Preparing for the Law School
Admission Test
Preparation Tips
Plan Insights
Resources
2013–14
The Michigan State University College of Law
By Dean Charles W. Roboski
Assistant Dean for Admission and Financial Aid
Reprinted with permission
Law School Admission Test
PREPARATION TIPS
The Michigan State University College of Law Office of Admissions staff solicited LSAT preparation tips
through a survey of students who achieved a score of 161 or higher on the test. Select responses are included
below.
General Advice
Take the test in June, especially if you are still in undergrad. That way, you’ll still be in the mindset of
studying and doing academic work. Also, you won’t have to try to schedule time to study for the test and your
other courses as you might with the October test. Lastly, it’ll give you plenty of time to retake the test without
having to wait for the October or December test scores.
Put the time in—acceptance to law school and many scholarships rely heavily on the LSAT and
undergraduate GPA. If you spent four years building a GPA, it would make sense to put equally proportionate
effort in preparing for the LSAT. (If your undergrad GPA isn’t as high as you would like, a high LSAT score
may be your chance to overcome this weakness.)
Don’t assume that an expensive commercial prep course is a requirement for doing well on the LSAT.
If you have the self-discipline to study on your own, you can create your own individual prep plan for the
LSAT.
General Suggestions for Preparation
Start by learning about the test itself. Learn the structure, different sections, and the amount of time
you will have.
Take seriously the task of learning how to take the test. You cannot do your best without serious,
deliberate preparation.
Take as many full-length, timed practice tests as you can!
Take every practice test you can, several times a week until the test. Hopefully your score will improve
from the time you begin studying (WELL IN ADVANCE) to the time you take the test.
Take results of practice tests (especially self-administered ones) with a grain of salt. Don’t assume
you’re prepared enough just because you have a great practice test—do it consistently.
Take a practice test at least twice when you are preparing—once before you begin, to know where you
need the most help, and once in the middle, to track your progress so you don’t continuously study the same
things.
Study in similar environments to how you will take the test. I usually studied with background noise,
but the absence of noise on my first test ended up being detrimental. After that I only studied in silence in
preparation for the second test.
Make sure that every type of argument is understood. The logic questions are hard when you don’t
know what is being asked.
Treat it like a game, or a puzzle to be solved—try to have fun with it!
If you can, take upper-level Philosophy or English classes. The logic and writing will really help on all
aspects of the LSAT.
Practice arguments and games more than reading comprehension, as I found the most improvements to
be in those sections.
Don’t let a low score on a practice test deflate you: use it as an opportunity to see specific problems
you’re having and spend your time correcting them.
Don’t get discouraged—improvement is a very slow process with the LSAT, but with continuous
preparation, things begin to “click.”
Practice, practice, practice!
Time Management
Practicing for a relatively short amount of time on a regular basis always beats spending large amounts
of time studying every month or so.
Long tests are like marathons. It takes time to build stamina.
Working smart is more important than working fast; the speed will come later.
Just Before the Exam
Make sure you understand the policies for actually taking the exam. The second time I took the exam,
they enforced the rule of not being able to wear anything with a hood, and I was freezing the whole time, which
proved to be very distracting. Small things can end up being important, so pay attention.
Make sure to take care of all administrative work well before the test date. Worrying about where to
find the test site, what classroom the test is given in, or if your ticket is printed are all things that add
unnecessary stress on test day.
Go to bed early the night before. There is nothing quite as frustrating on a big exam as not being able
to think clearly because you are tired.
Relax the night before the exam: take a hot bath, watch a movie, leave the study guides behind, give
your brain a break.
On the Day of the Exam
Do a logic game the morning of the test—it really helps to wake up your brain and get your mind into
thinking mode.
Don’t pay attention to the people next to you. They have a different exam than you. It doesn’t matter
how far others are in comparison to you. Pace yourself. How you are doing is the only thing that matters, not
anyone else. (Also, if a friend is taking the LSAT, sitting next to him or her may prove even more distracting.
At least, I know it was for me.)
Read everything on the exam very carefully. Details are incredibly important.
Bring a snack to the testing center (my test went through lunch).
Be confident in your own preparation and don’t get distracted during the test. There will always be that
person tapping their pencil and the proctors moving about the room. It is important to stay focused on the task at
hand and to not waste any time on distractions during the test.
CALM DOWN. Life will go on after the LSAT. My first LSAT score reflected how nervous I was
going into the exam. Take a deep breath before you go into the examining room and remind yourself that there
are much more important things in life than the LSAT!
Law School Admission Test
PREPARATION RESOURCES
An effective plan can include self-study using free or low-cost materials, a commercial preparation course, or a
combination of both methods. The following list of resources may serve as a helpful guide for prospective law
school applicants as they develop an effective LSAT study plan. An item’s inclusion on this list does not
constitute an endorsement by the Michigan State University College of Law Office of Admissions.
LSAT Preparation Materials Available from the Law School Admissions Council
(LSAC)
Free LSAT Prep materials are available at www.lsac.org/JD/LSAT/lsat-prep-materials.asp.
The following materials and others may be purchased
athttps://os.lsac.org/Release/Shop/Publications.aspx:The Official LSAT Handbook™
The Official LSAT SuperPrep®
10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests™
10 More Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests™
LSAT ItemWise™—Online LSAT familiarization tool
Additional LSAT Print Preparation Materials
Barron’s How to Prepare for the LSAT (Jerry Bobrow, Ph.D.): Features six full-length model LSAT
tests with explanations, and includes best analysis techniques and an overview of study tips
Examkrackers LSAT Complete Study Package (David Lynch): Contains full coverage of all sections of
the LSAT, as well as 25 short practice exams in the LSAT format
Kaplan LSAT Premier 2014 (Kaplan): Includes six practice tests, a book, DVD, and mobile resources
LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible (David M. Killoran): Focuses on the logical reasoning portions of the
LSAT, and provides clues into every currently tested question type
Master the LSAT (Prep Course Series) (Jeff Kolby): Includes LSAT problems with solutions, as well
asa free online course and two official LSAT tests
LSAT Logic Games Bible (David M. Killoran): Features a detailed methodology focusing on the logic
games portion of the LSAT, and covers diagramming and inferring correct answers in length
Cracking the LSAT with 3 Practice Tests, 2014 Edition (Princeton Review): Includes detailed answer
explanations, drills for each area, and expert content reviews
LSAT Clarity: The First Complete LSAT Self-Study Guide (Outside LSAT): Effective self-study
methods,326 practice questions, and supplemental audio resources
Cheating the LSAT (Nathan Fox): Thorough explanation of howto break down the LSAT, along with
the author’s personnalcontact information for LSAT and law school questions
Manhattan LSAT Set of 3 Strategy Guides: Essential strategies, class recordings, online learning labs,
and a downloadable study guide
Commercial LSAT Courses
Vendor, Courses
Cost
Hours
Features
$1,299
100
$800
55
Varies
Varies
$1,300
100
• Classes available in
select states
• Online forum with up-todate information
• Extensive print, audio,
and DVD materials
Starting at $1,400
100 or more
Online
Starting at $649
50
Classroom/Online
Starting at $999
100
Starting at $2,600
Varies
• Live, classroom
instruction
• 4 full-length practice
exams
• Personal attention in a
group setting
• Online video instruction
• Available anywhere, at
any time
• Taught by certified
Kaplan instructors
• Mix of online and live
instruction hours
• 4 full-length practice
exams
• Personal attention in a
group setting
• Available in 15, 25, and
35 hour packages
• One-on-one instruction
• Completely
customizable to your
study needs
blueprint
www.blueprintprep.com
Classroom
Online
Tutoring
• 16 lessons, 3
workshops, 3 clinics, 6
proctored exams
• 1,800 pages of study
materials
• 5 textbooks with 6,500+
test questions
• High-quality streaming
videos
• Unlimited access to email support
• Exceptional tutoring
staff
• Completely
customizable
• Flexible and convenient
to student needs
Examkrackers
www.examkrackers.com/LSAT
Classroom/Online
Kaplan
www.kaptest.com/LSAT
Classroom
Tutoring
NextStep
www.nextsteptestprep.com/tests/lsat-tutors
Tutoring
$1,400 to $3,300
16 to 24
• Exclusively focuses on
tutoring individual
students
• Expert instructors with
experience teaching the
LSAT
• Instruction that is tightly
customized to the
individual student