LSAT Test Taking Tips

Test Taking Tips

• Since your score is based only on the number of correct answers and is not affected by wrong answers, there is no penalty for guessing. Never leave a question unanswered.
• When there is no obvious right answer, learn to guess effectively via a process of elimination. Eliminate obviously wrong answers, and, for the remaining answers, test them against the clues in the passage or problem and ask, “Is there any way this answer could be wrong?” If so, eliminate it. Right answers may not be perfect, but they will be clear and unarguable given the passage or problem and the specific question asked. By doing so, you can increase your probability of getting the right answer.
• Given the time constraints, skip questions that appear too difficult. An easier question or set of questions may follow a more difficult question or set of questions. Each correct answer carries the same weight, no matter how difficult or easy the question. If you skip a question, be sure to mark it appropriately so that you can come back to it if you have time at the end of the section.
• Never leave a question unanswered. If time is about to expire, and you have not completed all of the questions, fill in the ovals of the remaining questions and the questions you skipped since there is no penalty for guessing. Give yourself time to do so.
• The LSAT consists of a series of demanding intellectual games that can be divorced from real life or even academia, especially in the logical reasoning section. For each question, work with, not against, the passage or problem and its accompanying questions. Do not make inferences based on your own knowledge or experience and do not read anything into the passage or problem and its accompanying questions. Wrong answers are often distracters based on “real world” logic.
• Understand and follow all directions.
• Be prepared to concentrate for the entire length of the test and to actively attack each question.
• Don’t skim or speed read. Read carefully for exact words and meanings.
• Manage your time, especially by skipping hard questions and guessing effectively. Bring a reliable analog watch so you can budget your time during each section.
• Create a system to manage the answer sheet. Avoid making stupid mistakes like filling in the oval in the wrong column (picking B but marking C) for a question or answering a question by filling in an oval for the wrong question (answering No. 13 in the space for No. 14). As insurance, mark your answers in the test booklet before transferring them to the answer sheet.
• Since you do not know which section is the experimental section, approach each section under the assumption that it is scored.
• Do the writing sample. Spend the time and use the scratch paper provided to organize your thoughts. Write legibly. Avoid misspellings and grammatical errors. Write a passage that is clear and to the point with a short introduction and conclusion.
• Visit the test center ahead of time to check the location, travel time, and parking.
• If possible, get a good night’s sleep before the test.
• Dress comfortably in layers. Test centers can either be warm or cool.
• Bring sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser, and a highlighter. Do not bring any electronic devices.
• Bring a something to eat and drink for energy in the later stages of the test.
• While you can cancel your test score within six calendar days after taking the test, don’t do so immediately. No one feels good after taking the LSAT. Give yourself some time to determine if you are certain you will receive an unusually low score. The fact that a score was cancelled will be reported to the law schools when you apply.