How many hours should you study before taking the LSAT?

Asked by: Braulio Quitzon  |  Last update: September 5, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (49 votes)

Most LSAT experts recommend around 3 months of full times study, or around 150 to 300 hours; this breaks down to approximately 12 to 25 hours a week of studying every week. This is the study plan that suits most people and is the most customizable depending on your individual obligations.

How many hours do I need to study for LSAT?

We recommend that most students look to spend 150–300 hours on LSAT prep; that's a healthy range over a two or three-month period at around 20–25 hours per week, which is a standard amount for most students. Keep in mind that those hours include any classes or private LSAT tutoring sessions you might be using.

How many hours do I need to study to get a 170 on the LSAT?

For most students, we recommend you study for the LSAT for about three to six months. Why the range? Generally, we have found that successful students invest a total of 200 to 300 hours of study time.

Is 2 months enough to study for LSAT?

If you can dedicate eight hours a day, for a total of 40 hours per week, to your study prep, two months may be enough time to study for the LSAT. However, the minimum recommendation is three months.

Which LSAT month is the hardest?

There isn't one specific month that is the easiest or hardest to write the LSAT, and if there was, it would change each year since the students writing the LSAT change each year! The hardest test will be the one you haven't fully prepared for, regardless of the month!

LSAT score reactions || how I studied for the LSAT and raised my score

31 related questions found

How hard is it to get a 172 on the LSAT?

So, a great score on the LSAT is a 172, but more than 100,000 people take the LSAT every year and only 1% score 172 or higher. For the top 50 law schools, the median LSAT score is between 164 and 174. A good LSAT score for top tier(defined by T14 schools for this article) law schools is between 171 and 174.

Is the LSAT going away in 2025?

The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.

What month is best for LSAT?

The LSAT is offered eight times a year (August, September, October, November, January, February, April, and June). You should take the LSAT no later than the summer or fall of the year in which you intend to apply, a full year (or more) before you intend to begin law school.

What is the average LSAT score without studying?

Based on our independent research, students who sit for the LSAT without studying typically score between 145 and 153. However, that is the average and does not mean you can not score higher than that.

What is the best LSAT prep book?

Best Introductory LSAT Prep Books
  • The Official LSAT SuperPrep. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • The Road to 180. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • The LSAT Trainer. Link: www.amazon.com. ...
  • Let's LSAT. ...
  • Introducing the LSAT: The Fox Test Prep. ...
  • Manhattan Prep's LSAT Strategy Guide Set. ...
  • 33 Common LSAT Flaws. ...
  • Kaplan's LSAT Prep Plus 2020 — 2021.

How rare is a 170 LSAT?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers.

How expensive is the LSAT?

What fees are associated with the LSAT? It costs $222 to take the LSAT and receive one free score report. In addition, subscription to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required for application for most law schools. This subscription costs $200 and includes on score report for $45.

Can you get into Harvard with a 170 LSAT?

The LSAT score for Harvard Law School typically falls within the 169-175 range, while the average GPA for admitted students is between 3.8 and 4.0. However, the range of LSAT scores and GPAs accepted is broad.

Is LSAT timing hard?

The LSAT is designed so that most people cannot finish on time – and the fast pace required makes the test fiendishly difficult. Because time is scarce on the test, it is crucial to budget your time wisely. Think about how you manage your time at school or at work.

How many hours do law students study a day?

Law Students' Average Daily Study Hours

All in all, however, law students typically spend around 30 – 40 hours per week studying. That may sound like a lot, but a good rule of thumb is that you should be studying at least two hours for every one hour of class time per week.

What is a perfect LSAT score?

The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

Is 142 a bad LSAT score?

The LSAC also reports a mean LSAT score of 151.88 among all these test-takers. All these factors combined mean a score of 142 is both below average in terms of LSAT scores, and far below average in terms of performance for an LSAT test-taker.

What is a good first time LSAT score?

LSAT scores range from 120 to 180. First-time LSAT test-takers score an average of 151 out of 180. The median LSAT score of first-year JD students is 158.5. Among first-year JD students, 160.9 is considered a high score (75th percentile), and 154.8 is considered a low score (25th percentile)

Does LSAT require memorization?

The LSAT is a test of ability rather than knowledge so it is impossible to memorize the information required to perform well on the exam. Practice is essential for success.

What is the hardest month to take the LSAT?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

How far in advance should I start studying for the LSAT?

So when you're ready to study, give yourself about two to three months and plan to dive in head first. If you have only a month, consider the pros and cons of skipping the upcoming LSAT to take the next one. Otherwise, dive in and get working.

Is the LSAT changing in 2024?

Test Structure Change: Starting in August 2024, the LSAT will transition to two Logical Reasoning (LR) sections and one Reading Comprehension (RC) section, plus one unscored section of either LR or RC that enables us to test questions for future tests.

Can I go to law school without taking the LSAT?

Yes, you can. Many law schools in the U.S. (including prestigious ones) don't have an LSAT requirement. However, they require the GRE, an exam taken to apply to grad school. If you're not keen on writing the dreaded LSAT, consider adding these schools to your list of top choices!

Did Harvard get rid of LSAT?

Harvard Law School accepts either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). We do not have a preference for either exam. Similarly, a candidate is not considered more committed by taking both exams or disadvantaged by taking the same exam multiple times.

What is the lifetime limit for the LSAT?

How many times may I take the LSAT? Five times within the current reportable score period (i.e., since June 2019). A total of seven times over a lifetime.