The LSAT has a reputation for being a kingmaker or dealbreaker for law school applicants. A high score proves to law schools that you have the intellectual firepower for the study and practice of law. A so-so score could put you at the back of the admissions line. To improve your competitive chances as law school applications reach a 10-year high, make a study and test-taking plan to maximize every trick for LSAT success.
The key to LSAT success is preparation. You need enough study hours, days, weeks, and months to deeply understand the structure of the LSAT and to practice the LSAT (repeatedly) under test-like conditions.
The LSAT requires more prep time than a normal test. It does not examine your mastery of a subject. It tests your ability to think logically and analytically. This can be a very unnatural way of thinking, so it takes time to train yourself. Cramming just won’t work for the LSAT.
Don’t just make a short-term plan to “study for the LSAT.” Create a highly organized strategy and calendar with measurable benchmarking goals, such as setting a time to “take Practice Test #7 and create a study guide based on mistakes.”
Invest in printed LSAT prep books. Mark them up. Take notes. Circle keywords. Studying on a tablet or laptop can be effective, too, but make sure to use the highlighter function and add comments in the margins as you scroll. You can use a pen and paper during the real exam to take notes.
Overprepare for the Logical Reasoning sections. Because it is emphasized so heavily on the LSAT, analyzing and criticizing arguments should make up the bulk of your study time. Become familiar with the question types and most common missteps. Study with friends, explain your logic out loud, and listen for flaws in their logic. And consider downloading an app for on-the-go LSAT training.
Systematically learn from your mistakes on the practice exams. If you notice that you’re struggling with inference questions, analyze where your thought process went wrong, then how to overcome that weakness.
A half-hour here and there won’t cut it when you’re prepping for the LSAT. Simulate the actual test by building up your ability to concentrate for three to four hours at a stretch. Set a timer for 35 minutes for each section and only take a 10-minute break before the third section for exam-day authenticity.
When you enroll in a top-quality LSAT test prep course, you’ll have access to diagnostic practice exams, along with expert feedback to interpret your results. But even if you go solo for your test prep, complete as many official LSAT practice tests as time allows.
Fewer than one percent of people taking the LSAT score in the 180 “perfect” score range, but you can certainly approach your personal best by adopting these methods for test day.
If you’re stumped by a question, flag it and move on quickly. The same number of points are given for every question, so don’t fritter your time on a tough one.
You aren’t penalized for a wrong answer, so take a shot at a tough question. If you have time, circle back to it after answering the ones you’re sure you know.
Reading carelessly will come back to haunt you. Every word on the LSAT is there for a purpose. If you begin by doing a quick skim to get the basics of the question, make sure you follow up with a careful reading so you don’t misunderstand the setup for a logic game or overlook a critical word.
Improving your LSAT score has never been more important. According to the Law School Admission Council, there was a 13 percent increase in applications to law schools in 2021, the highest in a decade. To help you surpass the competition, USF Corporate Training and Professional Education’s LSAT Test Prep Course offers 30 hours of interactive, live-online instruction. You’ll focus on the skills and test-taking methods proven to deliver LSAT success.