There’s no shortage of resources and guides that can help you ace the LSAT. The question is, how do you decide which LSAT study guide or materials to go with?
Some people opt for traditional, in-person classes or hire a tutor to get started with their LSAT prep. These options help students stay on track and can offer more personalized coaching, but they can be awfully expensive.
Thankfully, there’s another way.
Today’s self-study LSAT tools offer much more flexibility and a wide range of resources that can rival the best in-person courses and tutors. It might sound overwhelming at first, but studying for the LSAT on your own actually has a lot of perks. You can go at your own pace and decide where you’ll focus your efforts, but this extra control means it’s all on you to keep things on track.
If you’re learning toward self-studying for the LSAT, this guide will help you understand what to expect as you prepare for the exam, what to look for when choosing an LSAT study guide and answer some frequently asked questions about self-studying for the LSAT.
Contents
- 1 How Self-Studiers can Benefit from LSAT Study Guides
- 2 Comparison of the Best Available LSAT Study Guides
- 3 How an LSAT Study Guide Can Help
- 4 What You Should Look for in an LSAT Prep Guide
- 5 Consider LSAT Exam Coaching or Private Tutors
- 6 How an Audio LSAT Study Guide Can Suit Your Learning Style
- 7 FAQ: LSAT Study Guides for Self-Studiers
- 8 Bottom Line
How Self-Studiers can Benefit from LSAT Study Guides
If you want to get a high score or land a spot at a prestigious law school like Harvard or Yale, you really can’t afford to take your LSAT prep lightly.
Even if your ambitions aren’t that high, it’s worth considering any study options and tools out there that can give you an edge on exam day. Everything from comprehensive review courses, video series, audio lectures, practice tests and old-fashioned textbooks can help you prepare for the LSAT on your own.
There are literally tons of LSAT prep guides and books out there, but not all of them are highly rated. For this guide, we focused our reviews on the most effective, resourceful and user-recommended LSAT study guides from established brands in the LSAT prep space.
Let’s take a closer look at the top LSAT guides you can use to study on your own:
Comparison of the Best Available LSAT Study Guides
1. Official LSAT SuperPrep
If you’re new to the LSAT and need a proper book to learn how LSAT works and how you can approach the exam, then you can’t go wrong with the official LSAT SuperPrep. Instead of endlessly reviewing LSAT content, you can use this manual guide to develop a LSAT learning strategy and form a clear perspective of what you’ll encounter during the exam.
One of the perks of using the official SuperPrep guide is that it gives students detailed and accurate explanations of every question. SuperPrep also features test Q&As for practice and helps students gain knowledge.
Pros
- One exclusive prep test that students cannot find in any other guide or book
- Three SuperPrep LSAT study prep practice tests
- Features the latest LSAT prep practice tests
- Strategies to answer LSAT questions drafted by LSAC
Cons
- Can be overwhelming for self-studiers
- Does not replace LSAT study prep guides for self-studiers
2. Kaplan’s LSAT Prep Plus
This is arguably the most famous LSAT study guide out there. It features best practices, tips, and strategies to approach the LSAT exam in a variety of ways. Kaplan’s guide comes with useful tips to solve Logic Games and Reasoning & Reading Comprehension section questions on the LSAT. It also features original LSAT exams so that students are well prepared and know what to expect.
Pros
- Plenty of video instructions, test-taking tips, and online workshops
- More affordable than most LSAT guides and books
- Online practice test with extensive analysis
- Updated LSAT guidelines for self-learners
Cons
- Some students find Kaplan LSAT Prep Guide to be outdated
- Has more negative reviews than the most preferred LSAT study guides
3. The LSAT Trainer
The LSAT Trainer is hailed as the most compatible and comprehensive study guide for students. Many believe it is a perfect guidebook to understand various LSAT questions and the best ways to solve them. Unlike other LSAT guides, LSAT Trainer focuses less on cramming the material and more on helping you understand the material. LSAT Trainer also features intuitive tools to help students determine answers to different cases.
Pros
- Affordable
- Sufficient practice test questions including 30+ drills
- Complete breakdown of logic game and infographics
- Comprehensive and purposeful explanations to questions
- Added content like videos, notebooks, and study schedules
Cons
- Some questions and practice tests are generalized
- It does not work as a singular practice test LSAT exam guide
4. Princeton LSAT Guide
Princeton LSAT study guide is another great option and is a top choice among college students. With Princeton you know you’re getting quality study material, but the name brand means it can be pricier than other options.
Princeton LSAT guide features summarized chapters and highlights key points in bulleted format. You can also leverage mock exams with clear and detailed explanations of every answer. Princeton LSAT guide also comes with various tactics and strategies to take the LSAT exam, and comes with writing samples and professional suggestions to raise your LSAT score.
Pros
- Features the best LSAT instructions from experienced instructors
- Extensive LSAT material
- Intuitive learning model
- True to the official LSAT curriculum
- Engaging and intelligent LSAT video lessons
Cons
- More expensive than most LSAT prep guides
- Overlaps throughout the prep material
5. Manhattan LSAT Prep Strategy Guide
Manhattan LSAT Prep Strategy guide is regarded as one of the best guidebooks for LSAT preparation.
The course features LSAT Navigator, a tracking app students can use to keep an eye on their progress. Manhattan LSAT Prep guide features loads of tips, practice questions, and diagrams.
Pros
- Original LSAT practice test questions
- Relatively less expensive than other LSAT study guidebooks
Cons
- The guidebook contains several typos
- Logic Games may is not as useful as Princeton or other LSAT prep guides
How an LSAT Study Guide Can Help
It’s no secret; the more practice tests you take, the more comfortable you’ll be with the LSAT exam. The more reps you get, the better.
Volume isn’t everything though. You should also be focusing on making your study sessions as high-quality as possible. Your LSAT study guide should offer plenty of explanatory material to help you truly understand the material and/or the reasoning behind answers to practice questions are correct / incorrect.
Slow and methodical is better than fast and sloppy.
Consistent practice is critical as well. To maximize your chances of hitting a high LSAT score, pencil in 4-6 days / week with your LSAT study guide. This will help you build momentum while allowing enough time off to avoid burnout.
If you stick with this approach over a three-month LSAT study schedule, you should be able to answer any question the LSAT throws your way.
What You Should Look for in an LSAT Prep Guide
When choosing an LSAT prep guide, make sure it covers the range of LSAT topics and question types you’ll see on the exam and not just a subset of the material.
Courses don’t usually share the exact # of questions they offer for each question type, so it might be hard to tell if you’ll have enough material.
As a rule of thumb, most comprehensive LSAT courses will have you covered. For individual LSAT study guides and other practice materials though, you’ll need to pay closer attention.
Also, some LSAT guides are more user-friendly than others. All things being equal, opt for a guide that combines a friendly tone and can strategically guide learners.
Also, each LSAT prep book has its own strengths and limitations. Don’t be afraid to use more than one guide during your LSAT prep.
Consider LSAT Exam Coaching or Private Tutors
As great as today’s self-study LSAT courses are, plenty of students still opt for and can benefit from private tutoring. LSAT tutoring services used to be in-person only, but today many of the top tutors are online.
Tutors can be pricey though, especially compared to a self-study LSAT guide or course.
Most students enlist the help of a private tutor when they want to hit a higher percentile score. If you’ve taken the exam a few times and are struggling to hit your target score, a private tutor might be a good way to shake things up.
Look for an LSAT tutor who scored at least a 170 or in the 97th percentile on the test. Nothing is guaranteed, but you’re likely to learn something from a coach with those credentials.
Also, consider how your LSAT private tutor will be teaching you. Some LSAT private tutors offer 1-on-1 sessions and personalized study plans, while others encourage cohort-based learning where you’ll spend most of your time learning with and from other students. Both approaches work well, but make sure you know what you’re getting.
How an Audio LSAT Study Guide Can Suit Your Learning Style
Audio LSAT lectures and tutorials can make a huge difference in your LSAT prep, especially if you’re more of an auditory learner.
Many LSAT preparers enjoy audio guides that come as part of a pre-recorded course series. It’s a super convenient and efficient way to study for the LSAT rather than reading a dry LSAT guide.
Audio LSAT study guides allow students to listen and absorb course content while they’re on the move rather than sitting and reading. Studies show that light exercise while studying or creating an “active classroom” can actually encourage memory formation.
Aside from official LSAT audio lectures, students can use LSAT audiobooks and podcasts as additional audio-based study material for LSAT.
FAQ: LSAT Study Guides for Self-Studiers
Anything is possible, but it’s very difficult to prepare for the LSAT in a single month. Ideally, you’ll need 3-4 months and spend 250+ hours developing the required skills to score high on the LSAT. If you’re planning to study for the LSAT on your own, aim to spend 20 to 25 hours per week to sufficiently prepare for the exam.
It really depends on your target score and preferred learning style. If you just want an average to above-average score then self-study LSAT guides and practice exams can get you there, and you can supplement with some great audio LSAT guides. If you’re aiming higher and can’t leave anything to chance, consider leveling up to a comprehensive LSAT course and/or a tutoring service.
When it comes to self-studying, the key is being able to study at your own pace. For that reason, self-directed online courses or courses with online lectures are great options, as are courses with audio-based lessons. Finally, self-studiers should have some sort of LSAT guide or textbook that offers deep-dive information for more focused learning.
If you plan to study for the LSAT by yourself, start by taking a standard diagnostic test to establish your baseline LSAT score. This will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses going in and give you a guide on which areas need the most improvement.
Then, invest in a dedicated and comprehensive LSAT prep guide or course. Depending on your target score, plan to spend at least 20-25 hours a week for 3-4 months in order to hit your target LSAT score during practice tests. In total, this means you’re likely to spend 200-300 hours or more preparing for the LSAT.
Bottom Line
Every LSAT prep guide listed in this article is incredibly useful. Each of the top LSAT prep guides have a different style, structure, and breakdown of questions, so choose the one(s) that fit what you need. In the end though, it’s up to you to get the most out of what you have.
If you prefer an explanatory style, consider a comprehensive LSAT preparation guide. When preparing for the LSAT on your own, it’s crucial to get feedback on your performance and make adjustments.
Those who hit high LSAT scores agree on one thing: Keep learning and asking crucial questions up until your test date. You’ll never feel 100% ready, but steady and consistent improvement over time is your best chance to hit a high score.
