One of the benefits of private tutoring is that students get a study plan that’s personalized for them and that also evolves as they progress through the program.  However, lots of people have asked for a basic self-study plan.  Here’s an ideal study plan for 3 months.

Why 3 months?  3 months is about the right time to study if you can devote significant time to the LSAT (10-15 hours a week or so).  I’ve certainly seen students prepare and get the scores they need in less time, but especially for those who are balancing school and work, 3 months is the right timeline.  After about a 4-month timeframe, students start plateauing and reaching points of diminishing returns.  It’s better to prepare semi-intensely for 3 months than to work on LSAT once a week for 6 months (or to cram for 1 month).

This plan is front-loaded with learning and is back-loaded with practice.  It’s critical to lay down a solid foundation in methodology before you start taking timed tests (except for the diagnostic.

For this plan you’ll need the following books:

• Next 10 Preptests
• 10 More Preptests
• Optional but highly recommended: Recent LSATs Explained (our book, the only explanations commercially available for the most recent tests)
• Optional: The last 5 published Preptests (available from Amazon)

Numbers refer Preptests from Next 10 and 10 More.

Week 1

• Make sure you’ve registered for the test.  Test centers do fill up, and you’d much rather not have to commute long distances to a less-convenient test center.
• Take a diagnostic test courtesy of the LSAC.  You can find the link here.  Take this under real test conditions.  Don’t be discouraged if your score isn’t what you wanted — this is just a starting point.  Go over what you missed, and see if you can figure out why you missed it.
• Read this PDF from the LSAC.  It goes over test basics and has a few sample questions with explanations.

Week 2

• Read all of our posts on reading comprehension

Week 3

• Complete the RC sections, untimed, from Preptests 19-22

Week 4

• Read all of our posts on logical reasoning.
• Work through Logical Reasoning Bible (LRB) 1-3

Week 5

• Work through chapters 3-8 of LRB
• Complete LG from Preptests 19-22 timed.  (Now is the time that we add back the timed component.  Every section you do from here should be timed in some way.  If you’re going way over time, it’s fine to start by giving yourself 45 minutes, but work aggressively to get this down to 35. [By week 8 you need to only be giving yourself 35 minutes]).
• Complete RC from PT 22-23 timed.

Week 6

• Work through chapters 9-14 of the LRB
• LG timed from PT 23-24
• RC timed PT 24-25

Week 7

• Work through chapters 14-20 of LRB
• LG timed PT 25-26
• LR 19 (both sections)

Week 8

• PT 30 full timed test (4 sections).  Score and review
• LR 21-22
• LG 27

Week 9

• PT 31, full timed (4 sections is fine)
• LR 21-22
• LG 27

Week 10

• Complete Preptests 32-34, splicing in an additional section for each test from “10 More” to simulate the experimental section. Review.
• LR 23-24

Week 11

• Complete Prepests 35-37, splicing in an additional section from “10 More.”  Review.
• LR 25-26

Week 12

• Look over the methodologies you’ve learned over the last few weeks and re-read our post 10 Top LSAT Tips
• Take the latest Preptest you have (PT 38 or an individual test you’ve purchased) and review
• End your LSAT work no later than the Thursday before the test.  Read our Test Day Tips.  Good luck!

Next Step Test Preparation provides complete courses of one-on-one tutoring with an LSAT expert for less than the price of a commercial prep course. Email us or call 888-530-NEXT (6398) for a complimentary consultation.

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