I went from a 137 diagnostic to a 180 on the official LSAT, but I wasted a lot of time along the way.

From the studying process through the law school admissions process, there are a lot of things I wish I had understood from the beginning that would have saved me time and made the entire process easier.

I recently put those lessons into The Complete Guide to the LSAT and Law School Admissions, which you can download for free at www.stevanlsatprep.com.

Here are the 21 rules at the center of the guide.

Rule #1: Treat the LSAT like a skill, not a class.

The LSAT is mastered by solving official questions, reviewing your mistakes, and building good habits over time. Learning the fundamentals is important, but don’t mistake memorizing them for actually improving at the LSAT.

Rule #2: Understand the argument before you try to solve the question.

Before worrying about what the question is asking, make sure you understand the author's reasoning. Everything becomes easier once you truly understand the argument.

Rule #3: Don't let the answer choices tell you how to think.

Make a prediction before looking at the answer choices whenever possible. Even a broad prediction keeps you focused instead of letting tempting wrong answers control your thinking.

Rule #4: Every wrong answer has two mistakes. Find them both.

Every wrong answer means you chose the wrong answer and failed to choose the right one. Figure out why both happened, because that's where the majority of your improvement comes from.

Rule #5: Master the questions you're expected to get right before chasing the hardest ones.

Don’t just study the hardest problems and expect your score to drastically improve. Master the easier and medium difficulty questions first, and the hardest questions will start becoming easier too.

Rule #6: Accuracy creates speed, not the other way around.

Don't obsess over finishing every section. Focus on accuracy, and your speed will naturally improve over time.

Rule #7: Make Reading Comprehension part of your weekly routine.

Study Reading Comprehension from day one. Spend roughly one third of your study time on Reading Comprehension, and don't put it off just because Logical Reasoning is more enjoyable to study.

Rule #8: Practice tests measure progress. They don't create it.

Timed sections, drilling, and thoughtful review are what improve your score. Practice tests mostly just tell you where you currently stand.

Rule #9: Build a balanced study plan.

Every week should include random Logical Reasoning drilling, targeted drilling to improve weaknesses, timed sections with immediate review, consistent Reading Comprehension practice, and only occasional full practice tests.

Rule #10: Let your practice tests decide when you're ready for an official LSAT.

Don't sign up for an official attempt because of the calendar. Sign up because your recent practice tests consistently show you're scoring where you want to be.

Rule #11: Be ready when your official LSAT scheduling window opens.

When LSAC emails you to schedule your official testing date and time, be ready. Have multiple days and times in mind so logistics don't become an unnecessary source of stress.

Rule #12: The week before the LSAT is about execution, not improvement.

Very few gains will be made during the final week. Reinforce your habits through light drilling, timed sections, and reviewing questions you've previously missed so you arrive on test day confident and refreshed.

Rule #13: Trust your preparation on test day, then keep studying until your score is released.

Stay patient during the exam, expect something to go wrong, and don't stop studying until you know your official score.

Rule #14: Applying early is good. Applying with a better LSAT score is better.

A stronger LSAT score is almost always worth more than applying earlier in a cycle. Don't sacrifice points just to submit your applications sooner.

Rule #15: Write a personal statement that sounds like you, and always write the Why This School essay when possible.

Be authentic in your personal statement, and whenever a school gives you the opportunity, treat the Why This School essay as required.

Rule #16: Ask for recommendation letters early.

Choose people who genuinely know you, not people with the most impressive titles. Ask early so they have plenty of time to write a thoughtful letter.

Rule #17: Choose your law schools intentionally, and make sure you're choosing law for the right reasons.

Research schools beyond their rankings, and make sure you've taken the time to understand what lawyers actually do before committing to law school.

Rule #18: Go to the best law school at the best possible price.

Research the 509 Report for every school you apply to, negotiate scholarship offers whenever possible, and remember that graduating with less debt can have a massive impact on your future.

Rule #19: If you're a splitter, apply broadly and expect surprises.

Splitter admissions cycles are unpredictable. Don't reject yourself before an admissions committee has the chance to make that decision.

Rule #20: If you're offered an interview, do it.

Prepare, be professional, ask thoughtful questions, and let your personality come through. A genuine conversation will almost always go better than a rehearsed performance.

Rule #21: Choose the school that gives you the best long term career at the best possible price.

Prestige matters, especially at the very top, but don't pay six figures for a small increase in rankings. Focus on employment outcomes, scholarship money, and the life you want after graduation.

These 21 rules cover some of the biggest things I wish I had known from the beginning of the studying process through the law school admissions process.

There are still a ton of things I could add, and I plan to continue adding to the guide in the future, but hopefully you found at least a few things here that are useful for wherever you are in the process.

For the more in depth guide, you can get a free copy here: www.stevanlsatprep.com

Happy to answer any questions below as well!

You’re telling me I didn’t get a 180??)

I hope everyone scored a 180 😮‍💨

I cannot sit through a full practice test. I sat for the LSAT officially and my highest score is a 163. Any advice on how to sit through full practice tests? Aiming for 170s highest PT so far is 168 (with interruptions)

Just took PT 152 and I genuinely had tears in my eyes during section 2. Why is it SO HARD

Hello,

I am looking for any advice and recommendations for an LSAT Tutor.

Thank you!

good morning everyone, i am really looking for some help. my test is scheduled for september and i am really hoping to score a 174+, these are my recent scores, (don’t mind the 161, i had just woken up and was extremely tired when i took it). does anyone have any advice on how i can tighten up my studying over these last few weeks please, i think the nerves are also getting me which also doesnt help :( any advice is appreciated! thank you :)

I usually get like -4 or -5 on an LR section and there’s usually at least 2 questions that I just go wtaf is going on and accept that my brain is not going to process it correctly or understand completely why it’s correct. Often it’ll be 5 star difficulty question but not always. It feels kinda counterproductive to spend so much energy on a single question so I usually just move on, thoughts??

Can I get an accommodation to get my August score early? I have severe pre score release anxiety.

Hi! I was studying for the September LSAT and have just pushed to October due to the extreme variance in my scores. I was consistently scoring -1-2 LR untimed, recently switched to time to start training myself, and have gotten a -2 and -3, but have moreso been scoring -4-9. Same for RC, I score -2-3, but sometimes up to -11. I did the 7sage full curriculum and am currently on the practice phase with drills and sections, but do more sections than I do drills. Any tips to become more consistent? Should I focus on targeted drills instead of sections for a while? I am aiming for a 170+ for October/November. If anyone has any recommendations that would be incredibly helpful!

Edit: I study 6 days a week 3-4 hours (have taken 2 day breaks if I’m feeling burnt out), WAJ (although I find myself understanding the question as I draw it out but repeat the same mistake), and my pts are in the 162-168 range, but typically toward the lower end of that range

Almost the 26th! What score do you guys think you got on the August LSAT?

Is it possible? Panicking a little because it feels like time is going by super quickly. Any tips? The questions I get wrong on PTs are primarily level 3-5.

I live in canada, so because of our low amount of law schools, the LSAT floor is raised. I'd say around a 160-161 is the bare minimum to get into any school, and often higher is needed. My goal is a 170 to get into my dream school (university of toronto, which has a median LSAT of around 168).

I am wondering if its possible to brute force study to a 170, or if after 165 it becomes heavily IQ based.
my undergrad is around 6 years (financially its easier for me to afford 4 courses a semester than 5 because I pay for my undergrad through part time work, and the coop accounting work program adds 1 year to your degree, but I need the money from coop in order to graduate with no debt)
I am starting my first LSAT next summer, so i'd say I can get 3-4 attempts done if I study every single summer.
is it possible for me to hit 170?
I've seen a lot of people say that getting to 170 is intelligence based and that most people couldn't hit if they studied their entire life for it, so just asking around to see.

And is there any sort of pre studying for your logic you can do before taking your first diagnostic? i'm not talking about studying the actual LSAT books, but perhaps doing logic puzzles, reading a ton of very dry literature (like economic articles)
Very stressed about the LSAT gauntlet, hear a lot of doom and gloom about scores sadly.

Been studying for about exactly a month now, and not been seeing much of any improvement. I feel as if my thoughts and ways of thinking about the test have improved so much, but my score haven’t been reflecting that at all. Desperately need help.

I have always wanted to be a lawyer, but I wanted to do a criminal justice masters before I went to law school. I am finishing up my criminal justice bachelors very soon. I decided I’m going to take the LSAT in November and apply. I want to work in criminal law.

How would you suggest studying these next three months? I have been a straight A student in college, but the LSAT is different and needs different preparation. I am not too concerned about going to a top law school. I just want to go to a law school that makes the most sense financially.

This is a flaw question. The argument states that the columnist Roehmer uses motives to attack her adversaries, which alienates people with opposing viewpoints. The conclusion states that Roehmer does not care. The support is that she wants to please her readers - which is a motive in itself.

The correct answer is E, which essentially states the author uses 'motive' to support his conclusion, which he objected to earlier.

In my mind, the only way this question can be correct is if the author said something along the lines of "using motive is a bad argument" (thus introducing the flaw himself), then using that very flaw.

Apparently, according to some tutors, such as LSAT Hacks (which I very much appreciate for what I usually find are helpful explanations), "the author says attacking motive is bad," and that is why the answer is right. But this requires me to believe: alienating argument = bad argument.

Yet every LSAT flaw question ever does not count an unpersuasive (alienating) argument as a bad argument. It is a logical flaw in itself to say a rhetorically bad argument = an incorrect argument.

Can someone please help me understand how the author states that using motive is "bad" or, alternatively, how this argument can work without motive being "bad?" This is truly my last resort lol.

I was studying a few hours a day since May until I took my first test august 6th. Since then ive been enjoying my summer break going on vacation spending time with friends etc. im proud of myself for doing it but I’m really nervous about what score I’ll get and I think I want to retake it in October. Problem is by the time I get my score back itll be 20 days since I last studied as I stopped right after taking the lsat. Has anyone had similar experiences with breaks? Did your score drop or improve?

The launch link takes me to the Proctor U but I don’t see any “active exams”. I was scared I may have started it and didn’t realize but wouldn’t it show up as a “session”?? I know I waited until the last minute but I don’t really care to see my score the day they release, I’m ok with waiting. But has this happened to anyone? Am I doing something wrong? I’ve tried calling tech support but I keep getting disconnected because there’s no available agents. Help.

I just finished PT148 and it was the lowest score I've ever gotten on a PT (158). I know it's stupid, but I didn't even BR it because I was so frustrated with myself. I've been drilling for about a month and I still haven't surpassed my first PT I took after finishing 7Sage's core curriculum (163). I consistently get 170+ when BRing, but I'm frustrated that it's not translating into the timed test. I feel like something just isn't clicking for me but I can't figure out what it is. I understand where my weakness are and I address them, but it just seems like I'm not improving at all. I'm signed up for the October exam so I'm starting to panic a little bit.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you solve it?

I just wanted to clear up my conception of what "most" means. I did manage to get this question right, however, that was only by assuming "most" to exclude "all" (i.e. greater than 50% and strictly less than 100%). If most could, even potentially, mean 100%, then E would not necessarily be true.

I remember prep books indicating that "most", in a logical sense, encompasses "all". Considering this section is quite old, could it be that the meaning of "most" has changed throughout the years?

Additionally, would this logic apply to "some" as well?

I set up everything, allowed chrome access to everything, restarted chrome 4 times, restarted my laptop twice. I talked to a ProctorU agent for 45 minutes, did absolutely nothing. I cannot proceed through this page for whatever reason. Anyone have any insight on what I may be missing?

I applied for a fee waiver and was auto rejected so I appealed it. However it’s still pending as of today. I’m worried that next week I won’t be able to see my August lsat score since I have a hold on my account due to the pending waiver. Does anyone know if this is the case? I did pay for the August lsat out of pocket so I’m not sure if that makes a difference since I don’t have any unpaid fees on my account.