Best LSAT Study Guides for Low to Average Scoring Test Takers

E. Klein | Feb 7, 2011 |

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So Many Books!

How do you choose?

When you're preparing for the LSAT, you probably give little thought to the act of purchasing a load of study guides and practice tests. But selecting the right books can make a big difference in your LSAT score on test day.

There is no single book that offers the best preparation for all law school hopefuls. LSAT guides aimed at those who score average or high on practice tests are often too challenging for students who score low on sample tests. Books designed for those who struggle with the LSAT are too easy for more advanced students.

If you tend to score below 140 on LSAT practice exams, here are the top LSAT study guides designed for students in the lower score ranges.

Kaplan LSAT 2010-2011 Premier with CD-ROM:

Kaplan LSAT prep will provide you with an abundance of strategies and multiple-choice test taking tips that help you answer LSAT more quickly and accurately. All of the techniques are illustrated with a mix of easy, medium, and challenging questions. This book is ideal for the struggling test taker because the solutions are explained in full detail, and all of the sample questions are taken from actual tests.

Kaplan methods give LSAT takers step-by-step approaches for each question type, approaches that are easy to apply and work for the vast majority of LSAT questions. These methods will be lifesavers if you often get stuck on figuring out how to start problems because you will learn how to break down difficult questions into smaller, easier tasks.

The CD contains some video tutorials and access to online progress trackers, however, Mac users and those running Windows 7 report problems with installing the CD. If you have a Mac or use Windows 7, you will need to find a PC running Vista or XP in order to access the CD materials.

Princeton Review Cracking the LSAT

The Princeton Review LSAT guide caters to students who need a lot of help with their overall approach to LSAT questions. The book contains many easier questions that are specially designed to illustrate the Princeton Review LSAT techniques. Students who want to study with real LSAT material should supplement this book with official practice tests published by the Law School Admission Council, LSAC. (See last resource.)

This LSAT guide is also a great study tool if you have started your prep late and you need to haul ass before the exam! Ideally, students begin preparing for the LSAT about three months before their test date. If you have put off your studying and have less than a month until the LSAT, the Princeton Review guide covers the basic skills for LSAT success.

The Official LSAT SuperPrep, by the LSAC

The LSAC Official Guide has tons of practice questions from previously administered exams, plus 3 complete LSAT exams, also from previous administrations. This book is ideal for those who have difficulty identifying and ruling out wrong answer choices; all of the problem sets have solutions that provide the rationale for the right choice as well as indicators for the wrong answer choices. On the LSAT, correct and incorrect answer choices follow predictable patterns, so many low-scoring test takers can improve their scores by learning how to pick up on these patterns.

LSAT Logic Games for Dummies

The Dummies series is not the best resource for standardized test prep because these books rarely tackle challenging questions, leaving much to be desired in terms of thorough test preparation. However, for the LSAT Logic Games, the Dummies book offers straightforward explanations to some of the most difficult question types, and breaks down frustrating questions into manageable pieces. The Logic Games section of the LSAT is often cited as the one section that gives students the most trouble. Yet the Dummies book clarifies the complexities, allowing students to grasp the underlying structure of the logic games.

10 Actual, Official LSAT Prep Tests

This booklet is a must-have for any student studying for the LSAT, whether he scores high or low on practice exams. Taking real practice tests is one of the best ways to prep for the LSAT, and these tests have all been previously administered by the LSAC.