How early is too early to prep? Forum

[BlueDevil666]

Hey TLS,

I have recently begun thinking about studying for the LSAT. I took a diagnostic and got a 162, which means I have a ways to go before I get to my target score area. I won't be able to take the test this year, as I will be abroad on a postgrad fellowship. My earliest test date would be September 2018 (likely applying that cycle). I bought some prep materials and have been thinking about getting started as I have a bunch of free time this summer, and I'm not sure what next summer will look like for me. Is it too early to start prep for the LSAT, given that it's over a year away? Will any gains I make now be lost over the next year?

Thanks!

[Mint-Berry_Crunch]

Never too early

It's about quality not quantity tho

[Slippin' Jimmy]

Hey TLS,

I have recently begun thinking about studying for the LSAT. I took a diagnostic and got a 162, which means I have a ways to go before I get to my target score area. I won't be able to take the test this year, as I will be abroad on a postgrad fellowship. My earliest test date would be September 2018 (likely applying that cycle). I bought some prep materials and have been thinking about getting started as I have a bunch of free time this summer, and I'm not sure what next summer will look like for me. Is it too early to start prep for the LSAT, given that it's over a year away? Will any gains I make now be lost over the next year?

Thanks!

Not sure if you can really start too early, but with that diagnostic you could realistically be ready for September/December/February of this cycle and they do administer the LSAT abroad, so this could be an option.

[Platopus]

With a 162, you're probably starting too early IMHO. If you can keep consistent through the next year or so, then yeah, it's worth it to start now. But if you're going to study for 2 months, take two months off, etc. then I would just wait until about 6 months out and hit it hard.

Not a bad idea to at least familiarize yourself with the test format and questions, and if you feel so inclined, do some LG practice, as I think that is likely to stick a little better than LR or RC. Honestly though, just spend the next 6 months reading dense material and staying mentally engaged. Being a fast reader is pretty much a necessity, so if you're not a big reader, I would work on that.

[Future Ex-Engineer]

With a 162, you're probably starting too early IMHO. If you can keep consistent through the next year or so, then yeah, it's worth it to start now. But if you're going to study for 2 months, take two months off, etc. then I would just wait until about 6 months out and hit it hard.

Not a bad idea to at least familiarize yourself with the test format and questions, and if you feel so inclined, do some LG practice, as I think that is likely to stick a little better than LR or RC. Honestly though, just spend the next 6 months reading dense material and staying mentally engaged. Being a fast reader is pretty much a necessity, so if you're not a big reader, I would work on that.

OP do this. When you start studying, it should be for the long haul/consistent until your target take day. You'll see better returns on that, and with a short time frame, you should find that you are better able to motivate yourself to buckle down and study even when you don't feel like it.

Also read hard stuff. Get used to reading hard things for structure/opinion. That and maybe do sudoku/number games/brain teasers. All of those cognitive linking skills will be helpful in some way once you get to the actual test

[Platopus]

That and maybe do sudoku/number games/brain teasers. All of those cognitive linking skills will be helpful in some way once you get to the actual test

2nd this, I was really big into chess before studying, and I think doing 150+ chess puzzles a day definitely helped with LG. Pure pattern recognition.

[lillelord]

Hey TLS,

I have recently begun thinking about studying for the LSAT. I took a diagnostic and got a 162, which means I have a ways to go before I get to my target score area. I won't be able to take the test this year, as I will be abroad on a postgrad fellowship. My earliest test date would be September 2018 (likely applying that cycle). I bought some prep materials and have been thinking about getting started as I have a bunch of free time this summer, and I'm not sure what next summer will look like for me. Is it too early to start prep for the LSAT, given that it's over a year away? Will any gains I make now be lost over the next year?

Thanks!

Hey, started right around where you're at ~march of 2015, I went from a raw diagnostic of ~155 to a diagnostic hovering around 174-178 depending on the test in those couple years, and invested only about 25-50 bucks into it. echoing other people in the thread, it's never too early to start PT'ing, but you have to organize what you tackle. I would suggest starting with LG mastery, it's the most visually interesting, shortest section, and people generally memorize how to do formal logic games in such a way that they can come back to them after a time and immediately remember how to diagram and infer.

Also, you're going to want to start going to your schools library and reading the Science section of The Economist (not skimming, reading intently, I know, it sucks.) This sets up a really good ability to follow the more difficult RC's.

Finally, and this is one of the most important parts, in a few months you should order Logic Reasoning Bible, you can get a used or earlier year copy because the logical reasoning section doesn't really change.

Also UTILIZE PITHYPIKE'S 180 POSTS.

Good luck on your future LSAT prep, m8.

[Walliums]

Never too early

It's about quality not quantity tho

Well except for the people who post on here their freshman year asking if they should start studying even though they plan on taking their junior year.