Many people question the value of standarized tests. And they should, the LSAT, in particular, is a long, tedious exam that makes many aspiring lawyers and political scientists questions their decision to apply to law school. Whatever your take on this quandary, I can say (As a legal studies tutor) that the LSAT is one of those tests you have to prioritize in your application to law school.
[As a relevant parenthetical, our JD checklist can help you gain a full understanding of the law school application process. Download it today and keep reading this blog post to learn about the nuts and bolts of the LSAT.]
Back to the LSAT: Why does the LSAT does matter...
Unlike other standardized tests, the LSAT plays a critical role in determining where you will be admitted to law school. Other admissions processes, to college or even to medical school, will weigh the "whole person" and offer the applicant a chance to share multiplate essays and list their extracurricular and professional experiences. While the law school application is comprehensive, the LSAT score (coupled with your undergraduate GPA) can make or break your application.
Yes, the LSAT is important, but it is also surmountable!
What Can I do to Ace the LSAT?
1) Always plan ahead.
The next LSAT sitting takes place on October 10th, 2012. The deadline for most law school applications is in January/February, so fall is a great time to take the test. If you start preparing yourself for the test now, you'll be ready to go in October. Visit the LSAC website for detailed information on the LSAT.
2) Take a Diagnostic Test.
Establishing a baseline is a critical step in the process of studying for LSAT. We highly recommend taking a real full-length practice exam published by the Law School Admission Counsel as your diagnostic. The June 2007 exam is a great place to start. Although many companies offer free practice exams, these tests are observably different from the actual test.
3) Master Question Types.
Question types recur frequently and the correct methodologies dramatically improve scores. There is also a tremendous amount of quality prep material for the LSAT: official tests and question banks distributed byThe Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the company that writes the test, as well as representative secondary material written by boutique and large firms. Your success on the LSAT depends on your ability to recognize and master content and question types, strategically leverage the best materials for your specific needs, and adopt a data-driven approach to diagnostic assessment.
4) Play the Game.
Read, read, read. A lot of former JD applicants are writing about the LSAT, law school, and the process. Become an LSAT insider by doing your research. Here are a couple starting points:
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