The LSAT remains the biggest factor in law school admissions, and preparing for it becomes a vital question for aspiring law students. This rigorous exam tests candidates across four distinct sections that each require 35 minutes of focused attention: Reading Comprehension, two Logical Reasoning sections, an Experimental Section, and Argumentative Writing.
Students typically dedicate two hours each day over 10 to 14 weeks to master the LSAT, and many find logic questions especially challenging. Our detailed 3-month study plan will help you tackle each section with confidence. This piece offers proven strategies and carefully chosen LSAT study materials that can help improve your score from 150 to 170+ and maximize your performance when test day arrives.
Designing Your Personalized LSAT Study Strategy
Students who tailor their LSAT preparation to their needs score higher than those who stick to generic plans. A personalized strategy makes all the difference.
How to assess your learning style to make LSAT prep work
The right study plan starts with knowing how you learn best. Think about whether you grasp concepts better through independent reading or interactive lectures. Students who do well with self-study often understand concepts better when they read textbook material instead of listening to lectures.
These questions will help you figure out your priorities:
- Do you learn best visually, auditorily, or kinesthetically?
- Do you stay disciplined on your own, or do you need someone to keep you accountable?
- Do you like structured guidance or exploratory learning?
Your answers will point you toward self-directed study, prep courses, or private tutoring.
Creating a flexible study schedule that fits your life
The best LSAT study plans usually run between three to six months. Your starting point and target score determine how intense your preparation should be. A six-month plan typically needs 5-8 hours weekly spread over 5 days. Three-month plans require 10-16 hours each week.
Note that you should:
- Keep daily study sessions between 2-4 hours for the best results
- Take at least one day off each week to avoid burnout
- Space out your study time instead of packing all hours into weekends
Working professionals should aim for about 10 hours weekly. Part-time students can handle up to 20 hours.
Selecting the right combination of prep resources
LSAC’s data shows that self-study remains the most popular way to prepare, followed by non-LSAC published books. Students who used multiple resources (usually 2-3 methods) got better results.
Setting up your ideal study environment
Your study space can boost your productivity. The right environment puts you in focus mode as soon as you walk in. Think about whether you work better in open areas or private spaces, with natural light or in enclosed settings.
A clean, personalized space that fits all your study needs works best. Strategic breaks in your study routine help keep your mind fresh and prevent tiredness.
Mastering Logical Reasoning: From Basics to 170+ Level
Logical Reasoning makes up half of your total LSAT score. This makes it the most vital section you need to master while preparing for the LSAT. The section stands apart because mastering logical reasoning needs you to understand how arguments are structured and develop specific skills for each type of question.
Identifying argument structures and assumptions
Your success in logical reasoning depends on how quickly you break down arguments into their parts. You should train yourself to spot conclusions by looking for signal words like “therefore,” “so,” and “but”. Remember that conclusions can appear anywhere in the argument, not just at the end.
The next step is to identify premises that support these conclusions. Premises are simply facts or evidence authors use to back their claims. Watch for words like “because” and “since” that point to supporting evidence.
Spotting assumptions is a vital skill. These are unstated beliefs the argument needs to work. Students often gain or lose points in these gaps between premises and conclusions.
Strategies for strengthen/weaken questions
These questions ask you to find information that makes a conclusion more or less likely to be true. Here’s what you should do:
- Separate the conclusion from supporting evidence clearly
- Find gaps in the argument’s logic
- Look for scope changes between premises and conclusion
- Think about conditional logic and diagram if needed
To test answer choices, add each option to the original argument mentally. See if it makes the conclusion more or less likely to be true. The right answer often tackles unstated assumptions directly.
Tackling parallel reasoning and flaw questions
Parallel reasoning questions test if you can match arguments with similar logical structures regardless of topic. Pay attention to:
- How many premises and conclusions there are
- How premises and conclusions relate to each other
- Which logical terms the argument uses
With parallel flaw questions, first spot the specific error in the original argument. Then find another argument that makes the same logical mistake.
Advanced techniques for the toughest question types
Getting into the 170+ score range means you must master what experts call “170-breaker” questions. These are the 10-12 hardest questions on each test. They set apart students in the 98th percentile from everyone else.
These challenging questions require you to:
- Spot patterns in difficult questions
- Build “muscle memory” by working with similar questions repeatedly
- Study deeply—know why right answers work and wrong answers don’t
All the same, if you’re not aiming for 170+, learning to spot and strategically skip these very difficult questions can help maximize your overall score.
Conquering Reading Comprehension and Logic Games
Reading Comprehension and Logic Games create unique challenges in LSAT preparation. Students who use smart approaches will excel in both sections. Success comes from understanding their unique structures and using specific techniques.
Effective passage mapping techniques
You can’t just read LSAT passages passively and expect results. The best approach is to tag complete thoughts in the margins. Look for key elements such as support/evidence, studies, hypotheses, and causal claims. Pay attention to the author’s main point and build a working theory as you read through the text. Take 5-10 seconds after each paragraph to summarize its purpose in your mind. Students see dramatic improvements in comprehension when they either highlight strategically or avoid highlighting altogether.
Handling complex comparative passages
Comparative passages need a special strategy. Tag the original passage completely before moving to the second one. As you read the second passage, mark agreements with “(+)” and disagreements with “(-).” This method helps you spot relationships between texts right away. Questions about comparative passages can be tricky – make sure you check which passage the question refers to, as wrong answers often relate to the other passage.
Logic games classification and approach strategies
Logic Games follow clear patterns. Analysis of LSATs from 2007-2020 shows 91% of games appear as either Grouping, Linear, or Grouping/Linear Combination. This knowledge helps you focus your study efforts on:
- Sequencing games (ordering items in sequence)
- Grouping games (sorting items into groups)
- Distribution games (dividing items into subgroups)
- Selection games (choosing items from a larger set)
Solving the most challenging game types
Clear diagrams make difficult games easier to solve. Over 30% of games require advanced approaches like “Identify the Templates” or “Identify the Possibilities”. Hybrid games that mix multiple types pose the biggest challenge. Create shorthand notes for common conditions and use a consistent method for each game type. Practice without timing yourself at first – build accuracy before working on speed. About 20% of games include challenging elements like Numerical Distributions, so master these advanced concepts well before test day.
Psychological Strategies for LSAT Success
Your mindset is as vital as your knowledge when preparing for the LSAT. Many students experience test anxiety that can affect their performance even after good preparation.
Overcoming test anxiety and building confidence
Mindfulness and meditation can reduce stress levels and sharpen your focus. Short daily sessions help you become aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. You can challenge anxiety through cognitive restructuring by turning negative thoughts into positive, realistic ones. Replace thoughts like “I’ll never reach my target score” with “I’m preparing well and will perform at my best.”
Picture yourself walking confidently into the test room. See yourself answering questions calmly and completing each section on time. This mental practice prepares your brain to succeed.
Breaking through score plateaus
Score plateaus are normal. They don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Students often stay at the same level for weeks before their scores jump up when concepts “click.” Stop worrying about overall scores and focus on mastering one concept at a time.
Take breaks when you hit a plateau. Stepping away gives your mind space to process information and achieve that breakthrough.
Maintaining motivation during your 3-month trip
Make the LSAT an unavoidable daily habit, like getting out of bed. Spend at least 20 minutes each day on it, even when you don’t feel like it. Your brain will stop fighting back once it realizes complaining won’t change anything.
Set small, achievable goals instead of getting overwhelmed by the whole process. Taking breaks and rewarding yourself helps keep motivation high, even if it seems counterintuitive.
Mental preparation for test day
The day before your test:
- Review your success visualization
- Avoid cramming new material
- Visit your test location to eliminate unknowns
- Maintain your routine (sleep, meals, activities)
- Limit news consumption to reduce anxiety
Note that some test anxiety is normal and can motivate you. Managing it through preparation and positive thinking is the key to success.
Your Path to a 170+ Score
Getting a high LSAT score needs academic excellence and mental preparation. Regular practice and smart preparation in all sections can help you reach that 170+ score. Breaking down each part into smaller pieces makes this challenging trip less overwhelming.
Your LSAT score affects law school admissions by a lot. Time spent learning argument structures, reading techniques, and game-solving strategies will be worth it. A balance between hard study and mental health forms the foundations of top performance.
Next Level Education’s expert team is here to help with your LSAT preparation. They can tailor your study plan and give you the tools you need to succeed.
Moving from 150 to 170+ might look tough, but many students have shown it’s possible with the right strategy. Begin your preparation now, stick to your study schedule, and believe in your ability to do well on test day.