September. A complicated time for LSAT test-takers and law school applicants. At this point in the year, many future law students are focused on application materials, while many are studying for a fall LSAT test date. At 7Sage, we aim to help you achieve the best score you can in the time you have. But this time of year, we are frequently asked: do I have enough time to prepare? Should I reschedule my test?
The answer to this question will be different for each test-taker. In general, though, progress on the LSAT is non-linear and can be difficult to fit in a rigid timeline. Raising your score often means a series of leaps forward and plateaus, setbacks, and recoveries. Often your best practice test score comes when you least expect it. Of course, life sometimes makes demands that limit the time that can be devoted to LSAT prep. Still, if you’re not happy with how you’re scoring in practice, here are a few circumstances in which you should consider giving yourself more time to prepare:
- You’ve been studying for less than 3 months. Every study schedule is different, but if you’re not happy with where you are after less than 3 months, it’s very likely you can improve given more time. Even if you’re studying full-time, giving yourself a longer period to absorb the content will likely yield better results.
- Your blind review is consistently much higher than your raw score. Blind review is a great way of measuring your mastery of LSAT content, without the constraint of timing. Improving timing isn’t easy, but if your blind review is much higher than your raw score, you may be able to raise your score considerably with the content knowledge you already have by drilling more, with a focus on confidence and timing.
- You’ve taken 10 or fewer practice tests. There is no magic number of practice tests that gets you to your dream score, but if you’ve taken 10 or fewer PTs and you aren’t happy with where you’re scoring, consider giving yourself more time. The more you can simulate the experience of taking the test, the more prepared you will be on test day. Moreover, you can improve your score by not only learning content but also getting better at the act of test-taking, which comes with practice and repetition.
There’s no harm in taking a test you’re already registered for since law schools generally look at your highest score. However, if you’re not happy with your progress and you’re in one of the above circumstances, consider giving yourself more time to study whether or not you keep your current test date. If you need help structuring your study or want to sharpen your skills with a 99th-percentile tutor, schedule a free consultation here.