One of the most common questions my clients ask is, “How should I study?” This is an important question. Many individuals jump into their LSAT prep without a plan or structure, often feeling stressed and discouraged after hours of effort without seeing measurable results.
A well-structured LSAT study plan, when done correctly, not only boosts confidence but also accelerates improvement. Use this guide to help you achieve LSAT mastery with a proven, step-by-step approach.
Step 1: Take a Diagnostic Test
If you are new to the LSAT, start by taking a diagnostic test. A diagnostic test is a practice LSAT taken with minimal or no preparation. While it may feel intimidating to jump into an exam, it offers several key advantages:
Familiarity with the Test: It provides a firsthand understanding of what the LSAT frequently asks about, helping you grasp the relevance of concepts you’ll learn later.
Baseline Assessment: It shows how your current score compares to your target score, helping you set realistic expectations for the time and effort needed to prepare.
Make sure to take the diagnostic test under strict, timed conditions for an accurate representation of your current performance.
Step 2: Analyze Your Results
After completing your diagnostic test, focus on analyzing your results. Identifying patterns in your mistakes is crucial, even if you’re studying on your own. The LSAT is a pattern-based exam, and recurring errors often point to specific weaknesses. If you’re missing five or more questions per section, there are likely particular topics or question types causing issues.
Here’s how to effectively analyze your results:
Identify Patterns: Look for question types or concepts that consistently give you trouble. If you’ve been studying for a while, additional patterns may emerge. Use these insights to prioritize your studies.
Focus on One Question Type at a Time: Avoid trying to master everything at once. Instead, concentrate on drilling one question type to improve your ability to recognize patterns within it.
Prioritize Based on Frequency and Foundations: Choose which concepts to tackle first by considering two factors:
Frequency: Focus on question types that appear most often on the LSAT.
Foundations: Address foundational concepts that support understanding more advanced question types. For instance, mastering conditional reasoning helps with Necessary and Sufficient Assumption questions.
Here is a recommended order of concepts and question types to study:
Conditional Reasoning
Must Be True/Most Strongly Supported
Structure: Identifying premises, conclusions, sub-conclusions, and background information
Main Conclusion
Argument Part/Role of Statement
Method of Reasoning
Identifying Assumptions
Sufficient Assumption/Pseudo-Sufficient Assumption
Strengthen/Weaken
Necessary Assumption
Flaw
Evaluate
Parallel Flaw/Parallel Reasoning
If you’re already strong in a specific concept, feel free to skip it and move on to the next one.
Step 3: Drill with Occasional LSAT Practice Tests
"Drilling" means you are practicing an individual question type back to back instead of trying out multiple question types simultaneously. Once you’ve drilled a specific LSAT concept for at least a week, you should begin to feel comfortable with it—even at higher difficulty levels. At this point, you’re ready to take a practice test. However, the purpose of the practice test is not to expect dramatic improvements in your overall score.
Instead, use the test to evaluate how well you’ve mastered the concept you’ve been drilling under real testing conditions. Here’s what to focus on:
Accuracy: If you achieve 100% accuracy in the drilled concept, that’s a strong sign of improvement—even if your overall score hasn’t increased.
Progression: Once you’re confident in one concept, move on to the next one from the recommended list above. Drill this new concept and repeat the process.
By following this approach, you’ll see gradual progress over time. Focus less on individual scores and more on overall trends in your performance.
Step 4: Take More Practice Tests
Once you’ve worked through the concepts and are nearing your target score, shift your focus to endurance and pacing. This stage involves taking more practice tests—ideally 2-3 per week—to simulate the actual exam experience.
Key Tips for Practice Tests:
Review Thoroughly: Analyze your mistakes after each test. Understanding why you missed a question is critical to avoiding similar errors in the future.
Watch for New Patterns: As you take more tests, new weaknesses may emerge. If this happens, pause your practice tests and revisit the relevant concepts.
By consistently analyzing your performance and refining your approach, you’ll be well-prepared to handle the LSAT with confidence.
Closing Thoughts
This structured approach to LSAT preparation has proven effective for many students aiming for high scores. If you’re wondering how to study for the LSAT or need help creating a personalized LSAT study plan, I’m here to assist. As an experienced LSAT tutor, I’ve seen firsthand how a combination of personalized strategies and consistent effort can lead to success. Stick to the plan, stay disciplined, and you’ll see the results you’re aiming for.
Best regards,
Keonhee Cho
Founder & Tutor, Impetus LSAT
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