Quick Tip: Take proctored practice tests!
While the online LSAT testing experience has undoubtedly gotten smoother, after each test administration, I nonetheless hear complaints from students. They are usually about issues with proctors, ranging from proctors interrupting them, to simply feeling uncomfortable while being observed. One of the best ways to prepare for any discomfort is to practice just like you’ll take the test on the real day…with a proctor! You can queue up YouTube videos that have a proctor calling time after each section, or even attend one of 7Sage’s live proctor sessions to simulate a realistic experience.
Discussion: Study healthy
The vast majority of these newsletters focus on specific study tips: different ways to approach the sections, ways to build study schedules, how to make the most of practice tests, etc. But today I’m going to take a slightly different approach and talk about something separate but equally important: what you do outside of your study time. I’ve talked to many students who seem to think that studying for the LSAT needs to be an all-encompassing endeavor that requires doing nothing but studying. This isn’t healthy and also may result in a worse score in the end! So, I want to emphasize 3 big “don'ts” that all students should follow.
First, don’t spend an entire day studying. Effective LSAT studying is active, meaning that you challenge yourself to answer questions, think critically about why an answer was wrong, etc. You should not just listen to someone talk about the test. This type of active studying is demanding! It’s difficult for someone to do this for more than a few hours per day. You obviously know your own limits the best, but I’d suggest a cap of around 5-6 hours per day for someone studying full-time, and much less for people studying part-time. If you’re eager to do more than that, there are other helpful things you can do (like reading articles or listening to podcasts) that aren’t as taxing mentally but still are conducive to learning the test.
Second, don’t forget to live a healthy lifestyle. It is important to be mindful of your sleep, exercise, and nutrition habits; these are not unimportant all of a sudden merely because you’re studying for a test. In fact, these things are more important than ever. A healthy body is absolutely necessary for you to be functioning at your best. If you think of the LSAT like a marathon, it can help you to conceptualize why this is so important; someone obviously wouldn’t enter a marathon exhausted, stressed, and out of shape. Similarly, put yourself in the best possible position for the test by taking your lifestyle seriously.
Third, be willing to give yourself breaks. Studying consistently is important, but it doesn’t necessarily mean studying intensely every day. If you want to take a day off because you’re burnt out, that’s okay. It’s also okay to build in a day off into a regular study schedule. Ultimately, studying through stress is counterproductive. It won’t be effective studying, and eventually, it’ll catch up to you, resulting in a longer break and cool-down period or even you giving up on studying. Managing stress as you go is a far better option.
Instead of viewing the LSAT as separate from the rest of your life, view them as intertwined. Living a healthy life goes hand in hand with preparing for this test. Not only will you score better, but you’ll also be happier.