How much in advance should I study for the LSAT?

Asked by: Miss Chanel O'Hara  |  Last update: August 17, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (64 votes)

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 far in advance should you start studying for LSAT?

When Should You Start Studying for the LSAT? For best results, set aside at least three or four months to study for the LSAT. You will need this time to familiarize yourself with the test and learn the basic techniques used for each type of question, followed by repeated practice and review.

Is it ever too early to start studying for the LSAT?

There's an old adage, a truism in its self-evidence really, that it's never too early to start studying for the LSAT. In fact, so compelling and pervasive is this advice that we often hear from high school seniors (and occasionally their mothers) wondering how best to begin the journey to law school.

Is 7 months enough to study for the LSAT?

7 months is more than enough time if you stick with a regular, but moderate, schedule. I've reviewed all books and PrepTests mentioned below in my best LSAT prep books post. This 28-week schedule is intense.

How hard is it to get 173 on the LSAT?

So let's all stop day-dreaming and get into the 173-180 review! First off, if you're in this score range, congratulations: you're officially above the mean, median, and mode (you're welcome, stats fans). In fact, you're besting 99.4 to 99.9 percent of your peers – not bad at all.

How much in advance should you study for the LSAT?

25 related questions found

How hard is a 175 LSAT?

A 175+LSAT test taker will be able to identify specifically what word, idea, or phrase makes an answer choice incorrect. For most questions, there will be multiple problems with each answer choice.

Is 1 year enough to study for LSAT?

If you have other responsibilities and can only dedicate three to four hours a day to the LSAT, you should give yourself five to six months to study. In total, you should study around 300–400 hours for this exam. This amount of time is generally enough to gain a thorough understanding of how to ace the LSAT.

How long does the average student study for the LSAT?

Determining how many hours you need for LSAT prep

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.

Does the LSAT get progressively harder?

10: The LSAT becomes progressively harder throughout the test, so focus your concentration at an even higher level for the last few questions of each section.

Which month is best for LSAT?

If you are still in college and plan to go to law school right after graduation, you should take the LSAT in the summer after your junior year or the fall of your senior year. For the balance of 2023, the test will be offered in June, August, September, October, and November—the full list of dates for 2023-24 is here.

Can you prep for the LSAT in 2 months?

Two months is the optimal LSAT prep schedule for many students. While you can make great score improvements with one intense month of study, practice, and review, most expert LSAT faculty will recommend a longer schedule if one is possible for you.

Should I take the LSAT if I'm not ready?

You shouldn't take the official test until you're ready—but how do you know when you're ready? Nathan and several other Demon team members discuss their personal experiences and how the decision to register for the LSAT should be informed by your practice test score range.

Is it easy to get a 170 on the LSAT?

A 170 represents a percentile of 97.4%, meaning that test takers with a score of 170 have a score higher than 97.4% of all LSAT takers. So, that's pretty good! But what does it take to achieve that score? On the most recent LSAT, you would have to answer at least 89 out of 101 questions to receive a 170.

What's the hardest section of LSAT?

How Hard is the LSAT Analytical Reasoning? Perhaps the most notorious section of the LSAT, the Analytical Reasoning section contains four logic games, each having 5-7 associated questions. Students must juggle complex, and sometimes competing, concepts to make it through this section with a high score.

How many times can I fail the LSAT?

Three times in a single testing year (the next testing cycle begins with the August 2022 test). Five times within the current and five past testing years (the period in which LSAC reports scores to law schools). A total of seven times over a lifetime.

What months are the hardest for the LSAT?

Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

Can you study for the LSAT in a month?

Although one month is a relatively short amount of time to spend studying for the LSAT, we've laid out a study plan, materials, and tips that will help you succeed on the LSAT. This post references Kaplan's LSAT book, but the study plan will be equally helpful if you use a different book.

How long should you study for the LSAT with a full time job?

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.

Does your first LSAT score matter?

Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once. Ideally, it would be best if every applicant could secure their ideal LSAT score on the first attempt, but that is often not the case. Law schools will report the highest LSAT score.

Can I study for the LSAT in 2 weeks?

Tackling the LSAT Crash Course with Limited Time

In general, if you are short on available time in the coming two weeks, focus on watching the Magoosh lessons, completing at least three to four practice sections a week reinforcing the lesson content, and taking one practice test a week (in one sitting).

Should I keep my first LSAT score?

It is not, however, a reason to cancel your LSAT score. If you seriously studied and committed to preparing for the exam in the months leading up to it, then you should be in a good position to keep the score. Even if you didn't get a 180, it's likely that this score reflects your aptitude and abilities.

Has anyone gotten a 180 on the LSAT?

Getting an LSAT score of 180 or a “perfect score” is extremely rare. According to data published by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), from 2006-2009 of all LSATs administered, approximately 144,000 per year, only 0.1% received a 180.

Is a 170 LSAT good for Harvard?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

What is the average LSAT score for Harvard University?

Getting admitted to Harvard law school is definitely an uphill struggle, given the fact that Harvard had a 12.9% acceptance rate in 2019/2020 and a median LSAT score of 173. Additionally, the median GPA score of a student enrolled at Harvard is 3.9.

Is 172 LSAT good for Harvard?

A score of over 175 or better almost guarantees acceptance at some of the most elite universities: Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, and with a great GPA, even Yale. While stellar, achieving a 173 is not in itself enough to guarantee acceptance at the country's most elite universities.