Test Day Preparations As
your test date nears, it is critical that you develop a game plan
in preparation for the day of the exam. If your LSAT is scheduled
to be administered in the early morning, it’s a good idea
to get in a routine of waking up at the same time as you would on
test day, and eating a nutritious breakfast each morning (see our
discussion of Brain Food for more information
about diet). Because relaxation is critical for a solid test performance,
at some point before the day of the test you should assemble the
required items you will take with you to the test center. To assist
you we have compiled a list of items that you should bring, and
some helpful advice to make your LSAT experience go as smoothly
as possible.
The
Day Before the Test
The Morning of the Test
What to Bring the Day of the Test
At the Test Center
After the Test
The Day Before the Test top
- Make sure
you have received your LSAT admission ticket from Law Services.
Double-check the information on the admission ticket for accuracy.
- Since backpacks
are not allowed in the testing center, put together a plastic
Zip-Lock bag with everything you plan to bring (see the list below).
- On the day
before the LSAT we recommend that you study very little, if at
all. Typically the best approach for most students is to simply
relax as much as possible. Read a book, go see a movie, or play
a round of golf. If you feel you must study, we recommend that
you only briefly review each of the concepts covered in the course.
- If you are
not familiar with your test center, drive by the test center and
examine the testing room and parking situation. This will alleviate
any anxiety or confusion on the day of the test.
- If your
testing room contains only seats with flip-up desktops (usually
found in large auditoriums) you have the option of bringing a
flat board to the test center. The board can be placed on top
of the flip-up desktop in order to provide you with more space.
We know you might feel a bit ridiculous carrying a board into
the LSAT, but the advantage you get from the extra room will more
than compensate. The board should be approximately 18 inches by
24 inches. Please note that Law Services policy allows you to
bring the board; however, the test supervisors may not allow you
to use the board if they feel it will cause a disturbance to another
test taker. We think it’s better to bring the board and
not be able to use it than it is to need the board and not have
it.
- Eat only
bland or neutral foods (such as lightly sauced pasta) the night
before the test and try to get the best sleep possible (at least
8 hours is ideal). Do not drink alcohol.
- Try not
to worry about the next day’s test! You’ve learned
the techniques, and you’re ready to attack the LSAT!
The Morning of the Test top
- Follow your
normal routine when you wake up. For example, if you do not regularly
drink coffee, do not start on the morning of the LSAT. Constancy
in your routine will allow you to focus on your primary objective:
performing well on the test.
- Do a few
Logical Reasoning questions if time allows. This will essentially
provide an opportunity for you to “warm up” before
beginning the exam. Three or four questions should be enough to
get you mentally prepared for the test taking experience.
- Eat breakfast
(see our discussion of Brain Food
for more information on what to eat).
- Dress in
layers, so you will be warm if the test center is cold, but also
be able to shed clothes if the test center is hot. Note: effective
June 2007 no hats or hoods are allowed (except items of religious
apparel).
- Leave early
for the testing center—even if you arrive an hour ahead
of time, you can sit in your car and read or relax. It’s
better than getting caught in traffic and having to rush to arrive
on time!
- We strongly
believe that performing well on the LSAT requires you to believe
that you can perform well. As you prepare to leave for the test
center, run through the test in your head, visualizing an exceptional
performance. Imagine how you will react to each logic
game, reading
passage, and logical
reasoning question. Many athletes use this same technique
to achieve optimal performance in sporting events.
What to Bring to the Test top
According to
LSAC, “Test takers may bring into the room only a clear
plastic ziplock bag, maximum size one gallon (3.79 liter), which
must be stored under the chair and may be accessed only during
the break. The ziplock bag may contain only the following items:
LSAT Admission Ticket stub; valid ID; wallet; keys; hygiene products;
#2 or HB pencils, highlighter, erasers, pencil sharpener; tissues;
beverage in plastic container or juice box (20 oz./591 ml maximum
size) and snack for break only. Nothing else will be allowed in
the testing room (no purses, bags, phones, silent timers, etc.;
see below for a complete list of prohibited items).
Items permitted
on the desktop. Test takers may only have tissues, ID, pencils,
erasers, pencil sharpener, highlighter, and analog (nondigital)
wristwatch.”
We recommend that you bring the following:
- Your
LSAT Admissions Ticket
When you first registered for the LSAT, the LSAC sent you a copy
of your admissions ticket in the mail. If you have lost your admissions
ticket or never received it, you can print out a copy of the ticket
by logging into your LSAC account. Your ticket is on the first
page that appears after logging in, located under a tab entitled
“Important.”
- Photo
ID
A valid photo ID with signature is required in order to gain admission
to the test.
- Food/Drink
You may want something to eat or drink during the break between
Sections 3 and 4. We recommend that you don’t eat anything
with a large amount of sugar because a high sugar snack may cause
you to become more sluggish as the sugar wears off. Suggested
snacks include: granola bars, fruits/vegetables, crackers, energy
bars, and dry cereal. According to the LSAC regulations issued
in March 2007, a beverage in a plastic container or juice box
(20 oz./591 ml maximum size) and a snack (for break only) are
allowed. Note: Some testing centers do not allow you to bring
food and drink into the center, although water bottles may be
approved. Check with the center in advance to find out what you
can bring. If there is a vending machine nearby, remember to bring
change.
- Pencils/Highlighter/Eraser
You are allowed to place number two pencils (HB for Canadian centers),
highlighter, and erasers on your desk during the exam. Mechanical
pencils are not allowed. Your testing center may not have
a pencil sharpener, so keep that in mind and bring extra sharpened
pencils or a small sharpener.
- Directions
to the test site
If you are not familiar with the area where the test is being
given and did not visit the site prior to the test day, bring
detailed directions with you. Also, you should find alternate
routes in case there is some unforeseeable delay that occurs on
your route.
- Reading
Material
The exam rarely starts on time; therefore, bring something to
keep your mind fresh and stimulated while waiting for the exam
to begin. Testing centers will not allow you to bring a book,
so we recommend bringing a newspaper to read while you wait. Reading
something while you wait will help in blocking out the nervous
chatter of fellow test takers around you. Keep in mind that the
LSAC regulations state that you are not allowed to bring paper
of any kind into the testing center, but it’s not that big
of a deal if they take away your newspaper.
- Other
items you might want to bring: wallet, keys, hygiene products,
tissues, headache medicine.
The following
items are not allowed in most testing centers, so
leave them at home, or ask ahead of time if you can bring them:
- Backpacks
- Handbags
- Electronic
timing devices, even if silent (effective June 2007)
- Ear plugs
- Books or
papers of any kind
- Calculators
or rulers
- Digital
Watches (only analog watches are permitted effective June 2007)
- Watches
that make noise
- Listening
devices
- Cell phones,
pagers, or beepers
- Cameras,
recording devices, computers
- Electronic
devices such as ipods, headphones
Food, drinks,
gum and candy (see the Food/Drink section above)
At the Test Center top
- Upon
check in, test supervisors will ask you to present your admission
ticket, one form of acceptable personal identification, and will
take a thumbprint. Supervisors are instructed to deny admission
to anyone who does not present a photo ID with signature. The
test supervisors will assign each examinee a seat. You are not
permitted to choose your own seat.
-
Once you are seated the test supervisors will read you the rules
and regulations of the test, and have you write a certifying statement
that attests that the person taking the test is the person whose
name appears on the answer sheet and that you are taking the test
for the sole purpose of admission to law school. Typically, the
actual test will not begin until thirty to forty-five minutes
after you are seated.
-
The test supervisors keep the official time, but they are not
obligated to use a digital timer. They will announce a five-minutes-remaining
warning for each test section.
- You
may work only in the assigned section. Testing supervisors may
circulate throughout the testing room to ensure that all examinees
are working in the appropriate section. Blackening of answer spaces
on your answer sheet must be done before time is called for any
given section. You will not be permitted time after the test to
clean up your answer sheet or transfer answers from your test
book to your answer sheet.
-
If you find it necessary to leave the room during the test, you
must obtain permission from the supervisor. You will not be permitted
to make up any missed time.
-
All test materials, including test books and answer sheets, are
the property of Law Services and must be returned to Law Services
by test supervisors after every administration. Legal action may
be taken against an examinee who removes a test book and/or reproduces
it.
-
If you engage in any misconduct or irregularity during the test
such as creating a disturbance; giving or receiving help; working
on or reading the test during a time not authorized by the supervisor;
removing test materials or notes from the testing room; taking
part in an act of impersonation or other forms of cheating; or
using books, calculators, ear plugs, headsets, rulers, papers
of any kind, or other aids—you may be dismissed from the
test center and may be subject to other penalties for misconduct
or irregularity. The penalties for misconduct are high: you may
be precluded from attending law school and becoming a lawyer.
-
If you encounter a problem with the test supervision or test center
itself, report it to a test supervisor. Reportable problems include:
power outages, mis-timing of test sections, and any unusual disturbances
caused by an individual.
-
If you feel anxious or panicked for any reason before or during
the test, close your eyes for a few seconds and relax. Think of
other situations where you performed with confidence and skill.
After the Test
top
- Test results
will be mailed back approximately five weeks after the test.
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