Can you significantly improve your LSAT score by studying for months?

Question

I Plan on taking the LSATS in October. It is June now, and I opened the LSAT study guide and said to myself, "WOW, these questions are hard".... Anyone have a similar experience and end up doing well? I plan on studying/practicing at least 7-10 hours a week until then.

Answer 1

I would look over the material now, but don't kill youself. Begin studying more hardcore 2 months before the test, and take a course if there's one nearby and you can afford it. I took the testmasters course, and though it's $1200, it helped me earn a scholarship worth $100,000. That's worth it in my opinion.

Anyway, study a couple hours a day. One person above recommended studying 3 hrs a day 2 weeks before the test. Do NOT do that. I was studying 6-8 hours/day the month before the test. The more effort you put in, the more questions you see, the more comfortable you become. It just takes a certain amount of repitition to see how the questions are worded and to pick out what's important.

My study schedule for the December 2006 LSAT went like this:
-Begin Testmasters in October. This was 8 hrs/week. 2 hours studying per day on my own time to do the homework.
-November: Keep up with homework from Testmasters, and begin taking a practice test every 2 weeks under test conditions. Study 3-4 hrs/day.
-December: Study, study, study. 6-8 Hrs/day. Continue with Testmasters. Take a practice test every week under test conditions. Don't forget to review the tests you take.

Don't think I had all the free time in the world, either. I was a senior in college at Florida, so I also had to study for tests and go to class. It's all about time management. If you put in the time, you can improve your score. I was able to bump mine up from a 154 to a 166. Good luck!

Answer 2

Rameel, its a good question, but I hate to break it to you that the short answer to your question may be "no". The reason? Most opinions explain that any more than 4-6 weeks of studying may exceed an efficient way of studying. I've written my own conclusions on how to prepare for the LSAT on my website below which is based on a few well-known prep books which I also have listed there.

In short, you have a LOT of time. The LSAT tests what you already know. You study "how" to take the test. I would take the summer either traveling or working. If you put in your time this fall, you will do fine, but studying the entire summer is a waste of time.

Answer 3

I agree that taking 5+ years off may be your only option. I honestly do not think you have any chance of attending an ABA-approved law school with two sub-140 LSAT scores. Your LSAT score is the single best predictor of your success in law school, as measured by your grades. While you're working for 5 or 6 years, I think you need to seriously consider whether law is the correct profession for you. It doesn't do you much good to get accepted to a bottom-barrel tier 4 if you will fail out after your first semester. Graduating from those types of schools is going to make it tough to get a job if you do manage to make it to graduation. You can of course consider studying (with or without a prep course) and seeing if your scores improve, but the LSAT is not the kind of test that rewards studying, as you seem to have learned. It tests the way you think, and either you get it or you don't. The test prep companies will attempt to convince you otherwise in order to get your money, but the data simply does not reflect that a prep class helps. Take some time off. Make some money. Look at yourself honestly and determine if you truly have the right strengths and skill sets to succeed in law school and as an attorney. It's going to be tough to swallow if the answer is no, but at least you'll know. Edit: After looking at the list of schools you applied to, I wonder if you have any experience assessing yourself honestly. GW? Duke? Really? Sefl-confidence is good, but you do need to be honest with yourself.

Answer 4

Yes!
Study at least an hour a day - if you skip one, double up the next day
Outline concepts you don't understand [ using 2 learning styles - reading and writing - helps retention of knowledge ]
Write down definition of words you don't know [ 2 styles! ]
Study in an area with no TV, music or video games blaring
Review about ten minutes at the end, and review the entire hour at the end of the week
One month before, up study time to 2 hours a day
Two weeks before, up it to three [ curtail all other activities ]
Sleep enough the night before
Eat a good breakfast, and bring lunch/snack with you if permitted
Lay out all clothes, supplies [ ID, pencils, food ] the night before so you have lots of timein AM

Answer 5

i took my LSAT last october. my first imprression was "wholy sh*te. this is a foreign language!" i took a kaplan course and wound up doing decently. i don't necessarily reccomend the class, but i DO definitely encourage studying. the more familiar you are with the questions, the better you'll do. the easiest types of questions to improve on are the logic games. practice, practice, practice. and good luck!