Taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) can be daunting, but we have several tips and resources to help you prepare for the exam. As you study, you should keep in mind the format of the test.
Test Format: A 35-minute unscored writing sample that is sent to all the law schools you have applied for admission, and five 35-minute multiple choice sections:
- One section on Reading Comprehension
- One section on Analytical Reasoning
- Two sections on Logical Reasoning
- One unscored, variable section
Train for the exam, like you would a marathon. You don’t have to run a marathon everyday in order to run a marathon. Similarly, you don’t have to study several hours every day. Start studying early and give yourself breaks along the way. Some days might be short session and other days long session. Mixing it up will get you from getting burned out.
Take practice exams, and then analyze what you missed. Practice tests give you an understanding of the types of 
questions on the test and how quickly you progress through the questions. It is best to take these practice exams under the similar conditions – taking the entire test at one time, sitting in silence, and completing it without notes. The practice test will also help you create a plan of action for test day. It’s important to have a strategy that works to build confidence and work wisely through the test. Analyzing what you missed will lead to greater improvements next time around by learning from your errors.
Hone your critical thinking and logic skills. The practice of law requires individuals to analyze situations from multiple perspectives. To sharpen reading comprehension and reasoning skills, consider taking philosophy, ethics, literature, and political science courses during your time in school. You can also play logic games.
When taking the test, answer everything. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer. All questions are weighted equally so do not get stuck on a difficult question that wastes your time. Remember, if you get 65% of the questions correct, you will score higher than 70% of all test takers. You do not need to get every question correct to receive a good score.
Resources:
- Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) – official organization for law school admissions and website where you register for the exam
- LSAT Test Videos – provided by LSAC
- Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep – official online test (and it’s free)
