Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you practice, but most students see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation. If you're currently missing 5-7 games per section, targeted instruction on diagramming techniques and game type recognition can help you improve by 5-10 points on the LSAT scale. The key is identifying which game types trip you up most and building systematic strategies to solve them faster and more accurately.

The biggest mistakes are rushing through setup (creating unclear or incomplete diagrams), misinterpreting game rules, and not recognizing game type patterns. Many students also struggle with pacing—they spend too long on difficult games and run out of time for easier ones. Tutors help you develop a systematic approach to each game type, teach you to spot common rule structures, and show you how to manage time strategically so you can maximize points.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can diagnose exactly which game types and rule structures are slowing you down, then build a customized study plan around your weak spots. Rather than working through every game in a prep book, you'll focus on the patterns that actually appear on the LSAT and learn the diagramming shortcuts that save time. Tutors also help you build confidence by walking through games step-by-step until you can solve them independently.

Most students benefit from working through 50-100 games during preparation, focusing on accuracy first and speed second. A typical weekly schedule might include 2-3 tutoring sessions where you learn new strategies, plus 3-4 independent practice days where you apply those techniques to untimed games, then gradually add time pressure. Your tutor will help you track which game types need more work and adjust your practice schedule based on your progress.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared for specific game types or worrying about running out of time. Tutors help build confidence by ensuring you've seen and mastered every game type that appears on the LSAT, so you know exactly what to expect. They also teach you pacing strategies and mental techniques—like how to quickly identify when a game isn't working and move on rather than getting stuck—which reduces panic on test day.

The LSAT features four main game types: sequencing (ordering items), grouping (dividing items into categories), matching (connecting items across two groups), and hybrid games (combining elements of the above). Yes, you need to be comfortable with all of them, but they all use the same fundamental logical reasoning skills. Your tutor will teach you the specific diagramming method for each type and help you recognize game patterns quickly so you can apply the right strategy immediately.

Your first session is a diagnostic—your tutor will have you work through 1-2 games to identify which game types you find easiest and hardest, where your diagramming breaks down, and how time pressure affects your accuracy. From there, they'll explain your strengths, discuss realistic goals for your LSAT timeline, and map out a personalized study plan focused on the areas that will have the biggest impact on your score. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap and your first set of practice games to work on.