Preparing for the LSAT Exam
Once you have registered to take the Law School Admission Test or LSAT, it’s important to begin preparing pretty soon after. Although there may be a small percentage of people that can cram the week or even night before, most test takers need to begin studying months out from the exam to comprehensively prepare for the LSAT.
The LSAT is a five-part exam. Four of these sections count toward the final exam grade. One section is used to test new questions and does not count towards the final score. Test takers are allowed 35 minutes to complete each of the four sections, which all consist of multiple-choice questions. Additionally, there is a writing sample required at the end of the exam that is not scored, but sent to the law schools you have applied to. There are four exam sections and three different types of questions on the LSAT exam.
The ‘Reading Comprehension’ section tests the ability to read and comprehend lengthy passages of text, mimicking the complicated documentation law students and practicing attorneys are required to effectively analyze.
The ‘Analytical Reasoning’ portion tests deductive reasoning abilities in reference to logical conclusions that can be drawn based on statements made about relationships among people, places, things, or events.
The final section, ‘Logical Reasoning’, tests the ability to draw logical conclusions based on information given in a short passage. The test taker is required to read short passages and answer one question about each passage.
If you are able to begin studying at least three or four months out from the exam, you can devote one month to each of the three types of test questions. Choose a time of day when you know you will have at least a couple of hours to review sample test questions. Also, make sure this time can consistently study sample questions at roughly the same time each day. This will reinforce a disciplined study schedule. Use flash cards to maximize the efficiency of your study routine. Record a sample passage and/or problem and question on one side of the flash card and write the answer or solution on the reverse side.
Sample LSAT questions can be accessed online, or in exam preparation books available for purchase online or in bookstores. If you have access to online study resources, there are free sample study questions and exams. For those who have no time to sit down and study, there are also audio resources that can be used on-the-go.
Lastly, one important aspect of studying that is often overlooked is physical preparation. Mentally, a student can be wholly prepared, but unless the body is well rested, the mind will not perform adequately the day of the exam. The day before the LSAT exam should be spent doing something enjoyable and/or recreational and completely unrelated to the exam. This ‘buffer day’ allows the mind to rest and process all the information it absorbed during the previous days and months. Follow this day of rest with a good night’s sleep and don’t forget to bring extra pencils!