As a student who is interested in furthering his or her academics by pursuing a Law Degree, you must take the LSAT. One important question you must ask yourself is How Long to Study for LSAT? If this is the situation you find yourself in, then you are lucky, as we would be looking at the duration for acquiring a Law Degree in 2023 and some other key information you would be needing.
Before we go any further, we have to begin with a brief introduction of what the LSAT is about. This would enable us to have a solid foundation of what we would be discussing in this article.
What is the LSAT?
According to Kaplan, the LSAT is a skills-based exam that assesses critical reading and analytical thinking abilities that are essential for law school success. Unlike any other entrance exam, the LSAT is quite different and requires a lot of attention.
There are four sections of the LSAT exam. They include the reading comprehension session, the logic games session, the logical reasoning session, and the experimental section. The sections are for 35 minutes each. In total, the test lasts for about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
This piece of information is necessary for you because you must have an idea of what to expect on the exam day. Also, have in mind that for every LSAT exam you plan to take, there is a test fee charge attached to it and it costs about $200. However, there are circumstances where fee waivers are available.
You should also note that the LSAT exam is only available 7 times a year. The dates of the exam range from January to November. This means, even when you miss any exam date, there are still more chances for you to meet up. However, a candidate can only attempt the LSAT exam 5 times in a year and 7 times in his or her entire lifetime.
Now that we have been able to explain what the LSAT is about, let’s move forward to the main discussion.
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How Long to Study for LSAT?
It is very common for an interested candidate to ask this question: “How long to study for LSAT?” This is because studying for an exam like the LSAT requires thorough preparation. You have to draw a study schedule out of your busy time. The study schedule should be designed out of your study capacity. There are factors to consider on how long to study for the LSAT. They include the following:
Time to Study (on Average):
According to most LSAT experts, if you are drawing out your study schedule, you should have in mind that 150 to 300 hours ( Approximately 3 Months) is the average study time you must utilize to get prepared for your LSAT test. This study time can be broken down to approximately 12 to 25 hours weekly.
Your LSAT study preparation should entail the various sections of the test. You should also be able to evaluate yourself and identify your weaknesses. Once identified, you can now study harder towards it. When approaching test day, you should practice more often with pas
To pass your LSAT, you must prepare at this range. Kindly ensure your study time does not interfere with your personal life and activities.
Study Time Available Per Day
Another factor to consider on how long to study for LSAT is the time available for study on daily basis. The 150-300 hours 3 months preparation might be unsuccessful due to a clash with your personal life or activities.
What you have to do is to calculate how much time you can devote to studying for the LSAT each week. From there, you can now determine how many weeks it will take you to complete the prescribed minimum of 150-300 hours of study.
If you carefully evaluate yourself and your capability, you can have a clear view of how many weeks it will take you to get prepared. Now, you can draft out a study plan based on your available time and strength.
Target Score Range
This is another factor you have to consider when calculating how long to study for the LSAT. The target score range would motivate how consistent your study hours should be. For instance, if you are targeting a higher score around 160-170s, your study time must be higher than someone with a target score of 150s.
However, getting a higher score determines an extra focus and cross-examination of your strength and weaknesses which can also affect your study time. This, therefore, means that instead of the 3 months of preparation, you would have to include an extra 1 month of studying. Always evaluate your preparedness and be honest about where you are in your preparation.
Admission Requirements for Law School.
This is the last factor to consider on how long to study for the LSAT. This is because the admission requirements for different law schools vary. Some law schools are particular about the LSAT scores by certain dates and also have a stringent admission cycle. There are also Law schools with very limited slots and yet still rushed by most LSAT candidates. Some law schools even give out merit scholarships to outstanding students with higher scores.
When selecting how long to study for the LSAT, consult the admissions website of your preferred law school to get a good understanding of any additional criteria you should put into your study period calculations.
For example, if you really want a scholarship from one institution but they only offer them to students who have an LSAT score of 160 or higher, you’ll need to consider how long it will take you to get that score in your overall study schedule. We have been able to look at the factors considered in studying for the LSAT. Now we would look at some other interesting topics on LSAT study hours.
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Preparation tips for LSAT.
If you plan to pass the LSAT test, there are preparation tips that have been created to guide you towards scoring higher and also give you a heads up on what to expect. These preparation tips include:
In-depth Studying
To achieve a better score in the LSAT, you are expected to study in-depth. When you feel you are ready for the test, you should always attempt the regular practice test and also assess your preparedness and the part where you are having problems. In-depth studying would allow you to focus very much on your study and achieve a better score.
Avoid rushing
The second tip we would look at is to avoid the rush. The LSAT is not an exam you should write in rush. The LSAT is constructed in such a way that the average test taker won’t be able to finish all of the questions, and many of them will require you to retrain your thinking to get a good grade.
In this sense, you are expected to completely understand how the LSAT test works and what to expect on the day of the test. With this, you can beat your chest to score higher in the exam and achieve your dream.
Maintain a Routine
The third tip to consider is sticking to your study schedule. Preparation is key to success. After you must have drawn out a study schedule, you must maintain the study routine till after the exam. Once you get comfortable with your study schedule it would be easier to stay focused and steady during study hours.
When you study continuously, you will have the LSAT exam at the back of your mind and making it simpler to assess your strengths and flaws and raise your score faster.
Prepare for a retake.
To prepare for a retake is the fourth tip we would be looking at. Although, the main goal is to write the LSAT exam once and come out with good grades. However, some candidates prefer they write the LSAT more than once in search of a better score. You should not have such a mentality when preparing for the LSAT. All you have to do is to give in your best. But if you think the retake option is best for you, then fine and good.
LSAT Resources
The final tip we would be looking at is the different LSAT resources available for you. As we all know, the LSAT preparation can be difficult and tricky, which is why we should try to use a range of resources to help you get your goal score; teaching methods vary widely, and it may take you a few tries to locate a study resource that works for you.
At the end of this article, we have been able to look at what the LSAT exam is about. We even went further to discuss the preparation tips for the LSAT exam. We were able to answer the question of “How long to study for the LSAT?” I hope this article was comprehensive and useful enough for you and also help you find the answers to the questions you were looking for. Goodluck.
What is the LSAT?
The LSAT is a skills-based exam that assesses critical reading and analytical thinking abilities that are essential for law school success.
What is the average study time for LSAT?
150 to 300 hours ( Approximately 3 Months) is the average study time you must utilize to get prepared for your LSAT test
Does target score influence study time?
Yes, if you are targeting a higher score around 160-170s, your study time must be higher than someone with a target score of 150s
