A. You should aim for the LSAT score that is at or above the average LSAT scores of the school's last entering class. An LSAT score of 173 or above is considered a very high score by law school programs, and may open the door to scholarship money. Harvard Law and Yale Law regularly command LSAT score averages at that level, and Columbia Law and Stanford Law follow close behind.

That said, most top law schools seriously consider applicants who have an LSAT score of 168 and up. Schools include (in alphabetical order) Berkeley Law, Duke Law, Michigan Law, Northwestern Law, NYU Law, Penn Law, Texas Law, UChicago Law, UCLA Law, and UVA Law.

Unfortunately, if your LSAT score is well below the school average, your chances of admission may be seriously hampered. Research your target school's data in advance, and don't forget to take the rest of the application, including the Personal Statement, seriously.

A. LSAT testing slots are limited. Sign up for the LSAT exam when you expect to be fully prepared and are ready to perform at your best, for example, after you have completed our course. Some testing center locations are busier than others, but you should be able to book your preferred place if you register far ahead. Remember that slots become less available as application dates draw closer.

A. We recommend The Official LSAT SuperPrep® book series as the best for LSAT preparation, and we use books for our LSAT course. The book offers you hundreds of real LSAT test questions. Our LSAT course provides additional materials showing the most efficient approaches to organizing your thinking and answering the test's problems.

A. You may take the LSAT up to three times in a single testing year (June to May). Although your limit is five times within five years – seven times overall. (The May, June, July, and August 2020 LSAT-Flex tests do not count toward the lifetime, and tests taken prior to September 2019 also do not count.)

Most law schools take your highest score, no matter how many times you take the test ... but even if you can take the LSAT many times, it does not mean that you should. Not only is that an expensive proposition, but law schools are able to see how many times you took the exam. Retakes are common, but an excessive number of retakes can hurt your application. We suggest that you take your LSAT preparation seriously and make every attempt count.

A. Yes, you may pay for "Score Preview" in order to view the LSAT score before it is sent to law schools, and if needs be, cancel the score. You will have six days to make the decision to keep or cancel the score. If you take no action, the score is automatically kept.

The Score Preview costs $45 for candidates who sign up prior to the first day of testing, or $75 for those who sign up during a specified period after taking the exam.

Please note that if you cancel your score, that exam will still count against your annual and lifetime limits. The exam will appear as a "Candidate Cancel" on your record.

A. Law school applicants apply to an average of six schools, according to LSAC data. However, many apply to 9-15 schools – 4-5 target schools, a couple of "safety" schools, and a few "reach" schools.

A. LSAC provides 60 practice tests, which offer real GRE questions from past exams, one of which is free to start. Our LSAT course offers an additional nine, and incorporates the review of your tests into our curriculum. Plan to take multiple tests, strategically. Take the first practice test at the beginning of your LSAT studies, to gauge your areas of strengths and weaknesses, and take the last practice test close to your testing date. We recommend against taking practice tests from third-party providers, primarily because you cannot be guaranteed the question quality control of the actual exam.

A. It's great that you don't fear tests, but yes, you need to study. Even if you are very good at verbal skills, methodical preparation and practice give you a significant edge in the Reading Comprehension section over someone who takes the exam "cold." Just as importantly, the Logical Reasoning section is unlike anything that you would have encountered in college. Remember, your LSAT score can give you an edge in law school admissions (and scholarship selection); the higher the LSAT score, the better your chances of getting into the competitive program of your choice.

A. The ABA's bar passage data seems to demonstrate that schools that admit significant numbers of high-risk students tend to have very poor bar passage results three years later. "High-risk students" is defined as being students who have LSAT scores of 145 and 146. "Extremely high risk" are those with scores falling below 145. In one analysis of the ABA data, almost all of the schools that admitted substantial numbers of students with low LSAT scores in 2013 did not do well on the bar in 2016, falling below the national average of 72.85%.

A. You may consider getting the LSAT exam out of the way before you graduate. In some respects, it is easier to prepare while you are still in college and still in "test-taking mode." Your LSAT score is valid for five years.

A. Work commitments often cut into the time you set aside to prepare for the LSAT exam, and it's tough to choose studying over relaxation in your free time. You could be the ideal candidate for a an LSAT class. In addition to having committed class time, being in close contact with other future law students who share your goals can be very motivating. Researching law school programs, including reaching out to current lawyers and legal professionals, can also make your goals become more exciting and tangible, and help you put LSAT study time on your "must-do" list.

A. Yes! Not too surprisingly, people who don't study at all did the worst on the LSAT exam: an average of 147.9. People who self-studied did not do much better: average of 151.3. People who took the LSAT prep courses performed better.

However, the type of LSAT prep course also seems to matter. People who take LSAT test prep courses from their undergraduate institutions typically didn't do well as people who take a commercial test preparation course: average of 150 for undergrad coaching courses versus average of 152.4 for commercial test prep. We strongly believe that the quality of your LSAT prep course also matters, and we focus on providing the very best instruction to our students.

"Dr. Amar was able to help me develop strategies to push my score up to its fullest potential, whereas other courses I had asked could not help me tailor strategies past the ~165 level." - Roy

Your study habits, combined with your LSAT instruction, also make the difference. The most important thing during LSAT preparation is commitment and consistency. As hard as it may seem, you should make LSAT studies and practice a high priority, and commit to it every day; if you attempt to study in "spare time" around other commitments, you will find that you never find that time. The LSAT course can help you stay on track.

A. The answer mainly depends on your study habits and the quality of your LSAT preparation ... but yes, your undergraduate degree does have some effect on how well you will do (or at least, how hard you may need to study). Physics, Mathematics, and Classics majors typically score above 160 on average, with Linguistics and Policy Studies majors are not far behind. In addition to Physics and Mathematics, the highest scoring STEM majors are Biology (Specialization), Biochemistry, and Environmental Sciences. Language majors, especially German, French, and Foreign Languages, seem to do well on the LSAT, as do those who were immersed in International Studies and International Relations.

A. The best LSAT prep course is the one that helps you grasp the subject matter and provide strategic approaches to study, practice, and test-taking, allowing you to perform at your best on test day. It's as simple as that. Our LSAT prep course focuses on the content and skills that the LSAT actually tests, with rigorous instruction and practice. Our students value our excellent instruction, effective study materials and test-taking strategies, and just as importantly, the coaching that helps them overcome any weaknesses. At Austin LSAT Prep, we believe that the best LSAT prep course values quality of learning above all else.

Please remember that achieving a good LSAT score is just one part of your application. The admissions committee will also consider your GPA, Personal Statement, recommendation letters, and work in your field. Achieve the highest LSAT score that you can, but then move on to prepare the rest of your application just as rigorously.