One aspiring law student explains how she’s revising her LSAT test prep strategy.
Read about one Kaplan Student Brand Ambassador’s plans for LSAT test prep to help you determine what’s next for you.
What I’ve already accomplished
Whenever I tell people that the LSAT has consumed my life, they usually cringe and feel sorry for me. However, I can’t imagine things being any other way. LSAT test prep has become my life—and that’s how it should be (at least for a while). This test will not only determine whether I get into law school, but also my chances of securing merit-based scholarships.
I took my first LSAT in June 2016, during the busiest quarter of my life. My third year in college was a whirlwind: Apart from a full course load, I was also working both as a Student Brand Ambassador for Kaplan Test Prep (WOO!) and as a Resident Advisor (RA), as well as participating in a sorority. Thinking I knew what was best for myself, I mistakenly assumed that an LSAT test prep course alone would be sufficient for earning the score I wanted.
After a month of juggling school, work, extracurricular activities, and the LSAT, I was completely burned out. To make matters worse, my LSAT Test Day was scheduled during my finals week. I woke up that morning, took my LSAT, then went back to school and started to study for finals. Come June 30th, scores were released. I had received an acceptable score, but I still wanted to put my best foot forward and make sure that when the September LSAT rolls around, I will be able to score even higher and reach my full potential.
The first week after I got my LSAT score, I re-evaluated how I had been studying and what I had studied, trying to figure out why I wasn’t able to meet my score goal. The LSAT is no joke—it is NOT an easy test, and you need to practice a specific set of skills in order to do your best. With my busy schedule, there was just not enough time for me to master both the LSAT skills I needed and my classes. Luckily, I only had an internship on my plate over the summer.
I came up with a flexible study schedule and LSAT test prep plan that will hopefully help me reach my goals.
What I’m doing now to prepare for what’s ahead
Thanks to Kaplan and the higher score guarantee, I am retaking my LSAT course so that I am able to focus on the material. The key to succeeding in the class is to do ALL of the assignments.
Kaplan does an amazing job of breaking up our homework into manageable tiers, so it’s really easy to stay on track. I spend anywhere from an hour to three hours every day reviewing what I learned in class and practicing with actual LSAT questions, in addition to doing the homework. After every practice test I take, I go over EVERY single question—even the ones that I got right—to figure out what kind of mistakes I am making and to see if my methods were correct.
Balancing an internship and the LSAT is far easier now than it was with the busy schedule I had in the spring, but it can still be a challenge sometimes. If I know I’m going to have a long day at work and I won’t have the energy to study for a few hours, I make a trade-off. During my lunch break, I do a few practice problems: one logic game set and a few logical reasoning questions. It gives me a break but also keeps my mind on the test.
What’s next for me in LSAT test prep
With less than a month until LSAT Test Day, I’m doing my best to practice as much as I can, going through full-length practice tests under conditions that simulate the testing environment. Unlike the June administration, which was held at 12:30 in the afternoon, the September LSAT will be held at 8:30 in the morning. I’m planning on taking a practice test every other Saturday at that exact time to get my body used to waking up and answering questions.
In addition, I have made it my goal to complete every problem in my three LSAT books. I’ve completed almost 75% of the first one, so I’m already well on my way. Every question on the test is worth the same amount of points, so I want to make sure I am comfortable with every question type in every section—and the only way to do that is through practice.
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