The Top 10 LSAT Tips
LSAT Tip #1: Take the LSAT Early. The best time to take the LSAT is in February or June of the year prior to when you plan to enter law school. Many law schools accept applications beginning in early December and ending in February or March, and make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. Law schools will receive February and June LSAT scores early in the admission process, increasing your changes of being accepted.
LSAT Tip #2: Prepare Early. It is best to start test preparation 8-12 weeks prior to the test date. This is not a college exam, so you cannot “cram” for it in the last couple of week or days. The preparation regimen should include mastering the various question types and getting accustomed to the rigor of taking the LSAT exam. This takes time.
LSAT Tip #3: Take Full Length Practice Tests. Throughout your preparation period, take practice tests 1-3 times a week. Simulate actual test conditions as much as possible. Doing so will help your mind and body build up the necessary stamina to make it through the entire LSAT test without losing energy and focus.
LSAT Tip #4: Learn from Your Mistakes. Your 8-12 weeks of LSAT prep time should involve completing hundreds of practice questions. But just doing questions will provide only marginal help in achieving the best LSAT score you are capable of achieving. After completing practice questions you must review the answers to figure out where your reasoning was correct or incorrect. Learn from your errors so that you are less likely to repeat them. This is the way to master the LSAT.
LSAT Tip #5: Enroll in an LSAT Prep Class. The advantage of taking an LSAT prep class such as the LSAT Princeton Review or the Kaplan LSAT test prep course is that the class will help jump start your study regimen and help you understand how to do well on the LSAT. The instructors will help you understand each question type and be available to answer questions. Also, you will receive hundreds of practice questions and have access to every released past LSAT.
LSAT Tip #6: Get extra Prep Assistance. If you find that despite your best efforts you are not making the progress that you expect in LSAT prep, get additional help. Find a tutor that will give you LSAT advice and one-on-one attention to guide you through your difficult period.
LSAT Tip #7: Avoid Burn Out. Although some level of anxiety is likely unavoidable, it is important to minimize it. Pace yourself and resist the urge to study too much as doing so may cause you to become mentally drained. Incorporate into your LSAT study schedule activities that will help reduce your stress, such as going to the gym.
LSAT Tip #9: Answer Each Question. Do not skip any question. Even if you have no clue as to the correct answer, guessing will not harm you, but might help you. An LSAT score is based on correct answers, without penalty for incorrect or blank answers. However, if you leave a question blank you have a 0% chance of earning a point for that question. If you guess at a multiple choice question where there are 5 possible answers, you have a 20% chance of earning a point for that question.
LSAT Tip #9: Do not Obsess After the LSAT. Keep in mind that after the LSAT there is nothing you can do about your performance. There is no reason to obsess about questions you think you got wrong, or to go into a panic, believing that your score will be low. Instead, spend at least a few moments basking in the relief that it is over. Then focus on other items on your law school admissions checklist such as completing law school applications!
If you do not perform as well on the LSAT as you wanted to, do not panic. You can retake the test. However, before making that decision you have to consider whether it is likely that your score will improve significantly, as statistics show that in the absence of a specific, identifiable factor that caused the poor performance, retaking the LSAT will only improve a score by 2.5 points. Also, while your score may be lower than you would have liked, it might be good enough for the law schools to which you plan to apply. So instead of panicking, calmly figure out what your next step should be.