If you’re gearing up for law school, taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is no doubt on your mind. This test can make or break a promising law career, so adequate preparation is important.

What is the LSAT?

The LSAT is a standardized test, which means that it aims to identify not the unique abilities distinct to you, but rather the analytical and comprehension skills necessary to succeed in law school and the legal field. The test takes about half a day to complete and is typically offered four times a year.

Researching Your Options

The first thing to do is study the requirements of your desired law schools to learn the types of LSAT scores you’ll need to increase your chances of being admitted. Once you have this set of numbers in mind, you’ll have a goal to work towards.

Researching your LSAT options also includes finding test preparation resources, such as workbooks and test prep services, to give you an advantage. Students who prepare extensively for the LSAT get better scores. Much of this has to do with test-taking practice. Anticipating the question types and taking practice tests repeatedly will accelerate your progress through the test, leaving more time for answering the more challenging questions.

On Test Day

When your test day arrives, you’ll want to be as relaxed as possible. Get a good night’s rest for several nights leading up to your test. Be sure to arrive early at the test site. You want to be rested and relaxed to perform your best on this very important test.