Retaking the LSAT Study Schedule

Before retaking the LSAT, figure out exactly what went wrong last time: not enough study time, the wrong prep books, or question types you never drilled hard enough. This 3-month retake schedule assumes you already worked through a first-timer study plan, so it spends the first 7 weeks drilling your weakest Logical Reasoning question types before moving into timed full-length PrepTests with spliced experimental sections.

So, you’re planning to retake the LSAT.

Figure out what went wrong

It’s incredibly important to figure out what you did wrong the first time around and plan what you’ll do differently this time.

Maybe you didn’t have enough time to study for the LSAT. Maybe you just didn’t use it wisely. I recommend a minimum of 3 months.

It could be you didn’t use the right LSAT prep books.

Maybe you didn’t spend enough time on a certain section. Maybe your approach just wasn’t flexible enough.

The biggest concern students have is “there aren’t enough PrepTests” and/or they’ve “already used up too many PrepTests.” There are more than 90 PrepTests.

Of course, having to resort to the older exams and having to redo newer ones isn’t ideal, but it shouldn’t be a major concern.

This article will help you figure out how to move forward as you prepare for an LSAT retake.

How to structure your retake prep

Whitney writes:

“My concern is whether I need to do question type practice or just simply do more full length and section practice.”

Ideally, you’ll do a mix of practicing specific question-types and doing full-length sections. You’ll end with full-length exam practice.

The real issue is figuring out what went wrong the first time around and using that info as you plan your retake schedule.

If you aren’t having difficulty with a specific type of question, then full-length section/exam practice is all you need.

However, this situation is rare – most people have more difficulty with some question-types than others.

This means you’ll probably need to “Drill, baby, drill.”

Find your weak question types

If you didn’t cancel your most recent LSAT score, review that exam and make a list of the question-types you answered incorrectly and/or that gave you difficulty.

If you did cancel it, do a few full exams (untimed) to determine question-types that give you difficulty.

If there were relatively few types that gave you difficulty, you might just want to spend a week or two drilling those types and then move onto doing a practice test or two each week.

 

What this schedule assumes

The following 3-month retake schedule assumes you already did most/all of what I recommend in my LSAT study plans for first-timers. If you did little or none of the things contained in those schedules, use those instead.

This schedule also assumes there are 4 Logical Reasoning question-types that give you difficulty. (Here’s an example of one way you might analyze a Logical Reasoning question in more detail.)

Finally, it assumes you’ve already seen/used dozens of the most recent PrepTests in your prep the first time around.

Feel free to alter this schedule according to your needs.

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The 3 month retake schedule

Week 1: Study my articles on Logical Reasoning. Do several dozen questions of that type (untimed) from exams you’ve never touched, if any. Review all questions that give you difficulty and write explanations for why each wrong answer choice is wrong and why the right answer choice is right.

Week 2: Do the same with another type.

Week 3: Do the same with another type.

Week 4: Do the same with another type.

Week 5: Do the same with another type.

Week 6: Do the same with another type.

Week 7: Do the same with another type, or read my articles on Reading Comprehension and do several timed sections of Reading Comp.

Week 8: Complete 3 recent LSAT PrepTests (timed). Splice in sections from another to simulate the experimental section. Review all wrong answers and write out explanations for them. Review each exam on alternating days.

Week 9: Complete 3 recent LSAT PrepTests (timed). Splice in sections from another to simulate the experimental section. Review all wrong answers and write out explanations for them. Review each exam on alternating days.

Week 10: Complete 3 recent LSAT PrepTests (timed). Splice in sections from another to simulate the experimental section. Review all wrong answers and write out explanations for them. Review each exam on alternating days.

Week 11: Complete 3 recent LSAT PrepTests (timed). Splice in sections from another to simulate the experimental section. Review all wrong answers and write out explanations for them. Review each exam on alternating days.

Week 12: Complete 3 recent LSAT PrepTests (timed). Splice in sections from another to simulate the experimental section. Review all wrong answers and write out explanations for them. Review each exam on alternating days.

Weeks 9-12: should include 4-section exams (the 4th section simulates the experimental section). See Preparing for the Experimental Section for why, where, and how to include “experimental” sections.

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Redoing exams you've seen before

I know this schedule will include exams you’ve already done. Remember, I said I’m assuming you already used the newer PrepTests the first time around. That’s okay.

Your goal shouldn’t always be to get an accurate gauge of your progress. No one (except maybe your parents) is going to give you a prize for how you do on a practice exam. The real thing is all that matters in the end.

Even if you’ve already done these exams (and remember them well) will you really remember all the answers? If you really think you will, do a previously-taken exam or two under timed conditions. Just see if you get perfect scores on them. If you don’t, it means you still have something to learn from them.

Besides, doing them in chronological/numerical order puts at least a few months between you and any particular exam. This means if/when you answer questions correctly, it’s more likely this will be due to your understanding of the questions’ logic rather than your memory.

If you’re really concerned about remembering them, substitute those for exams you’ve never seen before.

However, it’s important to redo the newer PrepTests to ensure that you fully understand them because the LSAT changes over time.

You got this!

Frequently asked questions

How do I figure out why I didn't hit my target score?

Review your most recent scored LSAT and list every question type that gave you trouble. If you canceled that score, run a few untimed full exams first to find your weak question types before you retake it.

How long is the retake study schedule?

It's a 12-week, 3-month plan. Weeks 1 through 7 drill your weakest Logical Reasoning question types one at a time, and weeks 8 through 12 stack timed full-length PrepTests with a spliced experimental section. If you have more runway, the 6-month LSAT study plan is the fuller version.

Will I run out of LSAT PrepTests to practice with?

No. There are more than 90 official PrepTests, so even redoing some newer ones you've already seen isn't a real concern for a retake schedule.

Should I redo LSAT PrepTests I've already taken?

Yes, if needed. Months between attempts mean you likely won't remember every answer, and redoing recent PrepTests matters because the LSAT changes over time, so the newest exams reflect the current test best.

Watch a related lesson

I've written free explanations for every question in LSAT PrepTest 159, 158, 157, 156, 155 and 154, with the right answer and why each wrong answer fails. All LSAT explanations are here.

Enough reading. Try a question. Free LSAT drills, 1 at a time, explained the second you answer. Start free drills