Most students see noticeable improvement in essay structure, argument clarity, and organization within 4-6 weeks of focused practice. The key is working through multiple practice essays with detailed feedback, identifying your specific weaknesses (like weak counterargument handling or unclear thesis statements), and applying targeted strategies. Consistent practice with expert guidance typically yields essays that are more persuasive and easier for law schools to evaluate.

Students commonly struggle with time management—fitting a complete, well-reasoned argument into 35 minutes—and with clearly articulating why one position is stronger than the other. Many also underestimate the importance of addressing counterarguments, which law schools view as evidence of sophisticated thinking. Additionally, some students focus too much on perfect prose rather than logical clarity, which is what evaluators prioritize.

Tutoring typically starts with analyzing your practice essays to identify patterns in your reasoning, organization, and argumentation. You'll work through multiple timed essays, receive detailed feedback on each one, learn strategic approaches to structuring your argument quickly, and practice refining your process. Tutors help you develop a repeatable system so you can write stronger essays consistently under time pressure.

Most students benefit from completing 15-25 practice essays spread across their study timeline, with the final 5-10 done under strict timed conditions. This volume gives you enough repetition to internalize the format and refine your approach without burning out. Quality matters more than quantity—each essay should be reviewed carefully so you're learning from every attempt, not just going through the motions.

Since the Essay Section isn't scored, most students prioritize the logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and analytical reasoning sections first. However, don't neglect essays entirely—law schools do read them, and a poorly written essay can raise concerns about your communication skills. A balanced approach is spending 70-80% of your time on scored sections while dedicating 20-30% to developing a solid essay strategy.

Varsity Tutors connects you with experienced tutors who specialize in LSAT preparation and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your writing strengths and weaknesses. When you get matched with a tutor, you'll work through practice essays together, receive targeted feedback, and develop strategies specific to your needs—whether that's improving argument structure, managing time, or strengthening counterargument analysis.

Confidence comes from repetition and seeing measurable improvement in your essays. Working with a tutor who tracks your progress—showing you how your thesis clarity, argument strength, and organization improve over time—builds real confidence. Additionally, practicing under timed conditions with feedback helps you internalize that you can produce a solid essay in 35 minutes, reducing anxiety on test day.