How many months should I study for the LSAT?

Asked by: Ivy Douglas  |  Last update: January 23, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (11 votes)

For most students, a three-month period of preparation (of approximately 20 hours per week) is a great goal. This is, of course, an estimate; most students are not all students. To find out how much LSAT prep time you're likely to need, we recommend taking a practice LSAT to get a baseline score.

Is 4 months enough to study for the LSAT?

I recommend a minimum of 3 months, but 4 months wouldn't be a bad idea if you want to give yourself a bit of a cushion. The busier you are with work or school, the greater the number of months you'll need. This won't necessarily mean you'll be studying for a greater number of hours, of course.

How long do most people study for the LSAT?

Average Recommended Study Time

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.

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!

Is a 170 hard to get on the 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.

LSAT Demon Daily | How long should you study for the LSAT? | Episode 49

26 related questions found

Is 172 a bad LSAT score?

On the other end of the spectrum we can consider an LSAT score of 172. An LSAT score of 172 means the student scored better than about 99% of applicants.

Which is harder, LSAT or MCAT?

The difficulty of the LSAT vs MCAT is subjective and depends on an individual's strengths and interests. Some may find the MCAT more challenging due to its extensive scientific content, while others may struggle more with the LSAT because of its emphasis on logical reasoning and comprehension skills.

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 is the lowest LSAT score ever?

This is the score you receive in your score report. The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

Why is the LSAT so tricky?

The Analytical Reasoning section on the LSAT is tricky because it is designed to challenge you. It tests your ability to understand how laws and rules affect legal outcomes. You'll need various skills to do well here.

Does taking the LSAT 3 times look bad?

Additionally, if you take the LSAT more than three times, or if you have a significant difference in scores (typically more than five points), an admissions committee will want to see an addendum explaining why you kept taking the exam, or explaining the reason for the higher score—essentially, to explain why the high ...

What month do most people take LSAT?

How to Choose Your LSAT Date
  • Schedule your LSAT test early enough that your scores will be available by your first law school application deadline. ...
  • Typically, students applying for regular fall admission take the test during June or September/October of the previous calendar year.

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.

How long does the average person study for the LSAT?

Nonetheless, 250 to 300 hours of LSAT preparation over a period of a few months is a good benchmark. Most students who dedicate significantly less time won't maximize their LSAT scores.

Can you improve LSAT score in 2 months?

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Score? With enough time, patience, and practice, you should see improvements in your LSAT score every week or two. You should give yourself at least three months to see the most overall improvement from your diagnostic score.

What was Obama's LSAT score?

The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.

Is 3.4 GPA good for law school?

Among the 191 ranked law schools that submitted grade data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average median GPA of entering law school students in 2021 was 3.55. But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86.

Should I cancel my 148 LSAT score?

Remember, just because you feel you did poorly on the test does not necessarily mean you did. Some people may come out of the test feeling nervous or unhappy with how they did but end up scoring very well. You should only seriously consider canceling an LSAT score if you feel like you completely flunked the exam.

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.

Can I get into law school without LSAT?

While many law schools still require potential students to take the LSAT and submit their scores, there is a growing trend away from this requirement. Today there are several highly respected law schools that no longer require this specific type of test, and more schools are following suit each year.

What law schools accept JD next?

How Many Law Schools Accept JD-Next?
  • Arizona James E. ...
  • Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
  • Arkansas at Little Rock William H. ...
  • Atlanta's John Marshall Law School.
  • Boston College Law School.
  • Brigham Young University J. ...
  • California Western School of Law.
  • California-Davis School of Law.

Is LSAT harder than bar?

Generally, the bar exam is considered harder than the LSAT. The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law.

Is your GPA or LSAT more important?

Most law schools tend to give LSAT scores a bit more weight, but some schools care more about grades. The admissions process is inevitably subjective, and some admissions officers might be more forgiving of a gap than others.

What is the most difficult part of LSAT?

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games)

This may not seem like a lot, but with a 35-minute time limit, students will only have about eight and a half minutes to complete each individual “logic game.” These “logic games” are one of if not the most notorious sections of the LSAT because they are meant to trick the test-taker.