76 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
76 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
# Burton Method Competitor Research Intel
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## Week of January 26 - February 1, 2026 (Updated Jan 31)
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### !! INDUSTRY-SHAKING: LSAC Stealth RC Format Change !!
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- **What:** LSAC silently removed guaranteed comparative reading passage from RC section on January 2026 LSAT
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- **Details:** Some test takers got all 4 single passages (no comparative). LSAC updated website after the fact. Law.com confirmed this is PERMANENT.
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- **Cheating angle:** LSAC stated awareness of "stolen tests," now using "virtually all new test content"
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- **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.
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- **Burton opportunity:** Visual/multimodal approach is inherently format-agnostic. First mover on updated RC content wins trust.
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### LSAC: 2026 Admissions Cycle Exploding
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- Applicants up **33% YoY**, applications up **27%**
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- Black/African-American applicants up 38%, first-gen up 38%
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- Hey Future Lawyer calls it "most competitive cycle in history" (32.9% increase cited)
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- Feb 2026 LSAT scheduling opened Jan 20. Registration fee now $248.
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### 7Sage
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- **MAJOR: Platform Redesign Launched** — Cleaner UI, better analytics, shorter/simpler video explanations, drill-first "learn by doing" philosophy
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- Classic site maintained through 2026 for transition
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- New free trial: 29 sample lessons, 2 free PrepTests, 200+ question explanations
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- **Pricing unchanged:** Core $69/mo | Live $129/mo | Coach $299/mo (+$120/yr LSAC LawHub)
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- $1/yr for fee waiver recipients (strong accessibility play)
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- Mobile app in development, no date announced
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### LSAT Demon
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- Published "LSAC's Stealth RC Change" podcast (Jan 26) — fast reaction, framed as "no impact"
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- 5 podcast episodes this week (daily content machine)
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- Student success story: 157→173 (social proof)
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- Active daily live classes: morning, lunch, evening format
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- Pricing stable ~$95/mo
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### Blueprint LSAT
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- Published the most comprehensive blog analysis of RC format change — well-written, SEO-optimized, will rank for months
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- Getting strong external review coverage (TestPrepInsight Jan 2026)
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- Marketing: "fun" prep with cartoon lessons, funny instructors
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- 1:1 tutoring remains premium differentiator
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### PowerScore
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- Continuing admissions consulting expansion with Spivey partnership (Law School Admissions Bible)
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- Jon Denning (post-Killoran departure) previewing Jan/Feb 2026 LSAT content
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- Live class schedule remains extensive
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### Kaplan
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- Ran New Year's sale: $200 off LSAT prep (expired Jan 12)
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- "LSAT Premium Prep (2026)" book: 99th-percentile instructor videos, data-driven strategies
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- Marketing: "Add 15 Points to Your LSAT Score"
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### Magoosh LSAT
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- **Quiet.** No visible feature launches, sparse blog content.
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- Being undercut on accessibility by 7Sage's $1/yr program
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### Hey Future Lawyer
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- Podcast highlighting 32.9% YoY application increase
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- Active Reddit marketing with free LSAT sessions
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- "Save $250k on law school tuition" positioning
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### Action Items for Burton Method
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1. **URGENT** — Publish Burton's take on RC format change (every competitor has theirs)
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2. Target "new to LSAT" audience (33% more applicants = TAM growth)
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3. Build content pipeline for <48hr reaction to industry news
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4. Consider admissions guidance scope (PowerScore/Spivey precedent)
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5. Prioritize mobile-first (7Sage app still not launched)
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---
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### Blogwatcher Status
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- **13 feeds tracked**, most competitor blogs lack working RSS feeds
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- **No new articles detected via RSS** (Jan 31 scan)
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- Web search + homepage checks remain primary intel sources
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## Previous Weeks
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### Week of Jan 26 (initial scan - Jan 30)
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- 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.
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