Landing In The High LSAT Score Range
Do you remember how in Legally Blonde, Elle Woods scored a nearly perfect 179 on the LSAT, leaving her on the high end of the LSAT score range and earning admission to Harvard? Remember how inspiring that was to watch? Remember how it made a 179 seem possible?
Yeah… those were the good old days, weren’t they? Unfortunately, a 179 is the kind of score that only 0.02% of people achieve. The rest of us will need to grow comfortable earning something else.
Of course, scoring below a 179 is not the end of the world. It should absolutely not hold you back from your law school dreams. Because after all, basically everybody is worse at the LSAT than Elle Woods. In case you didn’t realize it, she is really smart.
So take a deep breath, and let’s set some LSAT score goals together. The world needs you!
In this blog, we’ll cover some common questions regarding the LSAT score range, such as LSAT score percentiles and what the LSAT score average really is.
“This feels like a dumb question… But what is the LSAT Score Range?”
Not a dumb question at all. Standardized tests have all sorts of wacky sounding scores–1600, 35, 528, 800–and the LSAT is no exception. On the LSAT, your score will range between 120 and 180. You get a 120 for signing on, and every question you get right will move you closer to a 180.
The latter end of that range may seem impossible, but with the right amounts of hard work, careful thought, time management and tears (yes, there will be tears) you can totally move your LSAT score into a range that makes you happy.
Fun fact: if you pick at random, you’ll actually gain a few points and score a 123. But of course, you’re looking for a little more than that, and I don’t blame you. So if you’re going to take this test, study hard. Don’t pick at random.
“Okay, so what LSAT score would make me average? “
Ultimately, the LSAT is about doing your own personal best, and not about comparing to others. Yet at the same time, I understand the concern to compare yourself. After all, that’s what the admissions staff will be doing.
In recent years, the LSAT score average has been a 152. And yes, there’s a reason that the average is almost the exact middle of the range we talked about in the previous section. The LSAT is a scaled test, which means it is designed to pump out the same averages year after year. Every single test is designed so roughly the same percent of test-takers achieve each score as they did on all the previous tests. If 33% of test takers achieved a 160 on one test, it’s likely that 33% of test takers will achieve the same LSAT score next time, on average.
”Okay, so I’m starting to see percentages here… what are LSAT score percentiles?”
Great question. An LSAT score percentile tells you the percentage of people who scored below a certain score. So let’s say you scored a 165, which usually sits around the 90th percentile. That means 90 percent of the people taking that LSAT scored lower than you. Which means you did a pretty great job!
But you didn’t take the LSAT to enter a competition. It’s nice to know where you rank, but mostly because it reflects on your hard earned skills.
Ultimately, you took the LSAT to get into law school. So to honor that goal, here’s a rough idea of where each LSAT score will get you:
152: In the US, only 40 Law Schools admit students with a score of 152 or below.
160-164: Admission to the top 100 schools is possible.
165-168: Admission to the top 50 schools is possible.
166-170: Admission to the top 14 Law Schools is possible.
170-180: Admission to elite schools is possible! (Think Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.)
Data based on 2022 LSAT scores as reported by Shemassian Academic Consulting.
And if you want to see how your scores can turn into scholarships, you can use LSAT Demon’s incredibly useful scholarship calculator.
So how do you feel about your LSAT score?
Now that you know where your LSAT score puts you, how do you feel about it? Was your LSAT score below average? If it is, that’s not a reason to panic. Seriously, it’s okay! Every high-scoring LSAT test taker started out with a lower score than they wanted. I sure did, at least.
When looking to improve your score, make sure to find study tactics that work for you. If you’re working towards aiming higher in the LSAT score range but feel you’ve hit a plateau self-studying, it may be time to consider a new book, class, or tutor.
If you’re interested in learning more about improving your score, click here to sign up for a free 1:1 consultation. Let’s beat this test together!
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
Why Is My LSAT Score Not Improving?
Picture this: You’ve taken LSAT practice test after practice test. You’re at the end of your LSAT study schedule… and your score is backsliding. After countless hours of drilling, crying, drilling, crying, drilling some more, googling “why is the LSAT hard”, and crying yet again, that score still continues to drop. You find yourself screaming in the night, “I am such a failure!”
Believe me, you are not a failure. Backsliding is super common for LSAT students.
In fact, early on in my LSAT journey, I was there too. I remember all too vividly that weekend afternoon in Starbucks when I broke down over a necessary assumption drill on Khan Academy. I was drained. Spent. Kaput. Just like you, I had put in all the work. I thought that grinding and grinding would put my score on an upwards slope. I put in all the work, so my score should reflect that… right?
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The hard truth is that the LSAT is, well, hard. LSAT studying will drain you in ways that studying for other tests won’t.
And at some point, exhaustion will turn your brain gains into a brain drain (I know it’s cheesy, but I couldn’t resist), and you won’t just spend the night screaming at the LSAT gods, “WHY, LSAT GODS, OH WHY IS MY LSAT SCORE NOT IMPROVING?!”, you’ll go somewhere even darker. You’ll wonder why your score is… gasp… getting worse.
So what do you do when you’ve studied endlessly and hit an LSAT score plateau, or worse, a backslide?
First: Take A Break.
That’s right. If you’re wondering “why is my LSAT score not improving?” It’s time you TAKE. A. BREAK.
When we overwork, it’s often because we…
1. Are seeing our LSAT score slip.
2. Feel like we have limited time and need to make the most of every second.
3. All of the above and then some.
My first ever LSAT, I scored a 172. The week before, I had suffered that Starbucks mocha-frappe-backslide all the way to a 161. Questions that had been easy to me for months were suddenly running me ragged.
Is the LSAT hard? Yes. Is it that Impossible? No Way.
Is the LSAT hard? Yes. But it’s not so hard that we can suddenly lose all of our skills in a matter of days. When I scored that 161, my brain was scrambled. If you showed me a sentence with more than 10 words, or the phrase “only if,” I might have collapsed into a crying heap.
I was so viciously overworked that I literally had no choice but to do zero LSAT for two days.
Resting was the best decision I ever made, and a lesson I took with me when I earned a perfect 180 score.
Now, I consistently watch my clients for burnout, and inevitably all of them hit a wall where they need to take a true break to reset. Whenever they do, I prescribe a true weekend of rest. Taking two days off can be scary, but I promise that you won’t lose anything you’ve learned. The only thing that’ll happen is that you’ll give your brain a chance to recover. The brain is like any other muscle. It needs rest to build up stronger.
Okay, I’ve rested. My self-study still is leading nowhere. Why is my LSAT score still not improving?
Simply put, you might be a student who needs more. Pure, 100% self-studying doesn’t work for every student.
Don’t get me wrong. Self-studying can lead to a good score.
The LSAT is hard, but learnable. However, Princeton Review, online LSAT video courses, and all the best LSAT prep books in the world might not be your particular ticket to your dream score.
PS. I’ve yet to hear 1 good review about Princeton Review, and I’ve heard plenty of awful ones.
If you’re going to spend the money on LSAT prep, you have to find someone who can replace the (non-existent) LSAT gods, and provide more than silence when you ask, “Why is my LSAT score not improving?” A good LSAT tutor can help you raise your understanding in a way that makes sense to you. You’ll get so much more out of 1:1 instruction than you would out of Princeton or any other online video LSAT prep course.
Looking for your very own LSAT Champion or wondering where to start? Click here to sign up for a free 1:1 LSAT consultation. Whether it’s with me or another trusted source, I’d love to support you along your LSAT journey.
Want access to some free tutoring now? Don’t worry, I got you. Click here to download a free guide that answers all of my most frequently asked questions–over 40 pages of LSAT goodness!
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
Logical Reasoning on the LSAT: Strategies From A Perfect Scorer
Do the words “Logical Reasoning” trigger LSAT butterflies in your stomach? Make you bust out in a cold sweat? Find anything you can do to procrastinate, even… cleaning your room?!
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Logical Reasoning is one of the most worried about LSAT sections. I’d say it’s due in part to the overwhelming number of Logical Reasoning question types, and the dozens of hyper-specific LSAT strategies that most instructors out there convince students that they need. Not to mention, formal logic is brand new to most students taking the test.
When students try to master all these new strategies, and process really intimidating logic at the same time, it can end up a Logical Reasoning LSAT-astrophe.
But hear me out: the Logical Reasoning section does not have to be as complex as everyone makes it out to be. With a little determination (which you already have if you’re reading this blog) and consistent practice, you can reach your goals for Logical Reasoning, and the LSAT in general.
When I was studying on my way to a 180, there were a few observations I made that really helped me out. Here are six major tips that helped me ace Logical Reasoning on the LSAT:
If you are looking for Logical Reasoning LSAT sample questions, I suggest you check out LSAC’s Lawhub, an online database that contains all the disclosed LSATs ever offered. As a bonus, Lawhub contains all its questions using the official online format you’ll see on test day.
The Tips that Helped Me Ace the Logical Reasoning Section of the LSAT:
Identify Argument-based questions, and then highlight their conclusion. Always. If a question stem (the fancy phrase for “question”) refers to “reasoning,” a “conclusion,” or an “argument,” (that one’s pretty simple), you are dealing with an argument-based stimulus. Arguments always have a final point, called the conclusion. The conclusion is an action or opinion that the arguer wants to convince you to adopt. Find this phrase and highlight it. Focus on it. Work really hard to understand it. This will help you better focus on the answer choices that are relevant to the question at hand. As a bonus, it’ll save you time and effort on your review round, so you don’t have to re-solve the stimulus and can therefore move on to second-level problem solving.
Know your conclusion’s specific subject matter and tense: If we’re in a battle between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, we shouldn’t care what people have to say about cookie dough–even if it is the best. That’s because cookie dough has nothing to do with chocolate vs. vanilla.
Know the tense of your conclusion: Is an answer choice dealing with the future when our conclusion is concerned with the past? Often when down to two answer choices, most students try to process as much of the stimulus information as they can. Instead, we should be narrowing down.
Focus on the nuanced word choice in the conclusion to help you figure out which answer you’re leaning towards, and pick it. Trust your “gut.” After all that work, it’s less random than you expect. Usually, we lean towards an answer for a reason (and there aren’t as many traps as you think).
Pay more attention to answer choices—read them fully. A lot of mistakes come from reading everything else in detail, and skimming answer choices. Practice the alternative.
Learn to drive from the answer choices. Find words that rub you the wrong way and require investigation. Ultimately, it’s easier to look carefully through a ten word answer choice than a seventy-five word stimulus.
Also, find a way to adopt a 1st pass – 2nd pass strategy. What this means: spend your first pass focused on the big picture more than the details. Go through your questions, eliminate down to two, pick what you’re leaning towards, and don’t linger! Chances are, if you are getting nine out of the first ten Logical Reasoning questions in 13 minutes, you can do it in 10.
Try to create a pace where you end with anywhere from 5-10 minutes for review.
That second round of review, free from the stress of unsolved questions up ahead, is really, really, really helpful, especially in Logical Reasoning, because it removes all that LSAT stress that comes from knowing you still have more unsolved questions left to discover. The fear of an unknown, super-tough question ahead can be paralyzing.
Having a fresh set of eyes, combined with the fact that you’re “warmed up,” will make previously difficult-seeming questions look much more clear cut upon review.Most people, when they hear this tip, say something to the effect of “well that’d be nice, but I can’t do that.” TBH, doing ten in ten is just something you have to make yourself do. It’s a classic “chicken and the egg” dilemma–if you don’t force it, it won’t happen. It’s rare to just gradually get there. Try it out on your next Logical Reasoning LSAT drill set!
Think about those middle school grammar lessons: tense, subject, verb. A conclusion about the future probably isn’t going to be answered by an answer choice about the past.
Similarly, a conclusion about what’s not true isn’t going to be answered by an answer choice about what is true. Think of the difference between “I live in South Dakota” versus “I don’t live in Nevada”... those are two very different pieces of information.
Lastly, trust Your Well-Studied Gut. Weirdly, the longer we spend on a question, the more we try to argue for the answer we don’t like. In other words, we try to prove ourselves wrong by creating a big thought-out argument for the answer we don’t like, and forgetting to argue for the one we do like.
By the time you’re down to two answer choices, you’ve used a considerable amount of brain power and have probably started to get to that phase where the stimulus is fuzzy. Go with the answer you’re leaning towards and leave the other one open. Use the little flag tool, bank 30 seconds that you’d otherwise spend staring at the screen, and come back later if you have time.
Deciding your next steps? I suggest you check out “The Loophole” by Ellen Cassidy for a great introduction to Logical Reasoning for the LSAT. Ready to get started with some 1:1 tutoring for the LSAT? Click here to set up an initial consultation.
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
Should You Withdraw from the LSAT?
When test day approaches, many test takers fear that they’re not ready, and consider whether they need to withdraw from the LSAT. This is not an easy decision to make. The LSAT is an expensive test, and depending on when you’re making the decision to bow out, it could still cost you money. Here’s everything you need to know about whether to withdraw from the LSAT.
Am I Making the Right Decision to Withdraw from the LSAT?
As a tutor, I’ve seen a fair number of students who think they need to withdraw their LSAT when they don’t need to, and I’ve also seen a bunch of students who think they’re ready for the test when they’re not. If you’re on the fence about whether or not to take the upcoming LSAT, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
(If you’re looking to cancel your score after taking the LSAT, check out this separate article that covers the topic.)
Am I close to my target score?
Look at your most recent practice test. If you’re within 3 points, you should absolutely take the test. The standard scoring band for the LSAT is +/- 3 points, which means you are likely to score 3 points over or under your most recent practice score. This is a pretty reliable measure that accounts for test difficulty, luck, and how other test-takers fared on the same test.
2. How many weeks do I have left?
Though we all hope to improve 5 points in the final week, that kind of improvement is relatively unlikely. A realistic LSAT goal is gaining 1-2 points per week, which usually equates to getting 2-3 more questions correct per week. Sometimes, targeted work with a tutor can accelerate those gains, but even then there are limits to how far you can leap. Take a look at your remaining weeks, compare that to your target score, and decide whether this upcoming LSAT is your best option.
3. How many official LSATs have I already taken?
There is a limit on the number of LSATs you can take. You cannot repeat it indefinitely. Those limits are:
Three times in one year
Five times within a five year period
Seven times in a lifetime.
If you are in danger of exceeding those limits, be extremely cautious about taking your next test. You absolutely want to be ready before you take your next one.
4. If I withdraw my LSAT, will I get my money back?
The fact is, you might be paying for this test whether you like it or not. There is a full refund deadline for the LSAT, and it’s typically more than a month before the test is given (the refund date is usually the same as the registration deadline date).
For example, the November 2022 LSAT has a refund deadline of September 29, 2022.
Once the refund deadline passes, you can ask for a partial refund of $50, but that is way less than the full test cost of $215. Test date changes are equally costly; after the deadline, it will cost you a fee of $135 or more to change your LSAT test date.
If you’re past the refund deadline and relatively close to your LSAT target score, it might be worth it to take the test. After all, even if you don’t get the score you want, you will absolutely learn from the experience. More than a quarter of LSAT students re-take the test, and for good reason: re-takes often lead to increased scores. It’s no coincidence that the LSAC Fee Waiver includes 2 free LSAT sittings for qualified students.
How to withdraw your LSAT?
If you’ve considered the questions listed above and still want to withdraw from the LSAT, you should absolutely do so. There’s no point in wasting money on a test you either aren’t ready to take or have decided isn’t for you.
To withdraw from the LSAT, you’ll need to log in to your LSAC account and cancel your registration through your account’s LSAT Status Page (linked here). For more information, you can also email the LSAC at LSACinfo@LSAC.org.
For whenever you choose to take the test, follow us on Instagram for tips to help you squeeze out those last few points.
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
Taking the LSAT Without Studying
If you came across this article because you’re thinking about taking the LSAT without studying, let me be the first to advise you: Please don’t!
If You’re Thinking of Taking the LSAT Without Studying
My students appreciate that I’m an upfront, tell-it-like-it-is kind of person. In other words, I’m blunt, but it comes from a good place. I want you to end up with an LSAT score that propels you to the school of your dreams, with scholarship money, too. In service of that goal, I absolutely beg you to reconsider taking the LSAT without studying.
To convince you, let me tell you a bit of my story.
Why Studying for the LSAT is Crucial
The first time I took the LSAT was unofficial. In other words, it was a practice test. As any good test prep tutor will tell you, the best thing to do when you’re thinking about taking an exam–any exam, not just the LSAT–is to take what’s called a “diagnostic test.” A diagnostic exam is a “cold” test, taken before you’ve gained any knowledge or done any studying. This way, you know where you’re starting, and how much work you need to put in to get to your goal.
Some people are scared of taking a diagnostic test because they think it will be discouraging. On the contrary, diagnostics can be incredibly helpful! By starting with a diagnostic, you’ll be able to track your progress and see how much you’ve grown thanks to your studies. You only get to take a diagnostic once, so don’t waste the opportunity.
… But that’s a diagnostic. We’re here to discuss taking the LSAT without studying. So let’s talk about my diagnostic test, and what would have happened if that was my official exam, instead of an unofficial practice run.
LSAT Scores Get You Scholarships
My first ever practice LSAT score was in the high 150s. In the scheme of things, that’s a pretty good first test. However, here are a few things that a high 150s score would not earn me, based on research into past law school admissions statistics.
My diagnostic would likely have not earned me admission into a T14 school (T14 stands for “Top 14” in the Law School Admissions world).
Nor would it have earned me scholarship at any of the T50 schools.
To increase your chances of admission at your goal school, you should try to score “above the median,” aka above the middle score for all of a school’s accepted applications.
If you score above the median, you’re in the top 50% of that school’s applicants. If you’re in the top 50%, there’s a likely chance that you will have a strong application.
Yet if you want to be admitted and earn scholarship money, the top quartile (25%) is your goal. How do you find out if your LSAT score will earn admission to your dream school? A simple search will provide the info you need. All of these statistics are available publicly, because schools have to report them each year.
My diagnostic score was good. The high 150s would earn admission at plenty of T50 schools, albeit without scholarship. But because my diagnostic was taken cold, without any studying, it was not a good representation of my abilities. Our LSAT score should show us at our maximum potential. If I had applied with a high 150s score, I would not have shown what I can do at the peak of my abilities.
Similarly, taking the LSAT without studying would not be a good representation of your peak abilities. After all, you plan on studying in Law School, right? Show schools what you’re made of. Show what you’re capable of when you study hard. Start with a diagnostic, study for the exam, and then see what happens when you raise your score.
What Happens When You Score a 180 on the LSAT
I may have started with a diagnostic in the high 150s, but after some hard studying, and after reverse engineering the test into fundamental principles, I was able to score in the top 00.1% of all LSAT test takers, with a perfect 180 score.
That score earned me admission to every school I applied to, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship offers. Now, I chose not to go to law school right away, because I love teaching the LSAT and helping others reach their goals. Also, it’s worth noting that not everyone can score a 180–in fact, very few people do (let me tell you, it takes a lot of effort).
But the 180 isn’t the point. The point is: what would have happened if I took the LSAT without studying, and put a 150-something on my transcript? I would not have reflected the best version of myself, and I definitely would not have earned the admissions offers and scholarships that I received after scoring my absolute best.
Whatever your diagnostic score, whatever your goal score, whatever your goal school, you should put the best version of yourself on your law school transcript. Don’t take the test until you’re ready. Instead, take a diagnostic, build a study timeline, and prepare with the same intensity that you plan to use in law school. In fact, consider the LSAT your first “law” course. If you’re anything like my students, you’re bound to pick up lifelong skills that you never expected to gain.
More questions about studying for the LSAT? Schedule a free consultation, or even sign up for my highly popular “Study and Focus” course.
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
The 5 Best LSAT Prep Books And Self Study Resources
The Truth About How to Study for the LSAT
Starting your LSAT journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. From tutors to prep courses, you may be faced with a plethora of options when it comes to figuring out how to study for the LSAT.
I’m a tutor, and I routinely turn down students who ask to start their LSAT journey with me.
Why would I turn down business? Because it’s my job to look out for a student’s best interest, and the fact is that there are better, more affordable options out there for students who are looking to learn the fundamentals.
Before you hire a tutor, you should max out your own potential with self-studying. Tutors are great once you’ve hit a wall with self-studying, and have no idea how to improve further. Until then, there are so many excellent, affordable self study options out there. Use them until you hit a wall, and then start looking for tutors.
If you’re wondering how to study for the LSAT on your own, LSAT prep books can be a great place to start. And if you ask me, the products below are the best LSAT prep books and video courses currently on the market.
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee from booksellers for purchases made through the links on my site.
The Best LSAT Prep Books: The LSAT Trainer (for Starting Your LSAT Journey)
The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim is, as it says in its title, a great guide for the self-motivated student. This is one of the best LSAT Prep Books for anyone seeking to get an introduction to the LSAT.
Admittedly, the book doesn’t explain every nitty gritty LSAT detail. What it does well, however, is give students a solid conceptual understanding of what they need to accomplish, without bogging down the language with details or steps that are impossible to remember. It will for sure teach you how to study for the LSAT, as it offers plenty of bonus resources like study schedules and questions organized by type.
The Best LSAT Prep Books: The Loophole for an Intro to Logical Reasoning
The Loophole by Ellen Cassidy
This is one of the best LSAT prep books according to Reddit (as of 2022): The Loophole by Ellen Cassidy. Reddit loves The Loophole, and so do I. Years of methodical research led to this book, which I’d argue is the most comprehensive approach you’ll ever find for Logical Reasoning problems.
In The Loophole, Ellen breaks down how to read complicated stimuli so nothing will ever confuse you again. It’s not perfect, though. I’ve had students who find that The Loophole, while it explains a lot, struggles to make certain question types easy. However, when it comes to boosting LSAT comprehension this book stands above its peers.
I recommend trying the Loophole if the LSAT Trainer isn’t clicking with you, or if Logical Reasoning overall tends to overwhelm you more than the other sections.
The Best LSAT Prep Books: Deep Work, a Life Changing Book for Study Habits
Deep Work by Cal Newport
If you’re wondering how to study for the LSAT (and beyond), Deep Work by Cal Newport is a must read. It may not be specifically an LSAT prep book, but I personally consider it a life-changer.
The author, Cal Newport, is a Computer Science professor at Georgetown University who has made study habits and skills his life’s work—besides, you know, computer science. Deep Work takes a wealth of research on focus, study, and learning, and turns it into practical advice on how to optimize all three throughout the day.
If you want to avoid being one of those LSAT students who spends 8 hours a day making little progress on their scores, this is the best LSAT prep book for you. (If you do want to be one of those students… well, you might want to reconsider).
Deep Work, and its lessons on structuring the workday, allowed me to excel on the LSAT with only 1-3 study hours per day, a number that for most test-takers will seem weirdly low. I still use its principles today, and encourage my students to do the same. I highly recommend this book, not only for the LSAT, but later for Law School, and whatever else your future holds.
The Best LSAT Prep Books: Powerscore LG Bible for Logic Games
Honestly, this is a half-hearted recommendation, because even though this is the best Logic Games LSAT book out there, it is the best of a bad lot. I do not love the Logic Games books currently on the market, and believe that they miss many crucial lessons that are tested on the modern exams. However, this book has helped enough students that I think it’s worth mentioning. Also, if I didn’t have an LG book on here, you’d be asking me for one :)
Powerscore teaches a complicated system based on identifying “game type.” They teach memorization and pattern recognition, rather than how to build a game from the ground up and respond to twists with knowledge-based improvisation. In my experience, these complicated, memory-based systems work well, but only for past exams, which leads to unwelcome surprises on test day. Often I hear from Powerscore students who repeatedly scored -0 on LG in practice and didn’t even finish the fourth game on test day.
That said, if you absolutely needed a Logic Games book at this moment, I’d suggest the Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible. The internet loves it, and plenty of students have reported success with its methods—and ultimately, despite what I think, the scoreboard is what matters.
Books Not Your Thing? 7 Sage and LSAT Demon are the Best Video Courses
Don’t bother with their competitors. 7sage and LSAT Demon are without a doubt the best LSAT prep online video courses out there. Do students come to me after 7sage, still needing help? Absolutely. Same for the Demon. There’s no such thing as a perfect solution for everyone. Some students will not make progress with either, or they may find that one works better for them than the other.
However, both 7sage and LSAT Demon are good solutions for many students, especially those who are starting their LSAT study journey. Their core curriculums give students a great understanding to build from, and at a really reasonable cost. Both analytics platforms are incredible, though I’d argue that LSAT Demon has the slight advantage when it comes to building drill sets and tracking used tests. I highly recommend both 7sage and LSAT Demon to anyone looking for an affordable self-study video course.
Ready to stop wondering how to study for the LSAT? Take the next step in your LSAT journey: Follow @goldenlsat on Instagram or click here to learn more about how 1:1 tutoring can help guide you (when you’re ready) on your journey to perfect your LSAT score!
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee from booksellers for purchases made through the links on my site.
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
Where Do I Take The Online LSAT Test?
Finally, now that we’ve planned the day and paid for the test, it’s time to sit down and take the LSAT. But where do I take the LSAT? Do I have to find a test center? Or can I take the LSAT exam online? What’s it like dealing with an LSAT proctor? Do they take bribes?
Aside from the last one, these are great questions, [your name here]. (Don’t worry, it’s not a glitch. I’m just trying to be funny. You can tell the joke is succeeding by the way I have to explain it.) Recent changes to the LSAT exam, many of which were enacted during COVID lockdowns, have made it harder to understand how, when, and where the LSAT is given. Here, I’ll try to lay out the most important, most up-to-date pieces of info.
Where do I take the LSAT?
Many years ago (three years ago), if you had asked, “Where do I take the LSAT?” you’d be directed to one of the many test centers across the country. I took my first LSAT in a hotel ballroom in Southern California, three hours away from where I lived because everything closer had been fully booked. That hotel was filled with anxious students boasting about perfect logic games scores and how they routinely crossed into the 170s. I’d say roughly 99% of the students there claimed to be in the 99th percentile. If you know math, you know what’s wrong with those numbers.
Thankfully, it seems like we’re done with the days of in-person testing next to your (sometimes smelly, sometimes sneezy) competitors. Today’s LSAT exam is completely online, which means you can take it from your favorite study spot at home.
So to those who are asking, “Where do I take the LSAT?” is truly wherever you’d like…except for maybe that stuffy hotel ballroom. Believe me, you don’t want to be there anyway.
What if I can’t take the online LSAT test at home?
If you don’t feel like your home is a good place to take a potentially life-changing online LSAT, I feel you… and the LSAC does too. That’s why they let you request funding for an alternate testing location, like a hotel. Don’t trust your own technology? You can ask for an LSAC-provided testing device. For more information about these types of assistance requests, check out the LSAC FAQ.
Make sure, though, that your choice of location is a quiet place, with no one around who would walk in or make noise loud enough to hear through the walls. The LSAC is really strict about maintaining perfect test conditions. If you give your proctor an excuse to flag you, they will.
How do I get my room ready for the LSAT?
So many of my students ask me what they can and can’t have in their room during the online LSAT. They’re worried that their proctor will flag them as an LSAT evildoer even though really they’re just trying their best. It’s a valid concern. Many of these proctors are independent contractors who are hired for whatever test is happening that day. They are not as deeply familiar with the LSAT online exam as the students who are taking it. They’re definitely not familiar with the stress and stakes that surround the test. There is a not-unrealistic chance that they will flag something that is actually legal according to LSAT rules. That’s why LSAT students should be extra careful preparing their space for the online LSAT test.
If you are wondering whether your room is legal for the online LSAT exam, check for the following:
Additional screens (TVs, computer monitors, etc.)
Anything that could be interpreted as a listening device (headphones, speakers, microphones Alexa, Google Nest, Siri, Hal 9000, etc).
Printed materials (Books are okay as long as they’re far away)
You want to avoid as much of the above as possible. Prepare days in advance, if you can. Make sure your desk is clean, clear anything potentially problematic out of your room, and if you have roommates, put a sign on your door that alerts them about the test. Put three signs on your door, or twelve signs on every door. Seriously, the level of obsession is worth it.
If you have someone walk in during the online LSAT test even once, it could ruin your entire day and render your exam invalid. Proctors are on the lookout for infractions, and even if you are ultimately declared “not guilty,” the interruption alone can hurt your performance on the test, not to mention spike your anxiety.
I’ve covered the main items you should watch out for in your testing space. For more, you should read the LSAC testing instructions backwards and forwards. And if you hate reading fine print… what are you doing studying to be a lawyer?!
What to do next to plan for the LSAT?
If you haven’t signed up for the LSAT yet, you should totally do so (provided your score is where you want it). If it’s not, keep studying, maybe by using some excellent LSAT self-study materials. If you haven’t even started studying yet, don’t let yourself worry about where to take it. Instead, take a free diagnostic test and get your LSAT study party started.
The Cost of the LSAT
What is the cost of the LSAT? The basic cost of the LSAT test and how to save with LSAT fee waivers.
The Cost of the LSAT -- Taking and Paying for the Test
Once you’ve taken enough LSAT preptests and feel like you’re ready for the real thing, it’s time to register for the LSAT. Unfortunately, that also means paying for the LSAT.
What is the cost of the LSAT? The answer ultimately depends on how often you plan to take the test (many people take the test more than once), as well as your current income level (more on that later).
The basic, mandatory LSAT fees include the following:
LSAT and LSAT Writing: Aka, the actual test fee. $215
Credential Assembly Service: A mandatory fee that pays for the LSAC to compile your application. $195
Law School Reports: To pay for the LSAC to send your compiled profile to each law school you’re applying to. $45 per school.
Those are just the basic costs for the LSAT, though. The true cost, if you’re tracking it, isn’t complete without the cost of studying. Depending on your income level (coming soon, I promise), studying will not be free, especially if you plan on scoring at the top level.
Some common ways to study for the LSAT include:
LSAT Prep Plus: $99 per year.
Khan Academy: Free
A Self Study Book or Course: $35 for a book, $79+ monthly for a course.
At minimum, you should subscribe to LSAT Prep Plus, otherwise known as LSAT Lawhub. Lawhub is a service that allows you to access over 70+ past LSAT exams. If you want to do well on the LSAT, you absolutely must practice with real questions before your official exam. LSAT Lawhub has an extra bonus, too: it’s the only service that lets you practice using the same online interface that is used on the test.
Aside from Preptests, you’ll likely need to learn about the concepts that are tested on the test. There are plenty of students who find success with Khan Academy, though many end up wanting something more, and either buy a self-study book or an online course. You can find my favorite self-study books and courses here.
When you consider the cost of studying for the LSAT in addition to its mountain of testing fees, this test is one expensive proposition. Even the most barebones preparation can cost up to $554, and that’s before applying to any law schools!
Thankfully, though, there are ways for certain students to reduce the cost of the LSAT.
LSAT Fee Waivers
If you qualify under certain income brackets (I told you I’d get to it), the main way to save money on the LSAT is through the LSAT Fee Waiver, an income-based grant that allows certain students to access LSAT services at a lower cost. These services include official LSAT exams, preptests, and even some third party test prep company offerings. The fee waiver is an incredibly helpful tool that can lower the cost of LSAT Prep and Law School Admissions
Depending on the tier that you qualify for, you could receive up the following for free:
Two LSAT exam sittings
One year of LSAT Prep Plus (and access to tons of real LSAT exams)
Credential assembly service (CAS) registration
Six law school reports
One free score preview for first-time test takers.
Basically, you can obtain everything you need to take the LSAT for free. You can also receive discounts from major test prep providers. To find out more about LSAT Fee Waiver eligibility, check out the LSAC’s official page here. To find out more about the test prep providers who accept LSAT Fee Waivers, you can check out the official list here.
If you’re not eligible for the LSAT fee waiver, you can still save on the cost of the LSAT. How? By preparing well for the test, and taking the LSAT only when you’re ready. By being smart (you know, like a lawyer) about the test-taking process, you can save a considerable amount of money. Add it to your eventual law school pizza budget. Your future library friends will thank you.
And don’t forget: you don’t have to just save money. You can earn it. If you study super well, you can earn scholarships of $10,000+ or even $100,000+, depending on the school you apply to. If you find yourself scoring at or above the median scores for your goal schools, it could be worth it to invest in a small group course or one-on-one tutoring and push yourself over the edge. Those few points could be worth far more than your initial investment.
Just keep in mind, though: personal instruction is expensive, no matter how you slice it, and too many people reach out to tutors before they should. Look for instruction only after you’ve made full use of your self-study materials.
If you’d like to learn more about the best path for you, check out my other blog posts, or even schedule a call with me. Even if tutoring isn’t the best fit, I bet we can get you pointed in the right direction.
Keep in mind: self-study resources are typically designed to help the most people possible. That means they’re designed for those who have never seen the LSAT, or those who start with average diagnostic scores (in the 130s-140s). Therefore, the “max score” of self-study resources tends to cap out at 155-160.
If you’re looking for help surpassing these scores, and moving into the top 10%, you will have to push your understanding beyond what mainstream self-study methods have to offer. Many students can push into the 170s via careful self-study. If you think you’d like a guide along the way, take a look at how I can help you.
When Should I Take The LSAT: The Fine Print And How To Know You’re Ready
When should I take the LSAT exam?
Over and over, I hear students ask, “When should I take the LSAT?” While it seems like a straightforward question, it can have one of several meanings:
When is the LSAT?
Is there an LSAT test date that’s easier than all the others?
How long after studying should I take the LSAT?
Let’s take a look at answers to each of those questions.
When is the LSAT?
The LSAT is offered multiple times a year. This year, in 2022, the LSAT will be offered 9 times. But even though it’s offered a lot, you still need to plan ahead. Register at least a month and a half in advance for the LSAT you intend to take (and start studying even earlier).
Upcoming 2022-23 LSAT Test Dates:
Is there an easier LSAT test date?
Maybe you heard through the grapevine that the March LSAT is easier than the August LSAT, because fewer people take it. I love grapes, and I love grapevines, but I don’t trust them, and neither should you. There is no such thing as an easier LSAT date. This test is meticulously designed and planned to give everyone an equal playing field. Don’t pick a month because you think it will be an easier test. Instead, when asking, “When Should I Take the LSAT?” think about the best time for you.
How long after studying should I take the LSAT?
The answer is… whenever you’re ready. I know, I know, this seems like a cop out, but it’s true. Every student’s “When Should I take the LSAT?” is different. Some students take it 1-2 months after studying; others after 3-6 months; others after years. If you want to know when you should take the LSAT, there’s an easy, reliable way to figure it out: by taking an official LSAT Preptest. LSAT Preptests are past exams from previous years—and they’re invaluable tools. Since Preptests are real, official past LSAT exams, you can accurately predict your score by taking a timed Preptest on LSAC’s Lawhub. The first time to take a practice test is before you start studying. This is called a “diagnostic test.” Some students think they should avoid a diagnostic test, either because they are intimidated or they don’t want to take the test before studying a little bit. Don’t fall for these traps! Diagnostics are the only way to track your growth, and once you’ve started studying, you can never take a true LSAT diagnostic test ever again. While studying, take Preptests every few weeks to gauge your progress. Then, when you are getting close to your goal score (within 1-3 points), that’s when you should schedule an upcoming exam. By the time the test rolls around, you’ll likely have improved enough that you can reliably repeat your goal score.
Finally: What should I do when my LSAT date is soon?
Once that dreaded LSAT date is approaching, you should increase your Preptest schedule. Some people recommend taking Preptests multiple times a week for months—I don’t. When working with clients, I recommend increasing Preptest frequency about three weeks before the test, to approximately two practice tests per week, simulated under real testing conditions. Taking the full LSAT is its own skill that needs tons of practice.
If you study well, time your exam in a way that fits your own personal progress, and prepare yourself properly when the test is approaching, you will excel at the LSAT.
If you’re still wondering, “When should I take the LSAT?” or simply want more tips, you can check out my blog, or schedule a free consultation if you’re interested in working together.
A Life-Changing Study Book
Deep Work by Cal Newport
DEEP WORK by Cal Newport
Deep Work is one of those few books that I personally consider a life-changer. It’s what allowed me to excel on the LSAT with 1-3 hours of studying a day maximum. I still use its principles today, and encourage my students to do the same. I highly recommend this book, not only for the LSAT, but for Law School and whatever else your future holds.
The author, Cal Newport, is a Computer Science professor at Georgetown University who has made study habits and skills his life’s second work—besides computer science, of course. Deep Work takes a wealth of research on how our brains function in relation to studying, and gives helpful advice on how to maximize that time.
If you want to avoid being one of those LSAT students who spends 8 hours a day making little progress on their scores, this book is for you. (If you do want to be one of those students, this book is also for you—break that bad study habit!)
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee from booksellers for purchases made through the links on my site.
Best LSAT Introduction
The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim
The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim
The LSAT Trainer is, as it says in the title, a great guide for the self-motivated student. Admittedly, the book doesn’t explain every nitty gritty LSAT detail. What it does well, however, is give students a solid conceptual understanding of what they need to accomplish, without bogging down the language with details or steps that are impossible to remember. The LSAT Trainer is the antidote to Powerscore: a strong foundation to build from, rather than a carefully constructed, detailed maze you’ll have to later tear down if it doesn’t work for you.
PURCHASE HERE
AMAZON — INDIEBOUND — BOOKSHOP
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee for purchases made on my site.
Best Logical Reasoning Book
The Loophole by Ellen Cassidy
The Loophole by Ellen Cassidy
Reddit loves the Loophole, and so do I. Years of methodical research led to this book, which I’d argue is the most comprehensive approach you’ll ever find for reading Logical Reasoning problems. Ellen breaks down how to read complicated stimuli so nothing will ever confuse you again. I’ve had students who find the Loophole has a few challenges explaining how to solve certain problems; however, when it comes to boosting LSAT comprehension this book stands above its peers. I recommend trying this book after developing a small foundational knowledge of the various LR question types, so you can then focus on how to better read stimuli.
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee for purchases made on my site.
Best Self-study Video Course
7sage
7sage
Don’t bother with their competitors. 7sage is, without a doubt, the best video course out there. Do students come to me after 7sage? Absolutely. There’s no such thing as a perfect solution for everyone. Some students will not make progress with 7sage.
However, 7sage is a good solution for many students, especially those who are starting out. Their core curriculum gives students a great foundational understanding to build from, and at a really reasonable cost. Their analytics platform is also incredible. I highly recommend 7Sage to anyone looking for an affordable self-study video course.
Best Logic Games Book (for now)
Powerscore LG Bible
Powerscore LG Bible
Honestly, this is a half-hearted recommendation, because I believe there’s no such thing as the best LG book out there. So many of the complicated systems on the market only work well with past exams. They teach memorization and pattern recognition, rather than how to build a game from the ground up and respond to twists with knowledge-based improvisation. This leads to unwelcome surprises on test day. Often I hear from students who repeatedly scored -0 on LG in practice and didn’t even finish the fourth game on test day.
That said, if you absolutely needed a Logic Games book at this moment, I’d suggest Powerscore. The internet loves it, and plenty of students have reported success with its methods—and ultimately, the scoreboard is what matters.
PURCHASE HERE
AMAZON — INDIEBOUND — BOOKSHOP
**All of my recommendations are my own, and all endorsements are made without outside influence. That said, I may receive a small affiliate fee for purchases made on my site.