# Burton Method Competitor Research Intel

## Week of January 26 - February 1, 2026 (Updated Jan 31)

### !! INDUSTRY-SHAKING: LSAC Stealth RC Format Change !!
- **What:** LSAC silently removed guaranteed comparative reading passage from RC section on January 2026 LSAT
- **Details:** Some test takers got all 4 single passages (no comparative). LSAC updated website after the fact. Law.com confirmed this is PERMANENT.
- **Cheating angle:** LSAC stated awareness of "stolen tests," now using "virtually all new test content"
- **Competitor reactions:** Blueprint published most comprehensive blog analysis (likely SEO #1). LSAT Demon covered on podcast (Jan 26). All competitors scrambling to update RC strategy materials.
- **Burton opportunity:** Visual/multimodal approach is inherently format-agnostic. First mover on updated RC content wins trust.

### LSAC: 2026 Admissions Cycle Exploding
- Applicants up **33% YoY**, applications up **27%**
- Black/African-American applicants up 38%, first-gen up 38%
- Hey Future Lawyer calls it "most competitive cycle in history" (32.9% increase cited)
- Feb 2026 LSAT scheduling opened Jan 20. Registration fee now $248.

### 7Sage
- **MAJOR: Platform Redesign Launched** — Cleaner UI, better analytics, shorter/simpler video explanations, drill-first "learn by doing" philosophy
- Classic site maintained through 2026 for transition
- New free trial: 29 sample lessons, 2 free PrepTests, 200+ question explanations
- **Pricing unchanged:** Core $69/mo | Live $129/mo | Coach $299/mo (+$120/yr LSAC LawHub)
- $1/yr for fee waiver recipients (strong accessibility play)
- Mobile app in development, no date announced

### LSAT Demon
- Published "LSAC's Stealth RC Change" podcast (Jan 26) — fast reaction, framed as "no impact"
- 5 podcast episodes this week (daily content machine)
- Student success story: 157→173 (social proof)
- Active daily live classes: morning, lunch, evening format
- Pricing stable ~$95/mo

### Blueprint LSAT
- Published the most comprehensive blog analysis of RC format change — well-written, SEO-optimized, will rank for months
- Getting strong external review coverage (TestPrepInsight Jan 2026)
- Marketing: "fun" prep with cartoon lessons, funny instructors
- 1:1 tutoring remains premium differentiator

### PowerScore
- Continuing admissions consulting expansion with Spivey partnership (Law School Admissions Bible)
- Jon Denning (post-Killoran departure) previewing Jan/Feb 2026 LSAT content
- Live class schedule remains extensive

### Kaplan
- Ran New Year's sale: $200 off LSAT prep (expired Jan 12)
- "LSAT Premium Prep (2026)" book: 99th-percentile instructor videos, data-driven strategies
- Marketing: "Add 15 Points to Your LSAT Score"

### Magoosh LSAT
- **Quiet.** No visible feature launches, sparse blog content.
- Being undercut on accessibility by 7Sage's $1/yr program

### Hey Future Lawyer
- Podcast highlighting 32.9% YoY application increase
- Active Reddit marketing with free LSAT sessions
- "Save $250k on law school tuition" positioning

### Action Items for Burton Method
1. **URGENT** — Publish Burton's take on RC format change (every competitor has theirs)
2. Target "new to LSAT" audience (33% more applicants = TAM growth)
3. Build content pipeline for <48hr reaction to industry news
4. Consider admissions guidance scope (PowerScore/Spivey precedent)
5. Prioritize mobile-first (7Sage app still not launched)

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### Blogwatcher Status
- **13 feeds tracked**, most competitor blogs lack working RSS feeds
- **No new articles detected via RSS** (Jan 31 scan)
- Web search + homepage checks remain primary intel sources

## Previous Weeks

### Week of Jan 26 (initial scan - Jan 30)
- 7Sage $10k giveaway contest. LSAT Demon pricing $95/mo. PowerScore: Dave Killoran departed, Spivey partnership. LSAC: Jan 2026 scores released 1/28, China testing unavailable. Industry: rising apps + scores, diminishing differentiation at high end.