LSAT India 2020 Topper Interview: Pragna Yenduri shares that Consistency is the Key

Aspiring to join Jindal Global Law School, Pragna Yeduri shares her prep strategy and how she cracked LSAT India 2020.

Pragna Yenduri cracked LSAT India 2020 with a scaled score of 475/ 480. Having completed her High School from Los Angeles with 4.0 GPA, Pragna shared that, “Law piqued my interest ever since I was 13 years old. I interned at a law firm when I was 16 years, and that work exposure increased my passion for law”.

Belonging to Andhra Pradesh, Pragna’s mother is a Lawyer, father is a Banker and sister is a Doctor. Talking about her hobbies, she shared, “I am an avid reader and debater. I love to draw during my leisure time. I have a black belt in Taekwondo. I am also interested in cooking and dancing”.

In a candid interview with Shiksha, Pragna shares how she prepared for LSAT India, success mantras, future plans, and a lot more. Go through the complete interview Shiksha had with LSAT India 2020 topper below.

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Yes, I expected to crack LSAT India. I was pleasantly surprised and extremely ecstatic when I saw my result.

I secured 97.17 percentile on the exam. LSAT India doesn’t disclose the exam score for all the sections. 

My family has been my greatest strength. My sister Praneetha has been my backbone with whom I could share my insecurities. As she is a Doctor and someone who went gave entrance examinations she was able to advise me better on how to deal with exam stress and take each day as it comes. My mother has patiently put up with my grumpy cranky behavior at times and always told me to give my best and not worry about the results. My father had always been a silent cheerleader for both the girls. He never pressurised either of us into choosing a career or checked vigorously upon us during the preparation period, and I think that’s the best thing a parent can do which is to give the child that mental space, peace and not hammer on their heads continuously.

I finished my board exams few months prior to writing the LSAT India exam. I had sufficient time to finish my preparation after writing the Class 12 exams, hence my preparation for the college entrance exams and Class 12^th exam didn’t conflict. 

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I didn’t let COVID-19 affect my preparation or confidence. It was stressful at first to focus on the exam during this dire time, where you can’t even step out of the house to watch a movie or dine at a restaurant, just to unwind and relax. However, my willpower to score well in the exam was stronger than any anxiety or insecurities I had initially felt.

Due to COVID-19, the exam was held in online mode for the first time and that too at home. I was anxious initially because the technical skill set required for both offline and online modes is so different. I was also tensed about internet connectivity, server issues as unlike the exam centre you have nobody to help you at home. Nevertheless, I adapted to the change as soon as I learned about this news. I tried to simulate the test atmosphere by solving mocks on my laptop, three hours per day for one month before the exam. This helped me focus better on the screen and avoid any distractions. 

I was endeavouring to secure a seat at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), so I was determined to study diligently for LSAT India. If you have love, honesty, and passion for what you do, then discipline and hard work never seem to be a burden. That is what my sister always says. I conscientiously started solving mocks around May of 2020. I solved over 30 LSAT India mocks. I was also assiduous in rectifying all the mistakes I made on the mocks, so that I don’t repeat the same mistakes on the day of the exam. 

My LSAT India prep was as follows:

• Reading section was the easiest for me. I’m well versed in reading long passages and answering questions about them. I mainly focused on analysing the tone of the passages and connotations of the words.
• Time management was my main issue with both of logical reasoning sections, because the questions were quite lengthy and the options were tricky. I tried to solve as many Logical Reasoning section tests as I can, so I can identify the different question types and the respective reasoning skills I need to solve them.
• After every mock, I would thoroughly analyse the questions I got wrong and rectify them. This helped me recognize my strengths and weaknesses.
• Analytical reasoning was initially the hardest for me, but now it’s my best scoring section. I watched numerous LSAT videos on YouTube and learned many tips and shortcuts taught by those test experts. It really helped me to use my time efficiently during the exam.

No, I prepared on my own by solving online mocks and watching YouTube videos. 

I started my preparation around May. I used to follow the 10+6+8 plan which is 10 hours of combined studies for CLAT and LSAT India and since May, I studied 3 hours exclusively for LSAT India, 6 hours of leisure and completing your daily chores and 8 hours of sleep.

I wrote at least one LSAT mock exam every day. I timed myself and made sure that I was able to finish the sections within the allotted time. I analysed every mock I took and rectified the questions I got wrong. My plan was very simple and balanced. Along with a good study plan it’s very important to unwind once in a while and have proper meals and sleep so that you don’t burnout in the initial days itself.

Initially my weakest section was Analytical Reasoning. I spent at least 2 hours extra every other day on Analytical Reasoning. I solved the Kaplan LSAT US Analytical Reasoning mock papers under a time constraint to get more practice. Gradually, I was able to solve this section on time with only a few mistakes. My strongest section was Reading Comprehension, I focused on scoring the most points in this section so I could afford to lose some points in Logical and Analytical Reasoning sections. For Logical Reasoning, I solved many Kaplan LSAT US section papers, under a time limit that is less than the one provided by LSAT India, so I could increase my speed and familiarize myself with the questions types.

I didn’t buy any books for my preparation. LSAT India provides its students with a few free preparation tests. There are free Kaplan LSAT US mock exams online. LSAT US exam is a little harder than the Indian one. However, I think it is perfect for preparation. Once, you are well-acquainted with the LSAT US exam, LSAT India exam will be much easier to solve. 

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I’ll be writing CLAT in September.

My mother did Law. So, I think that gene runs in the family but on a serious note since my early teens I had always been intrigued by courtroom discussions. Law is a thinking profession and every case requires different creativity and nuances while handling them. You can never be bored of the job. Today various avenues have opened up for the profession. It is no longer a financially unstable job to be at. As a lawyer I can always champion legal causes for the greater good of society. It is a beautiful blend of adventure and job satisfaction.

The exam had a mixed bag of easy and tough questions. It was challenging. The test sections have not changed. However, this year only the mode of the exam changed and the exam was conducted online spread over few days. So, the questions were random for each set and none of the candidates had the same questions this year.

I would like to join Jindal Global Law School (JGLS).

I would advise the students to be strong-willed. It is okay if you falter sometimes or score low in the tests. Consistency is the key. It is better to be scared than have pseudo confidence. I wasn’t at my best right at the start but I kept going. Since LSAT is all about spontaneous assessments the more u solve the mocks the more u sharpen, quicken your skills. Please take each day as it comes & chalk out a balanced study plan. Avoid a burnout.

I’m not quite certain about what legal specialisation I want to pursue in the future. I’m currently inclined towards pursuing my Juris Doctor degree in America, and practicing as a Civil Trial Lawyer.

Read More:

• LSAT India Result
• List of Colleges Accepting LSAT India 2020 Scores
• LSAT India News