6 Tips On How To Ace The LSAT

While it is easy to think about applying to law school, the real challenge comes in passing the LSAT. It allows you to attend law school in Canada or the USA. Remember that even if you have good grades, the LSAT is what matters when getting admission into law school.

So, if you are thinking of taking the LSAT and you don't know where to begin, you have come to the right place. Here is a complete guide for you with the right tips to help you ace the LSAT in no time.

A Brief Overview Of The LSAT

All universities and admission programs have standardized tests that determine if a candidate can enter the program or not. LSAT is one such test for law, and it stands for Law School Admissions Test. The primary aim of the LSAT is to examine your comprehension skills, analytical thinking, argument abilities, and much more.

Of course, these factors are key to becoming a great lawyer and acing law school. All students that want to go to law school must take the LSAT before submitting their application to the university.

The Exam Structure Of The LSAT

Before you decide to take the LSAT, you must understand what the exam contains and assesses. It is a multiple-choice, five-question aptitude test that is followed by a thirty-minute writing sample. LSAT lasts for three hours and twenty-five minutes.

There are five sections, and all of them are multiple-choice, which means you get at least 130 questions. Keep in mind that you can only spend 35 minutes on each section. In between the third and fourth sections, you will receive a small break of ten to fifteen minutes.

Besides that, there are three different types of questions you will receive in the exam:

1. Analytical Reasoning

These types of questions are also known as logical ones, and they come in sections that contain twenty-four questions arranged in four sets of problems. Or, they can also come in a setup of five to seven questions.

2. Reading Comprehension

The reading comprehension section will typically contain between twenty-six to twenty-eight questions. These questions are arranged in four sets, and each of these sets includes a passage that is followed by six to eight questions.

3. Logical Thinking

Finally, there is also the logical thinking section containing twenty-four to twenty-six questions. These questions are not grouped into sets.

Remember that the LSAT score can range between 120 to 180, depending on how many correct answers you have given in the exam. The more answers you get right, the higher your score will be. So, if you want a good score, you need to study and get as many answers correct as possible.

Reasons To Take The LSAT

Of course, one of the biggest reasons to take the LSAT is if you want to attend law school in the USA or Canada. That is because the test judges the candidate’s ability and prospect to ace law school. Besides that, if you want admission into law schools that the American Bar Association (ABA) has approved, then taking the LSAT is an important requirement that you can’t miss.

Law schools also assess various qualities of a candidate before letting them enter their program. For example, they use the LSAT score, the student's GPA, other academic qualifications, letters of reference, professional experience, and much more. All of this will come together to help the law schools determine if the student can excel in their school.

Remember that the most important part of your law school application is your LSAT score. That is why it is crucial to ace this test with a high score and ensure everything else is in line too so that you can enter law school in no time.

Top Six Tips On How To Ace The LSAT

Now that you are familiar with the basics of the LSAT, you must also understand how to study for it and ace it in no time. After all, acing the exam is not only about understanding the material but also knowing the right examination techniques. So, here are the top six tips that will help you ace the LSAT in no time:

1. Pick Excellent Studying Materials

The right studying materials can take your LSAT preparation to the next level. Of course, there are endless LSAT preparation books, but you must choose the right ones that will support your studying schedule and technique. Keep in mind that this is not just about selecting the right book.

You will also have to decide which prep course is ideal for you during this time. For example, if you struggle with the thought of setting up your schedule, you can find a course that already has a set schedule. Everyone selects what works for them, and you can too.

The key is to make your selection early by basing it on what has worked well for you. So, be sure to choose the right study materials and use them to study well as they will help you in your course. Once you do, you can move on to the next step that will help you even more with your LSAT prep.

2. Don’t Stop Practicing

You can have the best study materials for your LSAT at your disposal, but they will all go to waste if you don't keep practicing all the time. If you want excellent performance on the LSAT, you will have to take out hours every day to complete the practice problems that come with the LSAT. That is why it is important for you to set at least a few hours each day for your LSAT practice.

The key to practicing well is to understand the structure of LSAT problems and how the creators of the test will write questions to trick you. Besides that, you also have to check the difficulty levels on the test. That is because not every logical reasoning question is created equal.

Because of this, your success is dependent on your practice of identifying difficult questions and knowing how to solve them. Of course, another component of the practice is to time yourself. You must finish all the sections on time so you can answer each question and receive the highest possible score.

3. Plan Your Time

Time management can make or break your LSAT practice. That is because you get limited time on the test, and you also need to start prepping before your LSAT test. If you are planning to take the LSAT, you must start studying a few months before.

During this time, you must create a schedule where you give a few hours to your LSAT practice. It is the only way to familiarize yourself with the test and understand what kind of questions come and work on your answers. We recommend that you spend at least five to six hours each day on your LSAT practice.

Once the test is only a few weeks away, you must set this time for revision only. That is because you don’t want to feel overwhelmed in the end with enormous content. So, manage your time, start your prep a few months early, and leave the last few weeks only for revision if you want to get the best score in no time.

4. Work On Your Weakest Areas

Not all of us will excel in each section of the LSAT. That is because we all have our own set of unique strengths and weaknesses. However, many of us are intimidated by our weaknesses, and we don't spend time on these areas.

Of course, if you want to pass the LSAT with a great score, you will have to work on your weakest sections. For example, many people find that the Logic Games section is the most difficult. During their practice time, such students skip this section or don’t pay too much attention to it because they think they can cover up the score with other sections.

Don't fall into this trap, and no matter how hard a section seems to you, you need to work on it if you want a great overall score. If you work on your weak areas, you can see significant improvements in no time and take your score even higher. So, be sure to challenge yourself and don't shy away from working on sections where you feel you are the weakest.

5. Always Practice The Writing Sample

The LSAT writing sample does not makeup part of your LSAT score, which is why many people leave this section. However, if you want to ace the LSAT and get into a good law school, the writing sample is incredibly important. That is because many law schools assess the writing sample of a student when they are reviewing all the records before making their decision.

So, you don't want to miss an opportunity to wow the law school admissions team with your sample. Remember that you don't need to give too much time writing or preparing for your writing sample. The key is to keep practicing the writing sample each time you complete a practice test.

Once you do, it will give you the ability to create a writing sample in no time. By the time you are done with your practice, you can write the best sample during your LSAT test. Who knows, maybe the sample can sway the admissions team and get you admission to one of the best law schools.

6. Relax Yourself

Finally, the more you don't relax, the more you will overwhelm yourself, and it will hinder your ability to do well on the test. That is why even among all this chaos, you need to find a way to relax so that you can ace your exam in no time. After all, you need to let your brain recharge and create space for it to store all the material you have stuffed for your LSAT.

Remember that many people take too much stress, overwhelm their brains, and lose time because of it. LSAT is a timed test, which is why you need to learn to relax so that you can finish your test in no time. You can also practice relaxation techniques whenever you are preparing and studying for your LSAT.

Doing this will allow your brain to absorb more material when you are studying and ensure that your body is not in stress mode. Once you relax, you will end up doing great on your LSAT without all the panic.

When Should You Take The LSAT?

When to take the LSAT is an important question that many students struggle with as they need to choose the right time. Keep in mind that the LSAT is offered to students nine times a year. That is because the LSAT takes place each month except in May, August, September, and December.

However, the pandemic has changed the schedule, which is why you need to check the latest schedule again. The key is not to wait till the last minute to take your LSAT. The ideal time to take the LSAT is before your senior year of college or in December.

That is because most law schools begin admitting students as soon as they receive applications and test scores. Because of this, it is crucial to take the LSAT before December so that you can get in quickly into law school.

Final Words

That was your complete guide on the best tips you can follow to ace the LSAT in no time. It is an intimidating test, and many people don’t know where to begin their studying journey as they feel overwhelmed. The key is to relax and follow these guidelines so that you can ace the LSAT in no time.

After all, it is an important component that the admission team takes into account when deciding to let you enter their law school. So, start your preparation months early and get into the best law school of your choice.