The Law School Admission Test® (LSAT®) is an important criterion in judging an applicant's qualifications for entry into a law school program. Most U.S. law schools have a minimum LSAT® score required for admission, as do some law schools outside the U.S. Good LSAT® scores can allow an otherwise average candidate to stand out. Prospective law students can get good LSAT® scores by utilizing test preparation books, taking practice tests and focusing on weak areas. Some students seek higher scores by taking LSAT® preparation courses.
The LSAT® is a standardized test given four times annually in test centers around the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and elsewhere. The test contains five sets of questions, with 35 minutes allowed to finish each set. The questions cover reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. The LSAT® can be taken up to three times in a two-year period.
The Law School Admissions Council® (LSAC®), which administers the LSAT®, offers free preparation materials, including sample questions and a sample test. Additional practice tests are available from the LSAC® for a fee. Most test takers should begin their test prep with these free official materials. Testers should begin prepping for the LSAT® several months before the exam date.
Taking a sample test will give a student a good indication of the substance of the actual test and a sense of how well he can expect to score without any additional prep work. The sample test should also highlight the student's strengths and weaknesses and show him which areas need additional work. A student may want to take additional practice tests in the weeks leading up to the exam.
Many students purchase test preparation books in the hopes of getting good LSAT® scores. These books contain sample questions, test-taking strategies and helpful hints. Test prep books can be useful to determine how much time to spend on a question and when to start guessing. LSAT® prep books can often be found at college bookstores.
Law school applicants who feel they need more help may enroll in an LSAT® prep course. Courses can be self-directed, taught in a classroom setting or take place one-on-one with a private tutor. Some courses can also be taken online. While this is typically the most expensive test prep option for students, it can offer the best chance of getting good LSAT® scores.
As with any standardized test, students should get a good night's rest before the exam and try to eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the test. If a student performs poorly on the LSAT®, he can choose to retake the exam, although all of his test scores will be reported. Most students show a slight improvement when retaking the exam.