Using the PowerScore LSAT Bibles: Three Month Self-Study Plan for the June 2012 LSAT
Students often write and ask about combining the LSAT Bibles when they are self-studying, and I addressed some of those questions
here, and we also have a
free self-study guide. Recently, a student taking an upcoming LSAT asked about a specific three month study plan. Although our book websites contain general study plans, here’s a more detailed plan for someone starting about 12 weeks out from the LSAT. The plan assumes you have our
three LSAT Bibles, our
Training Type Series (which includes LSAT PrepTests 1 through 20), and a plethora of actual LSATs, including the
SuperPrep and all of the recent exams.
General thoughtsStudying for the LSAT is about consistency and diligence. This is not a test you can cram for, so don’t put in one hour a week and then try to study forty hours a week in the last two weeks. Instead, get into a regular schedule where you study a minimum of ten hours a week (and hopefully much more!).
Three months seems like a long time, but once you get rolling with your studies, it won’t seem long at all. But, it is enough time that I will assume you can read all three LSAT Bibles. If you already are extremely strong in one of the areas—say, Reading Comprehension—you can omit portions of the plan devoted to that section.
Week 1: Twelve weeks to the LSATStart by taking the June 2007 LSAT (available free from Law Services
here) under timed conditions. Do this in order to establish a baseline score. Use the free test proctor in our
Free LSAT Help Area to time yourself, and then score and review the test using the Free
LSAT Score Analyzer. The Analyzer will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and help you shape your studies.
Spend the rest of the week relaxing. No, just kidding! Instead, watch the free Lesson One from our LSAT Virtual Course in our
Free LSAT Help Area, and then read Chapters One through Six of the
LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible. This reading selection gets you through Conditional Reasoning, which will figure heavily in both the Logical Reasoning and Logic Games sections of the LSAT.
As you read Chapters Four, Five, and Six in the
LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible, complete Chapters Two and Three in
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training. These two chapters present Must Be True and Main Point questions, which figure prominently in both the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections.
Week 2: Eleven weeks to the LSATRead Chapters Two and Three of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible. Complete Chapters Two and Three of
LSAT Game Type Training, which contains the same game types that are covered in the
Logic Games Bible chapters.
Read Chapters Seven and Eight of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapter Four of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training.
Week 3: Ten weeks to the LSATRead Chapters Two and Three of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible. Skip the section in Chapter Two that covers argumentation (pages 32-40).
Read Chapters Nine and Ten of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapters Five, Six, and Seven of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training.
Read Chapter Four of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible. Complete Chapter Four of
LSAT Game Type Training.Week 4: Nine weeks to the LSATThis is a bit of a lighter week, in order to let some of the ideas settle in.
Read Chapters Four, Five, and Six of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible. Complete the first half of Chapter Nine in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Read Chapter Eleven of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapter Nineteen of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training. However, if you are falling behind in your studying, skip this item entirely.
Read Chapter Five of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible. Complete Chapter Five of
LSAT Game Type Training.
Week 5: Eight weeks to the LSATRead Chapters Six and Seven of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible. Complete Chapter Six and Seven of
LSAT Game Type Training.
Read Chapters Twelve and Thirteen of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapters Nine and Ten of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training.
Read Chapters Seven and Eight of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible. Complete the second half of Chapter Nine in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Take PrepTest A from the
SuperPrep as a timed exercise. Thereafter, review your performance and read the question explanations in the
SuperPrep. They are by no means the best possible explanations (they don’t want to give away the farm in terms of strategy explanations), but they give you a sense of the things that the test makers identify as important when they analyze questions.
Week 6: Seven weeks to the LSATRead Chapters Eight and Nine of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible. Complete Chapter Eight of
LSAT Game Type Training. Complete Chapter Two of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible Workbook.
Read Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapters Eleven and Eighteen of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training.
Read Chapters Seven and Eight of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible. Complete the second half of Chapter Nine in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Take PrepTest 43 as a timed exercise (Consider using the copy of the test in
Three LSATs Deconstructed because that book also contains complete explanations for the test). Use section 1 from PrepTest 36 as an experimental section.
Week 7: Six weeks to the LSATAt this point you have reviewed a number of the major concepts, so timing starts to take a greater role in your preparation.
Read Chapter Sixteen through Twenty of the
Logical Reasoning Bible. Complete Chapter Two of the
LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Workbook. Complete Chapters Twelve through Fifteen of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training.
Read Chapters Nine and Ten of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible. Complete Chapter One in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Take PrepTest 44 as a timed exercise (Consider using the copy of the test in
Three LSATs Deconstructed because that book also contains complete explanations for the test). Use section 2 from PrepTest 36 as an experimental section.
Week 8: Five weeks to the LSATComplete Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen of
LSAT Logical Reasoning: Question Type Training. Complete the first half of Chapter Three of the
LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible Workbook.
Complete Chapters Two, Three, and Four in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Take PrepTest B from the
SuperPrep as a timed exercise. Thereafter, review your performance and read the question explanations in the
SuperPrep.
Take PrepTest 45 as a timed exercise (Consider using the copy of the test in
Three LSATs Deconstructed because that book also contains complete explanations for the test). Use section 3 from PrepTest 36 as an experimental section.
Week 9: Four weeks to the LSATComplete Chapters Five and Six in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
The focus now moves to working through as many tests as possible under timed conditions, in order to accustom you to the rigors of the LSAT.
Complete Chapter Eleven of the
LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible as a timed exercise. Review the explanations.
Take PrepTest 49 as a timed exercise. Use section 1 and 2 from PrepTest 37 as two experimental sections, in order to “overdrive” your testing. After taking six-section tests, the real five-section LSAT won’t seem quite as exhausting.
Take PrepTest 50 as a timed exercise. Use section 3 and 4 from PrepTest 37 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 51 as a timed exercise (Consider using the copy of the test in
December 2006 LSAT Deconstructed because that book also contains a complete explanation for the test). Use section 1 and 2 from PrepTest 38 as two experimental sections.
Week 10: Three weeks to the LSATComplete Chapters Seven and Eight in
LSAT Reading Comprehension: Passage Type Training.
Review specific chapters from the Bibles that cover concepts that are still causing issues for you.
If Games continue to trouble you, complete Chapter Three of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible Workbook. Do each game as a timed exercise, but know that you will have encountered some of the games previously. This is not a problem—reviewing games multiple times is quite beneficial.
Take PrepTest 52 as a timed exercise. Use section 3 and 4 from PrepTest 38 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 53 as a timed exercise. Use section 1 and 2 from PrepTest 40 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 54 as a timed exercise. Use section 3 and 4 from PrepTest 40 as two experimental sections.
Week 11: Two weeks to the LSATTake PrepTest C from the
SuperPrep as a timed exercise. Thereafter, review your performance and read the question explanations in the
SuperPrep.
Take PrepTest 55 as a timed exercise. Use sections 1 and 2 from PrepTest 46 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 56 as a timed exercise. Use sections 3 and 4 from PrepTest 46 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 57 as a timed exercise. Use sections 1 and 2 from PrepTest 47 as two experimental sections.
Week 12: One week to the LSATIf Games continue to trouble you, complete Chapter Four of the
LSAT Logic Games Bible Workbook. Do each section as a timed exercise, but know that you will have encountered some of the games previously. This is not a problem—reviewing games multiple times is quite beneficial.
Take PrepTest 58 as a timed exercise. Use sections 3 and 4 from PrepTest 47 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 59 as a timed exercise. Use sections 1 and 2 from PrepTest 48 as two experimental sections.
Take PrepTest 60 as a timed exercise. Use sections 3 and 4 from PrepTest 48 as two experimental sections.
The day before the exam, relax!