If you have decided to take the LSAT, the biggest question on your mind will probably be: how should I study and prepare for the LSAT? There are tons of different prep options out there, and many people you know who are writing/have written the LSAT will have their own opinions of the “best” way to prepare. The truth is, there is no objective “best” way to prepare – since each individual learns so differently, and has their own strengths and weaknesses in terms of test writing. For some people, the material on the LSAT will come very naturally, and a super-intensive prep experience won’t be necessary. For others (like me!) it will be more challenging to get a grasp on the LSAT material, and a more hands-on prep experience might be necessary.
To figure out which camp you fall into, I would suggest starting your prep by taking a blind diagnostic test.
Blind Diagnostic
A blind diagnostic test is a simulated LSAT test that you take to see where you are before starting your LSAT prep. To do this, tale a full-length previously administered official LSAT test under timed conditions. For a brief overview of what this test will look like, feel free to check out my last post on the basics of the LSAT.
To find a test to use as your diagnostic, you can use the free version of LSAC LawHub, which provides you with two previously administered tests to choose from: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/prep/lawhub. Taking this test might not be the best experience, for example, on my blind diagnostic I scored 2/24 on the Logic Games section. However it turns out, don’t worry! The only reason you are taking this test is to find out where you are at in terms of being ready for taking the test, and people can improve in leaps and bounds from this initial score throughout their prep period. For me, my diagnostic score was over 20 points less than my eventual LSAT score.
So depending on your score on this diagnostic test, and how close/far away it is from your intended/goal score, you can choose a prep format that’s the right intensity/structure for you! Here are some ideas that are out there, with different prep strategies from across the spectrum of intensity.
Paid Course
Paid LSAT prep courses offer a very intensive and hands-on learning experience. Courses typically include an instructor that has scored very well on the LSAT, exercises, drills, and full-length practice tests. Also, having an instructor that can answer all of your questions is a big help. This is the route that I chose for my LSAT prep, both because it was very intensive, and also because I liked having a structure prepared for me. Since my course was five days a week for four hours, that was a great help in structuring my time and creating my study schedule. One fantastic option for a paid course is Legally Bright’s upcoming Spring and Summer LSAT prep courses. Legally Bright has developed a curriculum that offers 40 hours of live Expert LSAT Classroom Instruction delivered online over 6 weeks, featuring instructors that have scored in the top 5% of all LSAT-takers. You can find details about our course on our website legallybright.ca.
Self-Study
If you feel that you don’t need such an intense study experience, or you don’t have the means to be able to take a prep course, people can achieve great success on the LSAT by self-studying. Self-studying can be done using paid materials from a prep company, or through self-study programs/books such as The Powerscore and Kaplan. A self-study is a great option if you are confident with the majority of the test, but have only one section that you struggle with and need to improve on. For example, when I wrote the LSAT the second time, I used the Powerscore books only for the Logic Games section, since I was feeling good about the rest of the test.
Private Tutoring
This is an expensive, yet often highly effective option. Tutors are available through large companies, such as the Princeton Review and Kaplan, or through individuals you may know in your personal life! Social media is a great place to look for LSAT tutors, and those you know personally will probably offer more competitive prices than tutoring through the larger prep companies. Further, if you have a pre-law society at your undergraduate institution, try reaching out to them and see if they know of any students that offer LSAT tutoring services.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, and there are definitely tons of other LSAT prep options out there! These are just some suggestions of ideas/options I’ve come across in my experience. With that in mind, my next post will be all about different strategies for preparing for the LSAT and how to get yourself in the best shape possible for test day!
Sophie Sklar
This blog post was written by Sophie Sklar. She is a mentor at Legally Bright and a JD Candidate (2024) at Osgoode Hall Law School.