Your first session focuses on assessment and planning. A tutor will review your diagnostic test results, identify which sections are causing the most trouble, and understand your target score and law school timeline. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that addresses your specific weaknesses—whether that's untangling complex logical reasoning questions, improving reading speed and comprehension, or mastering logic games. This foundation ensures every session after that is strategically focused on what matters most for your score.

Logic games require a different skill set than the other LSAT sections—you need to visualize spatial relationships, track multiple constraints simultaneously, and work quickly under pressure. Many students haven't practiced this type of reasoning before, so the unfamiliarity combined with strict timing creates anxiety. With targeted tutoring, you can learn proven diagramming techniques and practice enough games to build the pattern recognition skills that make this section manageable.

Timing strategy is different for each section: reading comprehension requires efficient note-taking to avoid re-reading, logical reasoning demands quick pattern recognition, and logic games need a fast setup to maximize answering time. Rather than rushing through everything, expert tutors teach you how to identify which questions to prioritize, when to skip and return, and how to allocate your 35 minutes per section strategically. Practice tests are essential—they help you calibrate your pace and build the automaticity you need on test day.

Most students benefit from taking 15-20+ full practice tests under timed conditions as part of their preparation, spaced throughout their study timeline. Early tests help identify weak areas, middle tests let you practice new strategies, and final tests build confidence and stamina. A tutor can help you use practice tests strategically—analyzing your performance patterns, pinpointing recurring mistakes, and adjusting your study focus based on what the data shows.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about the material or unfamiliarity with the test format. When you work with a tutor to build genuine mastery of each section—understanding why answers are right or wrong, practicing until strategies feel automatic—confidence naturally follows. Tutors also help you develop mental strategies for test day, like managing time pressure and staying focused when you encounter a difficult question, so you feel prepared rather than panicked.

Look for tutors with strong LSAT scores themselves (typically 170+), proven success helping students improve their scores, and deep knowledge of test strategy and logic. They should be able to explain not just what the right answer is, but why the wrong answers are traps and how to recognize question patterns quickly. Experience with different learning styles and the ability to diagnose exactly where you're struggling—not just that you're struggling—makes a real difference in your improvement.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your starting score and target. A typical timeline involves 15-20 hours per week of focused study, including practice tests, section drills, and tutoring sessions. Varsity Tutors can help you create a realistic schedule that fits your life while ensuring you have enough time to master each section and take plenty of practice tests before test day.