We get calls throughout the testing cycle from students looking to work one-on-one with an LSAT tutor. This post lays out how/when an LSAT tutor can best help (and when they sometimes cannot).

First-time studiers: For students that haven’t seen the test or haven’t done a ton of studying, a tutor can help schedule and manage the entirety of the study process to make sure you’re doing all the right things at the right times. From scheduling specific homework and PrepTests to managing burnout, this is the best time to engage a LSAT tutor.

Studied for weeks/months and still 4+ from test date: this is a great time to engage a qualified tutor if you are having trouble or are not making progress. LSAT tutoring can help you understand your weak points and help work through them methodically. This is a great point to start working through more advanced questions and building your logic engine.

Month before the test: With 4 weeks to go before an exam, a tutor can often help you pinpoint areas where you’re struggling and help you scale a score plateau. 4 weeks is not enough time to prepare from scratch, but significant gains in your understanding can definitely be made. In particular, students that contact us for LSAT tutoring at this point often need to work on a specific section, and 4 weeks is a fine time period to do so.

2 weeks before the test: honestly, it’s probably not worth it — and Next Step probably can’t help you out. Our policy on this is that unless you have incredibly specific needs, less than 2 weeks just isn’t enough time  to make significant progress. You should still keep studying, but if your scores are still 5+ points away from where they need to be, it’s probably time to think about a later test date (or adjusted expectations). Too many students use tutoring as a last minute last-resort.

LSAT tutoring is not a magic bullet that can help students cram for the test — there’s no such thing on the LSAT. If your thinking about tutoring, it’s better to engage earlier rather than later. Schedule a free consultation with an LSAT Advisor to find out if tutoring is right for you!