Self-study
Typical study plan
for a test date 3 months away
Theory
3 WEEKS
Practice
8 WEEKS
Pre-exam
1 WEEK
Foundations
Logical reasoning
Reading comprehension
What makes a good study plan?
The LSAT isn't like other tests you've taken. It's a test of skills, not knowledge. That means you can't just memorize your way to a high score. Preparing for the LSAT is less like studying for a final exam and more like training for an athletic competition. You're developing new ways of reading and thinking, building mental muscles that take time and consistent effort to strengthen.
A good study plan balances learning the underlying principles of the test with extensive practice, gradually building your speed and endurance while tracking your progress along the way.
How much should I study?
Expect to spend at least 150 hours preparing for the LSAT (about twelve hours per week over three months). Depending on your goal score and where you start, you might need significantly more time.
Spreading your study time across multiple days is more effective than cramming everything into one or two marathon sessions. Give yourself at least one day off each week. Even the best test-takers need rest.
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Phase 1
Theory
Learn the fundamentals
Before you can master the LSAT, you need to understand how it works. The theory phase is where you'll learn the core principles and reasoning skills that the test demands—things like identifying argument structures, understanding conditional reasoning, and reading with precision.
This phase lays the groundwork for everything you'll do next. Don't rush it. A strong grasp of the fundamentals will pay off when you're under time pressure on test day.
A solid theory phase of studying includes:
- Training in grammar and how to break apart the dense language of the LSAT
- Lessons on logical concepts such as argument structure, conditional reasoning, causal reasoning, and quantifiers
Phase 2
Practice
Set a steady pace of drills, timed sections, and practice tests—and review
The practice phase is where you'll spend most of your prep time, working through hundreds of real LSAT questions to build accuracy, speed, and stamina.
Start with untimed practice to focus on your understanding without the pressure of the clock. As your accuracy improves, introduce timed drills, then full timed sections, and eventually complete PrepTests under realistic conditions.
A solid week of practice includes:
- Untimed drills to reinforce proper reasoning methods
- Timed drills and sections to build efficiency under pressure
- One full PrepTest
- Thorough review of every mistake and flagged question
Phase 3
Pre-exam
Practice under real test conditions
In the final stretch before your test, your score depends more on your mindset and energy than on cramming in more practice.
Review your past mistakes. Identify a few concrete takeaways to carry into test day.
Quiz yourself on foundational concepts. Make sure you can clearly articulate your approach to each question type.
In the final days, step back from new LSAT material entirely. Focus on logistics, rest, and mental preparation. Visualize yourself working calmly through the test, making good decisions, and finishing strong.
Your final week should include:
- Review of your wrong answer journal and past mistakes
- Logistics preparation: confirming your test location, setting up your testing space or figuring out how to get to your in-person location, and reviewing LSAC's test day instructions
- Mental preparation: plan how you'll handle challenges and disruptions on test day