How to Conquer the LSAT - Tips on How to Succeed

Law schools require that you to take the LSAT exam before applying to law school. Some schools place a heavier weight on your LSAT score than they do your GPA, and therefore, your LSAT score may be a deciding factor on whether or not you are accepted to law school.

First of all, it is important for you to know what will be on the test, so that you know what to expect and can properly prepare for the exam. There is a multiple-choice section and a writing section on the LSAT. The multiple-choice section is divided into 5 sub-parts. The first multiple-choice section is the critical reasoning section, where you will have 35 minutes to complete 24-26 questions. The second multiple-choice section is the logic games, where you will have 35 minutes to complete 24 questions. The third multiple-choice section consists of 24 reading comprehension questions that you will also have 35 minutes to complete. The experimental section of the LSAT must be completed in 35 minutes and the number of questions depends on the test that you are given.

The second major part and final section of the LSAT is the writing assignment, which you will have 30 minutes to complete. You are given a topic that you are asked to write an essay on in this section of the test. While the writing assignment is not a scored part of the test, it is still important to put in your best effort, because it is sent along to the law schools that you are applying to attend as part of your admissions application.

Now that you have an idea of what is included on the exam, you will need to take the necessary steps to prepare for the exam. Since everyone prepares for major tests and exams differently, you will need to follow a course of action that will allow you to best prepare for the exam.

#1 Make a plan. Whether you need to take a LSAT preparation course or you can study on your own with a LSAT practice exam book, choose the way that you are going to go about studying for the exam.

#2 Create a schedule. Set aside a certain amount of time each day to devote to studying for your exam. Allot yourself enough time in these study sessions to complete the areas that need to be covered in order to keep you on schedule.

#3 Practice, practice, and then practice some more. If there is any good news about taking the LSAT it is that the test itself does not tend to change too much from year to year. This means that if you take enough practice tests and learn the right test strategies, you can effectively prepare for the exam.

Set up simulated practice test sessions. Use practice tests from books or online. Go back to the areas that you still need to work on and review, practice and study until you have mastered those areas as well.

So now you know the format of the test, what is going to be on the test, and how to study for the test. Now you need to know what to do while you are actually taking the test to totally conquer it.

#1 Read the questions carefully. Do not rush through the exam because you think that you know it like the back of your hand. Be sure to carefully read each question and make sure you know what the question is asking. Missing just one word can totally throw you off from the correct answer.

#2 Do not leave answers blank. On the LSAT you are graded on the number of correct answers you give. If you do not know the answer to a question, then use the process of elimination to narrow down the choices given as much as possible. If you can narrow down the choices to two options, then you now have a 50/50 chance of getting the answer correct.

If you do not know the answer and cannot make an educated guess then randomly fill it in. The odds are better for you to answer those questions that you cannot figure out at random than it is to leave them completely blank. For example, if you have left 10 questions blank and you go back at the end of the exam and randomly fill them in, you have a chance of getting at least 2 right.

#3 Manage your time. Since each section of the test is timed, you will need to be able to manage your time effectively so that you have enough time to complete each question on the exam. Don't spend too much time on any one question that will cause you to not have enough time to answer the remaining questions. Again, if you are not able to answer all of the questions in the time allotted then randomly choose answers for those questions that you have left blank.

#4 Check your work. When you have completed a section and you have time left before the end of that portion of the exam, go back and check your answers. First, make sure that you have answered all of the questions. Revisit the questions that you were having trouble with and recheck your answer choice now that you have a few more minutes to spend on it.

Relax, take a deep breath, and prepare for your LSAT exam. The LSAT is not a test of academic knowledge. When you are studying, you are not really studying to learn new material. You are really learning strategy and logic. By taking the necessary steps to prepare for the exam, you will have everything you need to conquer the LSAT.

Review more industry related articles by Kristie Lorette at CareersandEducation.com. Kristie Lorette is a feature writer and often covers topics related to Campus degree programs and Career Advice.