LSAT Digest 12.22.2021

Quick Tip

Try out this drill the next time you’re plateauing in LR: Cover up the answer choices, only look at the question stem and stimulus, and try to predict the correct answer.  It’s a great exercise to help with speed when you’re selecting answers, plus it helps you get into the minds of the LSAT writers!

Discussion

Are You Ready for the Test?

You’ve gone through the whole Core Curriculum. You’ve met with your tutor ten times, and you’ve blind-reviewed dozens of practice tests. Your January test date is looming…but you don’t feel ready to take it. Are you ready to take this test, or should you reschedule?

It’s a question that LSAT-takers have, year after year. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when evaluating whether or not you feel ready for test day.

1. Are you consistently PT-ing at or above your goal score?

Are you aiming for a 165 and your last five practice tests were a 168 or above? You’re ready! Test-day nerves can bump your score down a few points, but you should go into the test feeling confident in your ability to meet your goals.

2. Are you continuing to improve?

If you are PT-ing slightly below your goal score but you’ve begun to plateau, it’s worth evaluating whether you’d be happy with a score below your goal score. If not, it could be worth rescheduling your test and changing up your study plan. Meeting with a 7Sage tutor (Link here!) can be a great way to break out of a plateau. 

If you are PT-ing below your goal score and continuing to improve, don’t be afraid to reschedule your test and keep working until you feel confident in your ability to get that score. Studying for the LSAT is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s worth a few extra months of study!

3. When are you aiming to apply to law school?

If you’re set on applying to law school for the 2021-2022 cycle, rescheduling your January LSAT probably isn’t an option.

If your application date is flexible, consider whether applying in a later cycle would benefit you. Doing so will give you more time to study effectively and relieve the pressure to achieve your goal score on your first try.

Making the Decision

Deciding whether or not to reschedule your test date is an extremely personal decision and depends wholly on your individual circumstances. To avoid finding yourself in a situation where you don’t feel ready come test day, we recommend waiting to schedule your test until you’ve mastered the basics and can reasonably assess when you’ll feel prepared. Then create a study schedule—and stick to it! With sufficient dedicated and strategic study time, you can ensure that you’ll feel confident and prepared on test day.