Many students struggle with time management, spending too much time on planning and not enough on writing a complete response. Others fail to address both sides of the prompt thoroughly, which scorers expect to see. A frequent error is focusing on writing quality over substantive analysis—scorers prioritize how well you engage with the argument's reasoning over perfect grammar. Additionally, students often make assumptions about the prompt or take a unclear position, which weakens their essay's persuasiveness.

Most students benefit from 4-6 weeks of focused essay practice, though this depends on your baseline writing skills and available time. A typical preparation schedule includes studying the essay format and prompt types for 1-2 weeks, completing 10-15 practice essays over 3-4 weeks, and refining your approach based on feedback. If you're working with a tutor for students in San Francisco, they can create a personalized timeline based on your initial essays and identify whether you need more work on structure, argumentation, or time management.

You have 35 minutes to complete the LSAT Essay Section—enough time to write a solid response if you manage it carefully. Most successful test-takers spend 5 minutes reading and understanding the prompt, 2-3 minutes planning their response, 22-25 minutes writing, and 2-3 minutes reviewing. The key is resisting the urge to over-plan; a clear outline on paper takes just a few minutes and helps you write more efficiently. Practicing with a timer on full-length essays helps you internalize this pacing so it becomes automatic on test day.

An expert tutor can identify your specific weaknesses—whether that's developing clear arguments, analyzing both sides of a prompt, or managing time effectively. They provide detailed feedback on real practice essays, not just generic tips, helping you understand exactly what law school scorers are looking for. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you can work through challenging prompt types, practice time-management strategies, and build confidence through repeated, targeted practice. For students in San Francisco, connecting with a tutor familiar with LSAT requirements ensures you're getting strategy tailored to what actually works on test day.

Your main LSAT score—covering Logic Games, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning—should be your priority, as it typically accounts for most of what law schools consider. That said, a well-prepared essay can be a meaningful addition to your application. A practical approach is to first ensure your main LSAT score is as strong as possible through focused preparation, then dedicate 4-6 weeks to essay practice in the final month before your test date. This lets you maximize your impact across both components without spreading yourself too thin.

The LSAC (Law School Admission Council) provides official LSAT PrepPlus, which includes all released LSAT essays with scoring information and sample responses. This official material is essential because it reflects exactly what you'll see on test day. Many students also benefit from working through essays with feedback from a tutor, since self-scoring can be unreliable. Using a mix of independent practice with official prompts and guided feedback from someone experienced in LSAT evaluation gives you the best sense of your actual strengths and areas for improvement.