When Should I Start Studying LSAT PrepTest Questions?

When Should I Start Studying LSAT PrepTest Questions?: The answer to this question may seem obvious. Of course you should use LSAT PrepTests to guide your LSAT studying. The test is made up of them after all! However, I do think that, for certain sections, students benefit from doing some legwork before they approach actual PrepTest questions. So, which sections do I need a delayed approach to adding PrepTest questions? Continue reading to find out!

When Should I Start Studying LSAT PrepTest Questions?

Now, LSAT PrepTest question are a cornerstone of every LSAT course, book, and online forum, so you will be exposed to these right away no matter how you choose to pursue studying. In this post, our focus is when you should start study LSAT PrepTest questions exclusively. Here are my thoughts, arranged by section.

1. Analytical Reasoning (“Logic Games”)

This section traditionally has the steepest learning curve. My advice is to really understand the building blocks before jumping into problems by yourself. You need to understand how to spot inferences, shorthand rules, and develop diagrams before tackling problems on your own. Now, we all know someone who can just jump into these cold and get the answers correct every time. However, most people need to learn the basics before they can attack a problem.

Luckily, most prep resources really focus on building up to full problems. Traditionally, they discuss and explain how the different rules and restrictions of these types of game lead to the inferences that unlock them. Then, they typically walk you through a sample question and show step-by-step how to solve it. So, in my opinion, really make sure you understand the rules and how they work before jumping into games by themselves. It will save you a lot of frustration down the line!

2. Logical Reasoning

My approach to this section is that you can start studying LSAT PrepTest questions for Logical Reasoning from day one. Most prep resources, in my opinion, spend too much time defining, breaking down and dissecting question types. This section is most akin to real life problems you experience every day. You weigh information and make judgments continuously, so this should be comfortable for you right from the start.

Now, this is not to say you shouldn’t study for this section! The LSAT is a difficult test. You can’t take any part of it for granted. However, it is much easier, in my experience, to diagnose whether you have an issue with, say, resolve the paradox questions if you are exposed to them first. If you find you struggle with a particular type of question, then go back and work at it from the root. Or, if you completely miss the point of what a type of question is asking you, you should probably go back to square one and get additional help.

I’ve found that students intuitively grasp different types of problems depending on their own experience. There’s no reason to dive deep into parallel reasoning if you already understand them on an intuitive level. So, in the Logical Reasoning section, use PrepTest questions from your first session, and supplement with prep material only for ones you struggle with.

3. Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension, in my experience, requires a game plan before you tackle the section. You need to set up a framework for what you will underline, circle, or highlight before you start studying LSAT PrepTest questions. Why? I’ve found students who do not go in with a game plan end up circling, underlining, or highlighting everything! This does no good when you need to look back into the passage to find information.

Before practicing this section, develop a plan of attack. Decide what you will do with important information. I made a short note about the main point and purpose of each paragraph when I took the LSAT. I kept underlining to a minimum because I found it more difficult to find information in the paragraph afterward. However, I’ve known students who underline, circle, write notes, AND highlight who do well on the section. Whatever your system is, make sure it is set in stone before you start to this section. And don’t be afraid to make an adjustment to your approach if you are not getting the results you want!

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