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Take Your LSAT Practice Exam Like This to Maximize Your Score

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Manhattan Prep LSAT Blog - Take Your Practice LSAT Like This to Maximize Your Score by Matt ShinnersIf you practice how you play, you’ll maximize your chances of success. We’re hosting a series of Free Proctored LSAT Practice Exams leading up to the June 2016 LSAT. Find one that works for you here.

There’s a time and a place to work on some LSAT problems in your pajamas, with the TV on in the background, your dog in your lap, and a pizza on the way. All of those comforts will make it a little easier to suffer through a series of questions (as long as you can stay focused). And, in fact, studies show that having an ever-changing mix of stimuli around, triggering different senses, is a great way to get your brain to retain information.

However, when it’s time to sit down and take a practice test, it’s time to get serious.

Turn the TV off. Put your dog on the floor. Tell the pizza delivery guy that you didn’t order any pizza.

And then set aside 4 hours of uninterrupted LSAT goodness. You’ll be taking 5 sections (the 4 scored ones, along with an experimental section), writing an essay (though this is super optional, as it will always be last and never be scored), and taking a short break only between sections 3 and 4.

There are a few reasons why it’s important to simulate these conditions as closely as possible:

Stamina

Your brain, just sitting there, sucks up a huge amount of your energy. Sometimes you put it to good use (solving a problem); other times, you don’t (binge-watching a reality show on Netflix).

Whether it’s psychosomatic or not, those times when you’re putting it to good use for an extended period of time certainly makes you feel like you’re exhausted. And 4 hours of straight mental effort is going to require a level of concentration like nothing else.

In order for your practice tests to be most effective, you must simulate test day conditions as closely as possible. If you’re not used to taking a test for that period of time (say, you give yourself a break while at home after each section), you’re going to drag on test day. Also, if you take 4-section PrepTests (instead of adding in an experimental), you’ll probably find your brain checking out on that last section. That’s bad, especially since the experimental is almost always one of the first three sections.

Anxiety

Humans are anxious about change. It’s how we survived for so long. It’s also something that you can use to your advantage on test day.

The closer your practice is to the official day, the less anxious you’ll be.

Here are some things that you should try to standardize between your prep and test day

  • If possible, make it so you don’t know which section is experimental. While doing an experimental section that you know is experimental will drain you, the anxiety that comes from not knowing which sections are scored needs to be simulated.
  • Have an outside source proctor, since you’ll be less anxious if you’re manning the clock. You can always stop it in that case, but you can’t on test day.
  • Wear the same clothes and eat the same food, at the same time before the exam. A rumbly tummy (yes, I just said that) or an uncomfortable waist band (since, if you’re like me, you’re stress eating during prep) can be just enough distraction to throw you off.
  • Finally, have the same routine…

Routine

Your body has natural rhythms to it, and you need to get them align to test day. If you’re used to taking the test first thing in the morning, but you’re taking the June (afternoon) exam, your body won’t feel that it’s the right time to take the test. If you take the test at a random point when you feel like it, your body won’t know when to get into test mode.

Instead, try to take the test at the same time of day, on the same day of the week, as your official test. It’s the best way to make sure your body and brain are aligned, both saying, “It’s test time – let’s go!” when the proctor starts that watch.

We’ll be hosting a number of proctored tests here between now and test day, and we’d love to have you come by for it! You’ll get used to sitting in a room with other students, taking a full test at the right time of day and during the right day of the week, with an outside proctor controlling your life timing the sections. So turn off the TV, put your dog on the floor, and pick up some food on the way. Dress code is Pajamas Acceptable, but if you’re going to wear them to our tests, make sure you’re ready to wear them to the real thing. ?

June 2016 LSAT: Monday, June 6, 2016 – 12:30 PM

Upcoming Free Proctored LSAT Practice Exams on same day of week and time as official test:

All other upcoming Free Proctored LSAT Practice Exams:

Matt Shinners Manhattan Prep LSAT InstructorMatt Shinners is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in New York City. After receiving a degree in Biochemistry from Boston College, Matt scored a 180 on his LSAT and enrolled in Harvard Law School. There’s nothing that makes him happier than seeing his students receive the scores they want to get into the schools of their choice. Check out Matt’s upcoming LSAT courses here!