LSAT Strategies
The modern LSAT exam represents the entry rite of passage for all law students in the U.S. As a result, it can create a significant amount of stress in a prospective student looking to become a lawyer. Of particular concern is the fact that many law schools give as much weight to the LSAT exam score as they do an applicant's grade point average from college. So not only passing the exam but passing it well can make the difference between getting into a good law school versus a mediocre one. For this reason, exam-taking strategies are critical.
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Preparation
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Unlike other exams in school, the LSAT exam is not an unknown scenario. There are hundreds of books and dozens of programs available, for a price, through which you can prepare yourself to take the exam. None of these aids will give you a magic answer; instead, they can prepare you to be in the right frame of mind to tackle the exam and its various components. The LSAT exam relies primarily on logic tests. So the more practice you have, generally, the better you will perform at answering such questions.
Personal Care
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Like any race or performance event, the LSAT is timed. You don't get the whole day to finish the exam. Each section has a specified time period allowing you to complete the questions involved. Because of this, the last thing you want is to feel tired, hungry, or exhausted. Sleep, being well-fed, and staying healthy are the three critical factors to having a sharp mind during the exam. Some exam centers allow you to bring in a drink, but many don't. So stay hydrated ahead of the exam as well.
Practice placing your mind into the right frame of thinking. If you're worried about an unrelated issue, a date, a class, or stressed, you won't think well. Meditation exercises can serve this purpose well as they teach you how to clean your mind of everything but just the exam-taking at the time you need it.
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Comprehension and Time Efficiency
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The LSAT requires careful but quick reading of all questions. As you do so, use some marking method to distinguish the hard questions from the easy ones. You can write on the exam booklet, so don't hesitate to do so. One method is to use a plus or minus sign on difficult items to mark them for return. Don't spend a lot of time wrestling with a hard one. Move quickly, answer quickly, and come back to the ones that caused difficulty. Use your remaining time to muscle through the problem questions, but make sure to answer all of them. You don't lose points for wrong answers, but you get no points for leaving questions unanswered.
If possible, wear ear plugs during the exam. This will block out most of the ambient noise and distractions, allowing you to concentrate better.
Avoid the Panic
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During the exam you will hear a proctor state how much time is remaining. You will also see other examinees get up and signal they are finished. There is nothing more stressful for some then to interpret this as falling behind. Ignore it. Keep your focus on the exam and moving methodically through the questions. If you get down to the last five minutes, then make a judgment call to start marking everything answered if you can't figure out the answer logically. Again, you only get points for correct answers. Blanks don't get scored.
Writing the Essay
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The last portion of the LSAT requires a mini-essay. It's not enough just to babble out a response. You need to show structure in your written essay response, and you need to write clearly. If your handwriting is horrible, print your words. Follow a structure of Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion if possible (depends on the type of question), otherwise known as IRAC. Make sure your sentences are short and to the point. Avoid using compound sentences and very technical wording.
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References
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