LSAT Milestones: A Guide To Preparing In 3 Months

“Am I in a good place?” is the most common question students ask LSAT tutors. The LSAT is an especially tough test to judge where you are. Unlike the MCAT, you can’t use how much information you’ve memorized to tell if you are prepared. So, we thought we could help with some LSAT milestones to let you know where you should be at various stages of studying. Although we generally advise taking 6 months to fully prepare for the test, we recognize people might not have that luxury. So, we’ll base this post off of a 3 month timeline.

LSAT Milestones: A Guide To Preparing In 3 Months

LSAT Milestones #1: 3 Months Out

3 months out from your test date, you should make sure you are familiar with every section, and have attempted to answer questions from each. Although you might not completely understand the material, you should experience it so you know what you’re up against. Time yourself during every attempt, no matter what you work on, so you get used to working under pressure.

For Logic Games, you should start trying to master linear/sequencing games at this point. It is the most common type of game, and is almost assuredly going to appear on your test. If you already have a good head start on this type of game, move on to grouping games.

For Logical Reasoning, the most important thing to do now is work through the questions, even if you consistently go over on time. Always do problems in a set, and work upwards. 5 questions might seem a small amount to start with, but building your mental endurance by starting small is an effective way to prepare.

For Reading Comprehension, now is the time to develop your strategy. The most common approach to this section is road mapping, where you underline key passages and circle transition words. If this doesn’t quite click with you, take a look at our approach to the Reading Comprehension section.

LSAT Milestones #2: 2 Months Out

For Logic Games, you should have a very good handle on linear/sequencing games at this point. You should start working with grouping games, if you have not yet. Also start to sprinkle in some of the less commonly tested games, like advanced linear or hybrid games. The tools to solving these types of games are built by mastering linear/sequencing and grouping games first. Make sure to practice these new game types. You’ll likely see at least one of them on your test!

For Logical Reasoning, you should have a fairly good grasp on your strengths and weaknesses at this point in your studying. If you haven’t yet, take a full section of 25 or 26 questions, in 35 minutes, and see how you score. Analyze your results, and if you see you consistently get a particular type of question wrong, focus on it moving forward. If you notice you tend to get more questions incorrect at the end of sections, you might be battling fatigue. Up the number of questions in your practice sets to help get up to speed.

For Reading Comprehension, you should have by now attempted a full, timed section of 4 reading passages. It’s easiest to get better at Reading Comprehension by practicing, so make it a habit to experience these. Again, if you notice you tend to struggle later in the section, it’s probably fatigue. Make sure to up your practice to compensate for this.

LSAT Milestones #3: 1 Month Out

For Logic Games, you should be comfortable handling every type of game presented. Now, this is not to say you always get every inference right off the bat, or get every question right. But, you should have an idea how to solve any game you are presented with.

For Logical Reasoning, you should now be practicing multiple sections every time you study. The LSAT is a marathon, and many find the Logical Reasoning questions to be the most tiring. So, make sure to take full, timed sections of 25 and 26 questions, sequentially, multiple times a week. In addition, focus extra attention on the question types you struggle with. Now is the time to make the push to conquering them!

For Reading Comprehension, just keep practicing full sections.

In addition, now is not a bad time to start taking full, timed LSATs to get you up to test day speed.

LSAT Milestones #4: Last Two Weeks

At this point, you should be taking full, timed LSATs multiple times a week. Conditioning yourself for test day should be your highest priority. Follow this pattern until you stop studying for the LSAT. We suggest giving yourself a day or two before the test off to recharge your batteries!

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