I am glad you are educating yourself as to how you may best approach the Law School Admission Test (i.e., LSAT). I scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT, LSAT, GMAT and GRE and have helped thousands of students prepare for standardized tests. Here are the first five recommended steps I suggest. Please do not hesitate to have a further consult with me: here.
Thank you for considering this advice and I hope it helps you. The Initial LSAT Steps: Step 1: Take a practice test; Step 2: Determine difference between initial LSAT score and desired LSAT score;
Step 3: Approximate the runway (i.e., amount of time) you have to reach the desired LSAT score;
Step 4: Find improvement path (i.e., books, class, tutor, study partner, etc.) that comports to your situation;
Step 5: Engage improvement path with full force.
LSAT Preparation Steps for Beginners
Step 1: Take a Practice Test
I highly recommend taking an initial practice test, especially when a student has no prior knowledge of the test. The test is annoying and long and the score is, uniformly, humbling. However, it provides a beautiful kernel of truth that many other students (i.e., our opponents) will avoid in order to protect their ego. It provides the students willing to take this first step with a realistic initial understanding of the competition they are entering into.
The initial score is humbling to all of us. No one is happy with their first practice test. This test is not an indication of the student’s potential or ability. It is merely an introduction to the game that will be played. We do not need to be good, immediately, to achieve great things but we should be willing to admit where we are currently and where we aspire to be.
The average starting score is around 142. The distance between the starting score and the goal LSAT score should inform a person as to whether their preparation path should be longer or shorter. What’s most important in this step is the student’s willingness to honestly assess where their understanding is currently and be willing to change or build upon their understanding.
Step 2: Determine the Difference Between the Initial and Desired LSAT Score
After you discover your LSAT start point, you next want to figure out the difference between the current score and the reasonable band of desired scores given your goals.
For example, let’s say Jimmy scores a 141 on his initial practice test and wants to attend a law school in Florida. He could google “average LSATs for Florida law schools” and he would discover there are 12 law schools in Florida and the LSAT averages for some local schools such as the University of Florida (169), Florida State University (165), University of Miami (161), Florida International University (160), Barry University School of Law (149), and Cooley Law School (148).
To confirm the required LSAT score range for YOUR desired law school, please consider checking out LSD.Law and Oxford seminars for American and Canadian law schools average admissions numbers, respectively.
Step 3: Approximate the Runway (Timeline for Improvement)
You should approximate the amount of time you have to reach the desired LSAT scores. A rule of thumb is at least 3 months with reasonably consistent study times for every 8 to 10 points required. This is, probably, the single most important academic test of the student's life for the purposes of law school. Many students spend years preparing for this test. There are even those who spend years and fail to earn a qualifying score. Nothing is guaranteed in a competitive environment but we want to try to reasonably estimate the amount of time that puts us in a good position to succeed.
The month immediately before the LSAT test date will be, by far, the busiest study month so please ensure it's a period of time where your life will allow you to be intensely focused on a task.
Step 4: Find an Improvement Path
The three common improvement paths considered are: (i) Self-Study -- using LSAT books; (ii) Class -- online or in-person; or (iii) Tutor -- individually guided help.
Most people start with, but do not end with, the books. Some well-reviewed LSAT books are: the LSAT Trainer, LSAT Loophole, and PowerScore Series.
There are various well-regarded LSAT classes. I personally believe TestMasters and Manhattan LSAT offer the highest quality LSAT courses generally available on the market. Live classes are always highly teacher dependent and these two companies do a stellar job ensuring a quality teaching product. These classes tend to be fairly expensive. More popular, decent quality, value options for classes would be those offered by 7-sage and LSAT Demon.
Tutoring is also an option. The most important thing with a tutor is to find a good fit. Do not hesitate to call 3 to 5 tutors before deciding on your best option. You can also check out Reddit's Tutor Directory to help guide you through finding a credible LSAT tutor. I also offer tutoring which I would be happy if you learned more about -- Lawprep180 Tutoring.
Step 5: Engage improvement Path
You’ve planned the work, now work on the plan. Give your chosen method sincere effort. Do not be afraid to change your approach if it is not working for you..
There is no shame in taking multiple bites at the apple and, for the most important academic test of your life, you should probably assume that you will take a couple of shots at it.
Please do not hesitate to email me if you would like a free 30-minute consultation regarding your particular LSAT situation. I am happy to talk through all your options and will not push you to choose a particular path.
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