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