Post LSAT Course Study Plan

[nikaar]

Hi,

I finished my in-person PoweScore course a few days ago. I am planning to write my LSAT in September and am currently studying full-time for the LSAT (around 35 hours a week - My diagnostic score was 146 and now my PTs average is 155 but I am aiming for 165+).

I am not sure about how I should study now that my course is over. Initially, I thought about writing 4 PTs per week and doing a thorough blind review after each test but I've heard that doing too much PT is not the best strategy.

I was wondering if you have any recommendation about how I should proceed?

Thanks.

[Alex Bodaken]

nikkar,

Thanks for your question! First of all, congrats to you on the improvements you are seeing from all of your hard work - you've already made a big-time jump, even though I realize you still have more to go to reach your goal.

I should say at the beginning that everyone is different - what works for one person doesn't work for everyone in terms of LSAT prep, both in terms of how much prep to do and what type of prep to do. But to try and help as much as I can, let me lay out a couple of governing principles about LSAT prep, and then more specific guidelines in terms of how to prep.

The first principle is to avoid burnout. I'm putting it first for a reason - in my opinion, it is the most important. We see students who, while otherwise doing well, nonetheless burn out by trying to study too much. The danger times for burnout are anytime your scores are plateauing (because your natural impulse will be to break out by studying more) and close to the test (because people think they need to cram). Fight the urge to overstudy by making a plan and sticking to it.

The other principle is to spend as much or more time reviewing your tests as you do taking them. I see that you are planning to do blind review - I think that is a good way to review, as is the more old-fashioned "review and analyze the ones I got wrong." But whatever way you do it, it's vitally important to review your work - that's how you learn and get better.

As to a plan: I think 4 PTs a week is a little heavy, unless you have a totally free schedule otherwise. The schedule I often recommend to students I tutor is 2 full PTs a week, with a day set aside after each for a full review. Then on two other days, do two individual sections and review them...and finally, leave one day totally free. I've found that is a schedule that many can manage, and it still helps them to improve a great deal. But again - it is up to you to see what works for you, and if you find a different schedule that suits your goals better, go for it!

Hope that helps and good luck!
Alex