It’s LSAT test day! First off, CONGRATULATIONS! You made it to the end of your LSAT prep. We know how much work you have done to prepare to get into law school. You should be proud! But before you celebrate too much, let’s get you ready for test day! Here are some additional LSAT-taking tips to follow:

Tip 1: Plan Ahead

You can take some of the stress out of test day by planning ahead. See our guide on What To Do the Day Before the LSAT for more information on how to get ready, and make sure you check out the LSAC website for what you are allowed to have on your desk during the test. Here are some other things to consider before test day:

• What time will you wake up? I suggest at least 2 hours before test time!
• What will you eat for breakfast? Make it something that fuels your brain!
• Will you drink coffee or another form of caffeine? 
• Where will you take the test? Make sure your testing area is clear and has everything you need (don’t forget your scratch paper!).
• Do you have the right technology? Is it charged?
• Do you have a valid form of government issued identification that matches your name in your LSAC account? You will have to show your proctor this document, so have it handy!

To make sure you have considered everything, I suggest doing a practice run a few days before your exam. Spend a day waking up and pretending it’s test day, making breakfast, clearing your desk, and taking the practice exam at the same time of day as your exam. Follow the rules to a T and see how it feels. This will help you think of everything you need!

Tip 2: Do a Warmup Before the Test

After you eat breakfast on game day, do a warmup to get your brain into logic mode. The warmup should take 15-20 minutes, and you should do it at least 45 minutes before your LSAT test. The point is to wake up your brain, because it’s crucial that you be ready once the real timer starts! Here is what I recommend students do before their LSAT diagnostic test and also before any practice tests:

• One easy reading comprehension passage
• 5-10 easy mixed logical reasoning problems

The problems you use for the warmup do not need to be new material! This is just to get your brain into logic mode, not to get more practice or to get the questions right. 

Tip 3: Get into the Right Mindset

Before logging into ProctorU to begin your exam, ensure any last details are taken care of. Send off any last-minute texts to neighbors or roommates telling them you are taking an important test, lovingly lock up any pets, make sure your technology is charged and your workspace is clear, and, most importantly, give yourself a pep talk! You have come a long way since you started studying for the LSAT exam, and you are ready to crush it with the best  score possible. Remind yourself of all your hard work and take a minute to feel proud of how far you have already come. 

Also, I can’t overstress the importance of staying positive during the exam. It feels life ending when you finish a reading comp passage and think…uh oh, that didn’t feel so good. However, dwelling on past problems will not help you get the remainder of the questions right. So put on your rosiest pair of glasses (not literally, that’s not allowed) and get ready to tell yourself that you knocked every single problem out of the park, regardless of if that’s true or not. 

Once this pep talk is done and you feel ready, settle into your work area, log into ProctorU, and begin your exam!

Tip 4: What Should I Do During the Break?

There will be a ten-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd sections. This is a short break, so don’t worry too much about it. You are allowed to leave the testing area to use the restroom, have a snack, and drink some water. Otherwise, do give yourself a pep talk for the coming sections, and pat yourself on the back for being halfway through! And whatever you do, don’t dwell on the previous sections. Been there, done that! Also, note that you are not allowed to go on your phone during the break. 

With a minute or two to spare, settle back into the desk and get ready for the next section!

Tip 5: What to Expect and Do if There Is a Technology Problem

Widespread outages haven’t been a problem in the most recent remote LSATs (knock on wood), but it can be helpful to know what to expect just in case a technology problem arises. 

If the problem is…

• On the side of LSAC of ProctorU:
  • The test is paused until the problem can be resolved.
  • LSAC will not punish you for this problem. Worst case, LSAC will move you to another testing date, probably one that same week.

• W-Fi issues:
  • If your Wi-Fi goes out, you will have todo the security process again. This will not eat into your test time. 
  • If the WiFi is a continuous problem during the test, LSAC will move you to a later testing date.

TLDR: If something goes wrong during the exam, talk to your proctor, email LSAC, and submit an Official LSAT Complaint as soon as the test is over. 

Tip 6: What to Do After the Test

Ok, the test is over, what now? In a couple of days you should submit your writing sample, but not today. Today, let it sink in that you are done, and CELEBRATE in whatever way works best for you. Night out on the town? Great! Night in on the couch? Also great! Treat yourself, you deserve it!

CONGRATULATIONS on completing this journey. We are so proud of you! Go crush that application cycle! And if you need a tiny boost, check out our admissions consulting!