As some of you may recall from an earlier post, I’m thinking about going to law school. Naturally, this means that I have to write the LSAT; and indeed, I’m scheduled to write it in October.
I have a pile of study guides, sample tests, and whatnot to help me prepare for the test, and I’m going through them, learning about the different parts of the test, and writing the sample tests. I’m even using a timer, so I can get used to the time limits. And in the material I have from the LSAT people, I know what I can take into the room (pencils, for example), and what I cannot (my cellphone).
I think I know what to expect, but I also wanted to ask here since I know some of you are lawyers and must have written the LSAT:
Have you any advice? Should I expect anything other than what I’m preparing for? Have I forgotten anything? Any hints or tips would be most welcome.
Note that even though its been years since I wrote a formal exam, I’m not one of those who gets nervous about such things. I’m asking for advice here because I want to be as prepared and as confident as possible. Thanks!
It sounds like you’re on the right track. Proper timing is important, and remember that you’re going to have an extra section. The only thing I’d advise is that, for the last few days before the test, you should be taking the test at the time of day the test will actually be - although I don’t doubt for a bit that you’d figure that out on your own.
I found this to be useful when I took the test. Most of the people I talked to had had problems with the logic sections. Even those who did well on the reading sections had trouble with the logic. You know those crossword puzzle magazines that have the logic problems in them? The logic problems are exactly the same as those on the test, or at least they were when I took it. Doing those as a game took the pressure off for studying that section of the test.
Spend the night before the test doing something totally relaxing. Get plenty of sleep. Eat breakfast, but not a large one. Allow plenty of time so that you won’t be at all rushed in getting to the test.
This may sound silly, but do your multiplication tables as a warmup.
Let me share my personal story about extra sections. I took the general GRE in January of 2002. There were three sections, Analytical (logic puzzles), Verbal (reading), and Quantitative (math.)
I started the test with an analytical section, and it was brutally, impossibly hard. I came nowhere close to finishing it (answered 25 or 26 out of 35, semi-guessed on 3 or 4 others, and blindly guessed on the rest.) This was unusual for me since I’m normally a top 5-10% standardized test taker.
After that section I thought I’d completely blown the test. I was completely on tilt. The Verbal section was next, and I depressedly blazed through it. Quantitative (math) was next after that, and I was able to regain some of my focus on that section.
Lastly was another Analytical section, which was much easier than the first. I finished it with time to go back and double check a few of my answers. At that point I realized that the first section was probably an unscored “test” section and that it wouldn’t affect my score. But I got shaken up enough by it that I definitely cost myself some points on Verbal.
The moral of the story is don’t get discouraged by one bad section, because it might not even count.
Good luck to you on the LSAT, I’m taking it myself in December.
Thanks, all, for the advice. It sounds like I’m on the right track.
Those logic puzzles in the magazines were always a favourite pastime, although they have become somewhat of a bugaboo in the LSAT practice materials. As long as I can get through those, I think I’ll be OK.
And, Maggie, I have to ask: did your username come from a Mike Grell character?
I wish you the best of luck, and everyone else has given good advice. I put off the LSAT twice due to extreme depression and not studying, and finally took it when it came up the third time after I couldn’t afford those $30 postponement fees anymore. I did well enough to get into the only law school I applied to, but I’ve hated every minute of it ever since: law school especially, and everything on the other side of it. But if your heart is in the right place and you want it, I’m sure you’ll do okay.
