The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is a comprehensive examination, offered seven times a year, that tests critical thinking, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning.
Depending on the law school your student chooses, passing the test may be required for admission. The LSAT is also the only test of its kind that is accepted by every school that holds ABA accreditation.
Prior to 2019 all students had to take the test in person. The ubiquitous “No. 2 pencil,” a government-issued photo identification, and an LSAT examination ticket are all required.
But starting in July 2019, however, there will be an option to take the LSAT digitally.
It costs $200 to do so, and the deadline for either registration or accommodation requests is June 4, 2019. You can check the LSAT website for further details.
What Can Homeschooled Teens Do to Get Ready for the LSAT?
The first thing to do is to take a practice test. These tests will be from previous years but will contain much of the same information and ask the same types of questions as the current LSAT. Aside from this practice test, others can be had from Amazon or other sellers.
During high school and college, students should continually hone their writing skills. One of the best ways to do that is to practice the writing portion of the LSAT. Students should brush up on their style, as well, by studying both The McGill Guide and the Chicago Manual of Style.
Law schools use the writing portion to assess students’ skill levels, so it is crucial for students to “put their best feet forward” with their writing. As of June 2019, the writing portion of the test is given separately, and students may take the test at their leisure.
The rest of the test is broken into four graded sections: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and two of logical reasoning. There is also a fifth section of questions that is not graded. The Law School Admission Council uses this section to give new test questions a “trial run.” Each section of questions takes 35 minutes.
Students should begin prepping for the test at least several months before taking it. From four to six hours per week is plenty to spend on the skills necessary for taking the LSAT.
To do more than that is to risk burnout and lower knowledge and skills retention. It is, therefore, not a good idea to cram for the LSAT. The more a student practices with previous tests, the more familiar that person will be when the time comes.
The best way to practice is to take the test under timed conditions and then to go over the test thoroughly afterwards. It’s not just good to see what went wrong, but it’s better to see why things went wrong. Familiarity breeds confidence, which is necessary to perform under stressful conditions.
Prep Course or No Prep Course?
Commercially available preparatory courses for the LSAT are available from any number of organizations. Some of them cost between $1,500 and $2,000, but others, such as the one given by the Khan Academy, are free.
Remember, taking such a course does not guarantee a sensational score on the LSAT no matter what the organization claims. It is up to the students and their parents whether or not such a course is worthwhile.
As a whole, the LSAT might seem daunting, but with a clear-headed approach and proper preparation, most students will excel.
Getting to Law School on the Fast Track
Most law schools require that students have an undergraduate degree prior to admission in law school. But an excellent way to save years of time in school and thousands of dollars on tuition is by helping your teen earn an accredited bachelor’s degree earning credits by exam.
Two of my homeschooled teens earned their bachelor’s degrees during high school and then went on to enter law school years ahead of the traditional path. It was also a real benefit for them to enter law school debt free.
I share both of their stories in my free online workshop, How to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree During High School. Register now, and if your teen wants to earn a law degree get started on the fast track to law school!
