How to Ace the LSAT to Get Into Your Dream Law School

Since 1952, when the ABA began formally accrediting U.S. law schools, the LSAT has been an essential ingredient in most successful law school applications. While its monopoly on law admissions testing has weakened in recent years as programs have begun accepting the GRE instead, most potential law school applicants should plan on taking the LSAT. The LSAT is notoriously difficult, but with a few months of preparation and hard work, you can achieve the score you need to get into the school of your dreams.

Related: Should You Take the LSAT or GRE?

What Does the LSAT Test?

The LSAT comprises two major parts. The first is the most important – and the most daunting: a multi-section, scored test that is taken in one sitting and involves three scored sections and one unscored, variable section. Each section is 35 minutes long and multiple-choice. These are reading comprehension, analytical reasoning (also known as “logic games”), and logical reasoning. The unscored section may be drawn from any of the three section categories. Overall, the exam takes just over two hours. 

The second part of the test is an unscored, but still required, writing sample that is administered separately.

How to Best Prepare for the LSAT

1. Make a plan and begin early.

Choose a test date, giving yourself a minimum of 12 weeks to prepare. If you plan to apply to law schools this fall, we recommend targeting an initial test in either June or August. A summer test will afford you enough time to retest, if needed, in October or November. This will give you scores early enough to make you a competitive applicant. Although many law schools’ application deadlines are not until February or March, most use a rolling admissions process, meaning the later into the winter you take the test, the less competitive your application will be.

1. Work with quality materials.

Once you have a plan, you’ll need quality materials to prepare with. While you may encounter an overwhelming glut of LSAT materials from third-party companies, not even the best of these is a suitable replacement for actual LSAT questions. Fortunately, an abundance of official LSAT materials is available in a convenient format at a reasonable cost. A subscription to LSAT Prep Plus for just $99 provides access to over 70 exams, all delivered in the official digital format, identical to what you’ll encounter on test day. If you primarily practice using paper-delivered tests, you may find yourself surprised on test day by the difference a computer-delivered test makes. Don’t be caught off guard.

1. Know your weaknesses and study accordingly.

Now that you’re ready to begin the real work, your first step should be to take a full-length practice test. Keep an eye on your time, but take as much time as you need to finish all the sections. Doing so will give you a clear glimpse of your current strengths and weaknesses so you can structure your preparation accordingly. If logic games are your weak point, as they are for most beginners, then target them. Although they’re challenging, they are the most “gameable” section of the test. Learn the system and practice it until you’ve mastered it.

1. Be intentional and consistent.

Spend at least 8 hours every week preparing for the exam, which should include drills, practice questions, and full tests, both timed and untimed. We recommend setting aside specific times each week for LSAT prep to ensure that you get in your hours even when you don’t feel like it. If you have a full-time job and find yourself mentally exhausted in the evenings, then aim to carve out time earlier in the day and on weekends to ensure that you’re approaching your LSAT preparation with optimal focus and energy. Consider studying smarter by using repetition with variation to improve retention. That said, consistency is crucial, so don’t skip your regularly scheduled study blocks just because you don’t feel like doing them. 

1. Analyze your mistakes.

Over half of the time you spend preparing for the LSAT should involve reviewing questions you’ve already answered. Commit to the crucial practice of critically reviewing every question you struggle with, even those you end up answering correctly.

While practicing questions and sections is important, critical analysis of your performance is the key to learning from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them in the future. In addition, pay attention to patterns in the questions you miss. Are you bombing “grouping” games? Do you tend to struggle with Logical Reasoning questions involving “flaws in the reasoning”? Are there certain kinds of reading passages you struggle with? Look for these patterns and prioritize them in your study. In addition, consider doing blind review of full-length sections. This means not grading a practice section after you’ve completed it, but instead retaking the same section a few days later, then grading both results to compare your performance and to note interesting patterns in questions that may have stumped you once or even twice.

1. Take timed practice tests.

While you should work through some sections and questions untimed to gain deeper familiarity with the test, you should also take timed sections and full-length tests to develop an effective pace and build stamina.

1. Work with a tutor.

A tutor not only provides you with accountability in your process of preparing for the LSAT, but also offers expert and individualized support in your efforts to improve, helps you identify patterns in your performance, and shares practical strategies that are rooted in years of experience with the exam.

What to Expect On Test Day

Since the spring of 2020, all LSATs have been administered as the “LSAT Flex,” a digitally-delivered, at-home version of the exam. The process of taking the LSAT Flex is simple, and most test takers have no technical difficulties. However, there are some specific requirements that your space and equipment must meet. You’ll need the following:

• a quiet, well-lit, private room with a table or desk;

• a laptop or desktop computer with a Windows or Mac operating system, either the Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser, a webcam, and a microphone (see detailed system requirements);

• a strong and stable internet connection (if possible, plug directly into an ethernet cable);

• admin privileges for the computer on which you’ll take the test (to download the required proctoring software, which you can’t do ahead of the test); 

• your username and password for both LawHub and ProctorU;

• a cell phone with a camera (or a mirror) to show the proctor your testing space;

• a physical ID;

• five blank sheets of scratch paper – lined, unlined, or graphed (we recommend legal size, and not just because it’s a law admissions exam!);

• several pens and/or pencils (you’re allowed to use highlighters as well); and

• an eraser, if you’re working with a pencil (and you should use a pencil for logic games!).

You are also allowed to have the following in your testing space:

• a beverage in a clear plastic container – glass and aluminum are prohibited;

• soft, non-electronic, non-corded, non-banded, generic foam ear plugs; and

• tissues.

North Avenue Education Can Help You With LSAT Prep Today!

The journey towards an LSAT score that sets you apart is long and hard, but you are not alone. If you need help in designing your own plan for successfully preparing for the LSAT, don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert tutors, who can help as you navigate the daunting terrain of law school admissions tests. 
Get in touch to discuss our sophisticated approach to LSAT prep and make a plan for success in your law school applications.