The LSAT Jedi: You Don't Know the Power of These Study Tips...
Who doesn't love a good play on words and some insights on a Sunday evening?
Alright, my young Padawans, you've decided you want to become an LSAT Jedi. Before you can wield your logic lightsaber, you must submit yourself to rigorous training. But don’t be afraid, I am here to pass along the wisdom that was passed onto me to get through the trials and tribulations of LSAT studying. Let’s drop the Star Wars references and dive into some practical study tips that will help you conquer this test.
Run Diagnostics First
Before you dive into hours of studying, take a full-length, baseline assessment practice test without timing yourself, you can find some here. That’s right—no studying, no prep. Starting with a blank slate will give you a ground-level score to build up from and highlight your strengths and weaknesses. Once you've finished, conduct a thorough gap analysis. Identify which sections and question types gave you the most trouble. What sections did you struggle with? What types of questions made your brain hurt? (as previously stated, mine were the dreaded logic games) This analysis will help you focus your study efforts where they’re needed most.
A gap analysis doesn’t have to be complicated either. I would use a post-it.
Learn the Question Mechanics
Now that you know where you stand, begin working through practice questions without the pressure of a ticking clock. This step is all about understanding the test's design and the tricky wording often used. Dissect analyze, and learn to recognize patterns and keywords. As you go through each question, keep conducting gap analyses. What tripped you up? What do you need to work on? The more you understand the inner workings of the LSAT, the more prepared you will become. For me, LSAT Lab’s Youtube videos were extremely insightful. Here’s one on Logical Reasoning:
Drilling: Start Taking Timed Tests
I learned this from a good friend, she warned me about how the timing can affect you while you take your exam and I’m sure glad I listened. After getting a solid understanding of the question types and wording, ramp up the intensity. Start taking timed practice sections, over and over again. This is where you develop your mental endurance and learn to make split-second decisions under pressure. Don't worry about your scores at first – this is all about building your LSAT stamina. As you drill, keep analyzing your performance. Are there sections you are consistently struggling with? What question types are still giving you trouble? Use this information to guide your future studying. There is no “right amount” of timed practice tests to take, it will be different for everyone. For me, as I approached my test date, I did a timed practice test every day after work for two weeks.
Tying Everything Together
By now, you've honed your skills in each individual aspect of the LSAT. Start taking full, timed practice tests under realistic conditions. Treat each one like it's the real deal. As you review your performance, conduct a final gap analysis. What areas still need work? What strategies can you employ to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses? This is where you fine-tune your performance.
Remember, the path of the LSAT Jedi is not an easy one. There will be times when you want to give up, when you feel like you're not making progress. Trust in your training, trust in yourself, and keep pushing forward. With dedication, discipline, and a healthy dose of Force-inspired study strategies, you’ll have all that you need to blow up this Death Star of an exam. May the 180 be with you, always.