The Law School Admission Test
How do I prepare for the LSAT?
There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself for the
LSAT. The Fall of your Junior year is a good time to start
preparing.
* Download a copy of the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information
Book and read it cover to cover. (Requires Adobe Reader.)
* The best preparation is to take real LSATs under simulated
conditions. Take as many of the old exams as possible and time
yourself. Sample exams can be purchased at lsac.org for $8.00 each
or in commercial bookstores such as Barnes & Nobles. Among the least
expensive preparatory materials is the LSAT: TriplePrep Plus with
Explanations, distributed by the LSAC for $18.50. The Valpo Pre-Law
Society holds two or three practice exams every year. Start taking
practice exams early in your junior year. Figure out if you are weak
on a particular section of the exam so that you can focus your
preparation.
* Study guides can be purchased in most good bookstores. These
are not as helpful as taking the actual exams, but they can provide
you with additional vocabulary and questions to work on. The best
commercial study guides are probably published by Nova, Kaplan, and
Princeton Review.
* Many students take an LSAT prep course. Some students swear by
these courses; others do not find them helpful. Most courses are
very expenses ($800 or more). Realize that there are no secrets
about the LSAT. The format and general balance of questions is the
same every exam. If you are a self-disciplined kind of person and
you invest in some sample exams and prep books, then a prep course
might not be worth the money. On the other hand, sometimes the very
fact that you have spent a lot of money on a prep course will make
you take the whole process much more seriously.
* Take Logic and Critical Thinking (PHL 100). Your homework
assignments and exams in this class will look a lot like the LSAT.
It is important that you be prepared to succeed on your first
attempt at the LSAT. You can retake the test, but remember that most
law schools look at the average for every time you took the LSAT.
LSAT scores are considered valid for five years.
|
