Here’s a strategy for improving your LSAT score. It doesn’t rely on tricks or techniques while you’re writing the test but instead focuses on how you make use of your LSAT practice exams.
The way in which you take and review your practice LSATs can have a huge impact on your score improvement. Many students simply take prep test after prep test or section after section and don’t stop to really understand and learn from the mistakes they have made. Proper review is essential for your improvement on the LSAT. Here’s one thorough method of reviewing your LSAT practice tests:
- Select an LSAT prep test or section (LR, LG or RC) and make several photocopies of it. Next…
- Take the test or section under the proper time limits (35 minutes per section) – our free proctor can help you with the timing: /resources/lsat-proctor/
- If you do not finish all the questions in a section draw a line at the 35 minute mark on your bubble sheet. Only answers before this line count towards your true score. Then continue the remaining questions and record your finishing time. This time should improve as you progress. This simply allows you to get a first attempt at all the questions.
- Mark the test or section. Do not mark down the correct answers. Only put an x next to the questions you got wrong.
- Go through each section again and give yourself another attempt at each question you got wrong. You are not on the clock for this step. The key here is to take the time to analyze each sentence or important words and each answer choice to the point that you truly understand the question.
- With this second set of answers mark your LSAT test or sections again. This time do mark down correct answers.
- Go back to any you got wrong on this second try. Make note of these questions and of what type they are, these questions can help you identify your areas of weakness. Give yourself another attempt to understand these questions. You now know the correct answers so use them to help break down and understand why they are right and why your answers are wrong. Do not give up on this. You cannot leave a question without understanding it as you will encounter questions just like this again. If you cannot figure it out on your own, this is the perfect type of question to take to your LSAT instructor or tutor. If you are working with Alpha Score – get in touch with your instructor to discuss these questions.
- Now that you have thoroughly reviewed this LSAT or section put it aside and either try a new section or LSAT or take a break.
- Later that day or the next, return to a clean photocopy of this same section or LSAT exam and take it all over again under proper timed conditions. If you remember a particular question do not simply answer from memory. Take the time to read through the question, draw diagrams for games and answer the question properly as if it were your first time encountering it.
- If you do not finish all the questions in time draw a line on your bubble sheet at the 35 minute mark and continue. When you are finished mark the test or section again and go back to step three above to review. Essentially you can repeat this entire process until you are scoring close to perfect.
Why do this?
This approach is much better than simply taking a new test or section every time you sit down. If you take a new test each time you will constantly make the same mistakes and learn little from them. The LSAT has only a limited number of question types and a limited ways in which to structure them. If you take the time to review and understand each question type and structure, the next time you encounter that structure it will be much more likely that you answer quickly and correctly.
Take the time to thoroughly review and understand the questions on your LSAT score will improve.
Greg Smith
Greg took the LSAT in 2002 receiving a high score that got him into the law school of his choice. This led him to teach LSAT classes while attending law school at the University of British Columbia and continued teaching while practicing law with top international law firms Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and later Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, in the area of Securities and Capital Markets. Read more
