Once you’ve committed to taking the LSAT, you want to know how to score as well as possible. There’s no way to do your best on the LSAT without some serious preparation. Here are five tips to prepare for the LSAT:
1. Use diagrams for logic games
As you work through logic puzzles, come up with a system to diagram the hints. This helps most people visualize the scenario and come up with the right answers. Don’t worry about your speed until you’ve mastered your system for approaching a logic problem. Then work on building up your speed.
2. Learn the difference between correlation and causation in analysis questions
One of the key sections on the LSAT deals with analysis. A common question gives you a statement and then asks you what’s wrong with the logic in the statement. For example: Emma eats fish, and Emma just got a job. Therefore, if I eat fish, I will get a job. In the above question, the test takers want to know that you can reason that eating fish doesn’t necessarily lead to getting a job.
As you work through practice analysis questions, make sure that you read the explanations for each answer. Trying to answer test questions alone isn’t enough to improve your skills. You need to learn the why and how behind the answers.
3. Take practice tests
Once you’ve got some study under your belt, simulate the test under realistic conditions. Get up in the morning to take a full, simulated test. You can even drive to the library for the practice of a commute. When test day comes, you’ll have a feel for how to manage your energy.
4. Rest the night before the test
Logic games are challenging enough. They’re even more challenging when you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Make sure you don’t work late the night before the LSAT. It’s also not the night to go out on a date or go to a party. That way you’ll arrive at the test well rested and ready for the task at hand.
5. Analyze your strengths and weakness
There are three different types of questions on the LSAT: logic games, reading and short reasoning questions. Start with a diagnostic to see if you score particularly well in one area, or if you’re pretty even across the board. If you score similarly in every topic, study all the topics to bring up your score.
If you score well in one section but relatively poorly in others, it might be worth your while to focus on that section. On the other hand, you might have more to gain by focusing your time on exploiting your strongest sections. Ultimately, your goal is to get the highest score possible, so some strategy can improve your total score.
The LSAT can impact the rest of your life. Your choice of school, scholarships and even law careers all follow your LSAT score. With a little bit of time investment, your LSAT score can pay dividends for years to come.