Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your current baseline score (or administer a diagnostic test if you haven't taken a practice test yet), discuss your target law schools and score goals, and identify which sections are causing the most difficulty. From there, you'll develop a personalized study plan that addresses your specific challenges, whether that's managing Logic Games timing, improving Reading Comprehension accuracy, or mastering Logical Reasoning question types.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges LSAT test-takers face, and tutors specialize in teaching strategies tailored to each section. For Logic Games, you'll learn how to quickly diagram games and identify which ones to skip. For Reading Comprehension, you'll develop efficient annotation techniques. For Logical Reasoning, you'll learn to spot question types and eliminate wrong answers faster. A tutor will have you practice these strategies on timed sections and real practice tests, building the speed and confidence you need on test day.

Most LSAT prep experts recommend taking 20-40 full-length practice tests before test day, spacing them throughout your study period to allow time for review and improvement between attempts. Your tutor will help you use these strategically—analyzing your performance on each test to identify patterns in your mistakes, adjusting your study focus, and building test-day stamina. Rather than just taking tests, the real value comes from thorough review with expert guidance on why you missed questions and how to avoid similar mistakes.

This is extremely common—many students excel at Logical Reasoning but struggle with Logic Games, or vice versa. Personalized tutoring lets you focus your time and energy on your specific weak areas rather than studying everything equally. A tutor can dedicate more sessions to your challenging sections, teach you alternative strategies if your current approach isn't working, and help you maintain your strong sections while you improve. This targeted approach is much more efficient than generic test prep.

Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about question formats, pacing pressure, or past disappointing performance—all things tutors directly address. By practicing extensively with real LSAT questions and full-length tests under timed conditions, you build genuine confidence in your abilities. Your tutor will also teach you mental strategies for managing anxiety on test day, help you develop a realistic sense of which questions are worth your time, and provide honest feedback on your progress so you know you're ready. Knowing you've prepared thoroughly with expert guidance is one of the best anxiety reducers.

Look for tutors with strong personal LSAT scores (typically 160+), law school experience, and a track record of helping students improve. Ideally, they should be familiar with the current LSAT format, have access to real practice tests for your sessions, and be able to explain their teaching approach clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your goals and learning style.

Most students benefit from 3-4 months of preparation, though timelines vary based on your starting score and target score. Meeting with a tutor 1-2 times per week is typical, giving you expert guidance while leaving time for independent practice between sessions. Your tutor will help you create a realistic study schedule that fits your life, gradually building from learning strategies and content review to full-length practice tests and refinement. The exact timeline depends on your goals and how much you can study independently.