1. Everything is in the moment
As you flip through an LSAT practice test book, you read the questions and think, “Yes, I could answer that question.” But can you answer more than 20 of them in 20 minutes? And can you count on yourself not to panic when you hear the supervisor yell, “5 minutes left!” It’s certainly helpful to review test-taking strategies and do practice problems, but be sure to take full, timed LSATs for practice as well. Timing will not only reveal which sections need the most and least work, it will also help inoculate you against the pressures of taking a timed test. The more realistic your practice sessions are, the better prepared you will be on test day.
2. Learn from your mistakes
Taking practice tests and doing practice problems is a great way to prepare for the LSAT. But to get the most out of your practice, it’s important to know not only which questions you missed, but also why you missed them. After all, if you don’t know what mistakes you made, how can you learn from them?
3. One and Done
The LSAT sends a complete record of your LSAT scores to the law schools to which you apply. If you have taken the exam more than once, these law schools will average your scores and use them to consider your admission. Don’t try to take advantage of yourself by telling yourself that you can always retake the test; do your best the first time! Even if you retake the test and get an amazing score, any previous lower scores are going to dull its shine. No pressure or anything.
4. Always be prepared
You may have left the Boy Scouts of America behind you a long time ago, but chances are you’ll never outgrow its universally applicable mantra. Don’t forget to bring everything you need to take to the testing center. Print your admission ticket the night before the exam and make sure all the information on the ticket matches what you think; sometimes exam rooms will change with little or no notice. Do your research and know your way to the test center so you don’t let test day nerves sidetrack you. Mechanical pencils are not allowed on the LSAT, so bring several new #2 pencils and a sharpener, as well as several good erasers. It may be helpful to bring along a highlighter to peruse and an analog (not digital) watch to keep track of time. You can bring a ziplock bag (up to a gallon size) with you, so put all that stuff in there and be ready for anything and everything!
5. Don’t leave bubbles behind
There is no penalty for guessing on the LSAT. Obviously you want to get the right answer, and an educated guess is always better than a shot in the dark, but if you find yourself out of time and empty bubbles, just fill them in. Your LSAT score is calculated based on how many correct answers you have, and there are no point deductions for wrong answers, so don’t leave any bubbles behind!
