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Best LSAT Prep Courses
Our rankings of the best LSAT prep courses and classes, based on more than 15 reviews
A good prep course can be the key to getting an elite score on the LSAT. But with so many prep options on the market, where do you start? With most courses having varying features and strengths, it can be tough making a decision. In this guide, our team of LSAT tutors breaks down the best LSAT prep courses available. We discuss pricing, effectiveness, quality of study materials, and more.
To quickly navigate through this detailed LSAT prep course guide, simply use the helpful jump-to links above.
Video: Which LSAT Prep Program Is Best?
In the video above, Test Prep Insight team member John (who scored a 170 on the LSAT and worked for a Vault 100 law firm) walks you through the top LSAT prep courses on our list. If you would like additional detail regarding any of the courses discussed, be sure to keep reading.
When it comes to quality of online content, Blueprint LSAT is king. Their digital lesson plans and study materials are about the best around, and it is abundantly clear they invested a ton into their digital platform.
Blueprint says they want to make studying for the LSAT fun, and while that may never be completely possible, they get very close.
Their video lessons are head and shoulders above the competition, and the coursework is engaging, detailed and effective. Blueprint is an all-around top-notch course that you cannot go wrong with.
Insanely Good Video Lessons
As mentioned, Blueprint is known for their online video lessons. They are interactive, super engaging and the instructors are actually funny—and not in the dad joke, dry sense of humor kind of way. I mean truly entertaining and engaging.
Engaging video lessons from Blueprint
Unlike some other test prep companies, the video lessons actually show the instructor onscreen in a more traditional lesson style, but with cool graphics, cartoons and digital effects dropped in around them.
The combination of graphics and notes make for an incredibly effective means of communicating concepts that are otherwise pretty complex. We would give their video lessons three thumbs up if we could.
And in addition to the video, the overall user experience of their digital platform is superb. The online content is snappy, responsive and modern, but while still being easily navigable and intuitive.
Blueprint LSAT problem explanation
Rock Solid LSAT Coursework
In addition to the video lessons, the remainder of Blueprint’s coursework is first-rate. We love the structure and quality of the core curriculum. It flows naturally and builds up to the tougher concepts.
The practice problems and drills also utilize real LSAT questions, in addition to their access to official, past LSATs. These are coupled with thorough and well-written problem explanations. All in all, Blueprint LSAT is a rock-solid course and was a no brainer for our top LSAT pick.
When most people think of LSAT prep (or any test prep for that matter), they very likely think of Kaplan. Kaplan is generally the industry standard for test prep and the popular pick among students.
And this is for good reason. Kaplan is backed by an army of LSAT experts and near limitless resources, which is all clearly reflected in their LSAT prep course.
One Kaplan’s video lectures
With the Kaplan course you will get countless hours of video lessons, practice questions with explanations, drills, practice tests, prep book study material and more.
If you worked every single piece of study material they gave you, you’d look like Rip Van Winkle by the time you were done. Well, maybe not, but you know what I mean. There are just a ton of resources here.
And it is not just study material for the sake of material – the Kaplan coursework is of top tier quality and design. For students seeking a conservative choice with surefire results, Kaplan is a great selection.
But among all of the reasons why we like Kaplan, it is their live classes that really stand out.
Engaging & Effective Live Classes
Kaplan has done a great job designing their live class curriculum and lesson plans. Most Kaplan instructors have been with the company for 10+ years, so they know the Kaplan LSAT strategies like the back of their hand. They’re great at communicating some of the tougher concepts.
Plus, with a company like Kaplan, they have great online classroom tech, and the classes sizes are pretty small—usually less than 10 students in our experience. It’s not like some huge lecture hall.
Kaplan LSAT live session
Basically, given the value price point of their live class package and the quality of instruction and lesson plans, if you think that live classes will be a central component of your study plan, I would go with Kaplan.
Tried & Tested LSAT Prep
Kaplan has been doing test prep for a long time—since 1938 in fact. That is kind of crazy to think about. They were teaching exam prep while your great-grandpa was fighting in WWII. The point I am making is that their prep materials have been tried and tested, and keep on working. Every year they produce hundreds of 170+ scorers.
Unlike some new players to the LSAT test prep space with fresh approaches for teaching LSAT concepts, Kaplan takes the traditional approach.
You are going to get a top-drawer instructor, along with a ton of study material specifically designed to break down and convey even the most complex LSAT subjects in an easily understandable fashion. The Kaplan course might be a touch old school, but it is sure effective.
Abundance of LSAT Resources
When looking for the best LSAT prep course, many student focus on how much they are getting in the way of study material. Well if that was the only qualifier, Kaplan would win this contest by a mile.
A sample LSAT practice question from Kaplan
They give you stacks on stacks on stacks of work to do—in the best of ways. There are hundreds of hours of video lessons, thousands of practice problems, drills, prep book material, explanations, and more.
Not that other test prep companies don’t also give you these things. But the sheer quantity of Kaplan’s resources is staggering. It’s truly nice knowing you’re not going to run out of material, especially when you have months to prepare.
There is a reason so many students turn to Princeton Review for their LSAT prep. For those students that prefer live classes with an instructor, a hardcopy lesson book to follow along in and take notes, and group engagement, it is hard to beat Princeton.
The Princeton Review LSAT course has a nice structure
Their lesson quality and structure are top-notch, and their classroom instructors are some of the best. Not only that, they offer a ton of excellent resources on their online platform, including thousands of practice problems, hundreds of hours of video lectures and great problem explanations.
Track Record of Success
Princeton Review has perhaps one of the longest track records of success in preparing students for the LSAT (like Kaplan). They’ve been at it since the 1980’s and have decades of experience and expertise baked into their course lessons.
Princeton Review LSAT practice drill
This makes Princeton Review one of the safest choices around—you know that the material you’re getting is going to comprehensively cover every aspect of the LSAT and any little twist or turn that it may present. This is also why they have a money back guarantee if your score does not improve with their course.
Great LSAT Instructors
A great instructor can make or break your prep course experience. Get a good one and you can get a nice little score boost through their tips and encouragement; get bad one and, well, you get the picture.
Princeton Review LSAT score report
Fortunately, the Princeton Review LSAT instructors are some of the best of the best. Most have scored in the 98th percentile or better on the LSAT themselves and know the LSAT inside and out.
Combine this with some super strong communication skills and a passion for their students and the subject matter, and you’ve got a recipe for success. Not only that, your Princeton Review class instructor will be accessible to you by phone or email outside of class, a feature which we tested and found to be effective and beneficial.
When you think of Magoosh, you probably tend to think of affordability (i.e., it’s cheap). But what should come to mind is a great prep course for a great value.
Magoosh doesn’t have the same level of resources as some of the big boys, like Kaplan and Blueprint, but still manages to deliver everything you need to properly prep for a fraction of the price.
Magoosh LSAT video lecture
Their curriculum structure is a little unconventional, but nonetheless effective, and you get access to a library of excellent core lesson videos. And the highlight of their coursework is the practice problem section, which offers video explanations, written explanations and a cool notes feature following every practice problem you work.
Great Bang For Your Buck
Magoosh’s value is undeniable. For roughly one-fourth of the cost of some traditional courses, you get most of the same materials.
You get access to 7,000+ real LSAT questions, many of which come with nice video explanations, 80+ full-length official LSATs, and some great video lessons.
True, they don’t have a robust lesson plan or hardcopy prep books like others, but for a fraction of the cost, you can’t really complain. Their materials, while lighter, are still top-notch.
Magoosh LSAT problem explanation
Easy-To-Use Digital Platform
Another great feature of the Magoosh course that doesn’t get much fanfare is their intuitive and easy-to-use digital platform. The dashboard is clean, simple and directs you straight to where you want to go. No getting lost down a maze of problem explanations within a drill within a unit like some other courses.
Within seconds of logging in, you can jump straight a quick practice problem session or review your overall performance. And you get all of that with a fresh and modern look. We love their user experience and interface, especially for the price point.
The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is the standardized exam taken as part of the law school admission process in the United States. The test is administered by the Law School Admission Council, or LSAC, and is the main entrance exam for admission purposes. Historically, it was the only exam accepted by ABA-accredited law schools; however, some schools now also accept the GRE.
The exam is specifically designed to test a range of skills which a prospective student will need to be successful in law school, including critical reading, logical reasoning, and persuasive writing.
Some law schools do not require the LSAT for admission; however, students are strongly encouraged to take the LSAT, as it can bolster law admission chances in those cases where not required and can assist the test taker in determining if law school is right for them.
What Kind Of Test Is The LSAT?
The LSAT is a digitally administered exam comprised of two parts. The first (and most important) part of the exam is a multiple-choice test and the second portion is a written essay.
The multiple-choice portion of the exam consists of consists of four separate, 35-minute sections. Though there are four individual sections, only three of those sections will be counted towards an individual’s score.
The one unscored section is used to evaluate future exam questions, and the test taker will not know which of the four sections does not count until the test taker gets their score report following the exam. The scored multiple-choice sections consist of one reading comprehension section, and two logical reasoning sections.
There is also a 10-minute intermission between the second and third sections of the test. The exam takes roughly 3 hours for standard test takers. The written portion of the exam consists of a 35-minute, unscored written essay.
The written essay portion presents the test taker with an issue requiring the individual to take one of two positions. The test taker must make clear which course of action they would follow and defend their choice through well-reasoned argument.
There is no “right” or “wrong” answer to the prompt. The essay allows the individual to demonstrate their argumentative writing skills through reason and logically setting out the pros and cons of each position.
Though not scored, this written portion allows law schools to evaluate the candidate’s reasoning, organization, language selection, and writing mechanics. Copies of the essay are sent to all schools to which the test taker applies as a sample of their writing ability, an integral component of law school.
Is The LSAT Taken In A Test Center?
Since summer 2023, test takers now have the choice of taking the LSAT at home with oversight by a remote proctor, or in person at a Prometric digital testing center.
How Is The LSAT Graded And Scaled?
The LSAT is scored based on the number of questions you answer correctly, otherwise known as your raw score. This raw score is converted to an LSAT score on a scale which ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.
All questions are weighted equally and you are not penalized for incorrect answers. So, the focus is on how many total questions are answered correctly, without regard to incorrect answers or particular questions. The average LSAT score is around 151, however, you will need a score north of 160 if you expect to get into one of the top 25 law schools.
Study Hacks For The LSAT
We recommend studying for several months leading up to the date of the actual exam. The LSAT is not the type of exam that you can cram for. Progress in preparing for the LSAT can be slow and the gains incremental, so it is imperative you leave yourself enough time for adequate preparation.
We recommend planning on setting aside 150-200 hours in total to make sure you’re ready for the exam.
It takes significant time to figure out how to properly draw deductions and assess written arguments. Here are our strategies to improve your LSAT score:
Take a practice exam. Start by taking a practice test under real conditions to get a feel for the LSAT. You will quickly see how difficult the questions are and how time matters. This will help you assess your early strengths and weaknesses.
Master the concepts. The LSAT turns on mastering concepts that are applied to the various question types across the exam. You will need to understand and reinforce the most important concepts, including identifying logical relationships, and analyzing arguments and the flaws therein. To do this you will very likely need a prep course – hence, the purpose of this post.
Lots and lots of practice questions. Making progress in LSAT preparation can be slow, but the key to those hard-earned gains will come through practice questions. Like most other things in life, practice makes perfect and repetition is at the heart of that practice. The more you see common concepts and themes, the faster and more accurately you will be able to answer questions.
Imitate actual LSAT test conditions. Practice questions alone won’t help you nail the LSAT. Timing is critical in the multiple-choice sections, so it will be key to practice taking a full LSAT exam under real test-like conditions. Only simulating the exam multiple times will help you truly prepare for the real thing.
Stay positive. The LSAT is a very difficult exam. Honestly, it can also be disheartening. Gains are hard to come by and a bad practice score can be discouraging. Stay positive! Keep a good attitude and know that your hard work and long hours will pay off in the end.
FAQ
Which LSAT prep course is best?
After reviewing over a dozen different prep courses, our team has concluded that Blueprint provides the best LSAT prep course. Their combination of engaging video lessons and excellent coursework earn them our top spot as the best LSAT course.
Are LSAT prep courses worth it?
Yes. While you could in theory get away without a prep course in studying for the LSAT, it would be inadvisable. LSAT prep courses, even the budget options, will give you lessons and practice problems that you need to effectively prepare.
What is the average LSAT score studying without a prep course?
Research suggests that the average LSAT score without using a LSAT prep course falls in the range of 152-156. In other words, test takers almost always perform better having taken a full LSAT prep course.
