and provides supplemental video lessons that drill down into more complex concepts and problem types.
Example Kaplan LSAT video lecture
Personally, I found all of Kaplan’s study materials to be extremely well-designed and incredibly detailed. The video lessons generally average in length from several minutes to an hour, and take the form of a digital whiteboard with the instructor appearing in the bottom corner with notes, highlights and graphics constantly changing around them.
The videos are genuinely insightful, engaging, and provide solid actionable strategies. They’re not as good as Blueprint’s video lectures, but still solid nonetheless.
In addition to the core curriculum, Kaplan offers a practice library full of advanced resource material based on past official LSAT questions designed to help master advanced subjects and problem types.
Throughout the coursework, Kaplan is constantly assessing their students’ progress. Every student is required to take three full-length diagnostic tests under LSAT exam-like conditions.
Following each test, students receive a Smart Report, providing detailed feedback outlining where you performed well and where you might need a little additional help.
The Kaplan LSAT channel
As with most major LSAT prep course providers, every Kaplan student receives a set of hardcopy prep books. The books closely follow and augment the course lessons, and provide additional practice questions and drills. I found the books to be thoughtful and well-written, and a helpful complement to the course lessons. They are better than Kaplan’s in my opinion.
In evaluating the Kaplan course curriculum against other LSAT prep course providers, what stood out the most to me was the sheer quantity of the study material.
Between the lessons, assessments, textbook materials, practice problem sets, practice tests, drills, and problem explanations, there are literally hundreds of hours of prep material. It’s a mountain of resources and much more than others, including Blueprint, provide.
A look at the Kaplan LSAT Channel’s offerings
The practice material is extremely comprehensive, detailed, logically formatted, well-designed, and thoughtfully presented. Overall, I found Kaplan’s prep material to be virtually unparalleled in the industry. It is the perfect course for students that plan to burn through material and immerse themselves in LSAT prep.
Deciding between the Blueprint and Kaplan LSAT course options isn’t easy. They both are excellent, but not without their own strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, you’ll find the below recap helpful in making your final decision.
Study Materials: Both Blueprint and Kaplan provide excellent lessons and coursework. Kaplan borderline overwhelms you with the quantity of its course materials, while Blueprint excels with its amazing video lessons. For me, the Blueprint videos place it slightly ahead of Kaplan in this category. For this reason, we give the nod to Blueprint.
Price: Price is typically a major criteria when evaluating any LSAT prep course. Both Blueprint and Kaplan are very competitive with their price points at virtually every course level; however, Kaplan technically does offer the more affordable courses. Plus, Kaplan also seems to be more aggressive with sales and discounts. Advantage – Kaplan.
LSAT Prep Books: Blueprint and Princeton both provide excellent textbooks that complement and track their course lessons. However, I found that Kaplan’s books outperform Blueprint with their proven strategies, practice questions, and drills for each of their six major core sessions. Advantage – Kaplan.
LSAT Practice Tests: Blueprint and Kaplan, as well as virtually all other LSAT course providers, subscribe to LSAC’s LawHub program – providing access to over 55 official LSAT exams for the most relevant preparation possible. However, whereas Kaplan requires students to take four diagnostic practice exams, Blueprint requires six exams, both self-paced and proctored. Plus, our team found Blueprint’s scoring feedback reports to be very useful. Advantage – Blueprint.
User Experience & Interface: As noted above, I found Blueprint’s proprietary learning platform and dashboard to be one of the best I have encountered. Although to be fair, Kaplan’s user interface is intuitive and easy to use as well. Advantage – Blueprint.
Classroom Component: As two of the top LSAT prep course providers, both Blueprint and Kaplan offer a top-notch classroom experience with LSAT instructors who have undergone intensive training. But, while Kaplan instructors were nice, helpful, and good at holding you accountable, I found Blueprint’s instructors equally as qualified, and across the board naturally humorous and better at holding your attention through at times dense material. Advantage – Blueprint.
Extra Resources: Although not covered above, Blueprint goes above and beyond Kaplan by offering students a bunch of supplemental tools and extra resources. For example, Blueprint provides it’s students simulated proctored exams, daily online review sessions, office hours with one of their instructors, and a cool Law School Compass to name a few. Advantage – Blueprint.
Online Content Access Period: With Kaplan, students can choose their content access period (either 4 months, 6 months, or 12 months). Just keep in mind, the 6- and 12-month options are more expensive. Similarly, Blueprint also offers multiple plans (monthly, 4-month, 6-month, and 12-month) with prices increasing as you add more time. Tie.
Refund Policy & Score Guarantees: This category is complicated for both Blueprint and Kaplan. In short, they both offer score guarantees and have refund policies, but with many conditions and qualifiers depending on a variety of variables and course selection. Be sure to read the fine print for both providers. Tie.
In the end, we think Blueprint offers the superior LSAT prep course based on the reasons listed above. However, Kaplan is not far behind. These are easily two of the top three or four LSAT prep companies in the entire industry. You really can’t go wrong either way.
Which LSAT prep course is better, Kaplan or Blueprint?
In my opinion, Blueprint has a slightly better LSAT course given the company’s engaging and effective video lessons. With that said, it is a very close call. Some people may prefer Kaplan depending on the type of learner you are (e.g., text-based).
Which LSAT prep course is more affordable, Blueprint or Kaplan?
Both Blueprint and Kaplan offer several different LSAT course options that are very similar in terms of pricing. However, the companies do offer special promotions regularly, so the answer to which course is cheaper largely depends on timing.
Do Blueprint and Kaplan offer LSAT score guarantees?
Yes, Blueprint and Kaplan both offer higher score guarantees for students. Keep in mind, there are conditions and qualifiers to those guarantees.
