Many students struggle with time management—crafting a coherent argument in just 35 minutes requires disciplined planning and execution. Others find it difficult to analyze both positions fairly before choosing one, or they rush into writing without a clear structure. A third common challenge is balancing thoroughness with brevity; you need to make compelling arguments without rambling. Personalized instruction helps you identify which of these areas affects your writing most and develop targeted strategies to address them.

Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of focused essay practice alongside their broader LSAT prep, dedicating 2-3 sessions per week to essay-specific work. The timeline depends on your baseline writing skills and comfort with timed writing—some students need less time, while others benefit from extended practice. Working with a tutor helps you create a personalized study schedule that fits your timeline and ensures you're practicing efficiently rather than just accumulating practice essays.

Effective practice involves completing full 35-minute timed essays, then reviewing them with structured feedback on organization, argument clarity, and persuasiveness. Start by practicing without time constraints to build confidence, then gradually introduce time pressure. Reviewing actual LSAC essay prompts and comparing your responses to sample high-quality essays helps you calibrate your expectations. Tutors can provide detailed feedback on each essay and help you identify patterns in your writing that need improvement.

A strong essay typically opens with a clear thesis stating which position you support and why, followed by 2-3 well-developed paragraphs that support your choice using specific reasoning from the prompt. Each paragraph should address one main point with concrete examples, and you should briefly acknowledge the opposing view to show balanced thinking. Conclude by reinforcing your position. This structure keeps your argument organized and helps you stay focused under time pressure—critical for delivering a coherent essay in 35 minutes.

The Essay Section requires you to construct and defend your own argument over an extended response, while logical reasoning questions ask you to identify flaws in others' arguments or find the best conclusion from given premises. Essay writing emphasizes persuasion and organization, whereas logical reasoning tests your ability to analyze argument structure quickly. Both sections reward clear thinking, but essay prep focuses on planning, drafting, and revision under time constraints, while logical reasoning prep emphasizes pattern recognition and rapid evaluation.

Generic essay rubrics can't address your specific writing patterns—whether you tend to over-explain, rush your analysis, or struggle with clarity. Personalized feedback identifies exactly which aspects of your essays need work, from thesis strength to paragraph organization to argument persuasiveness. A tutor can also help you understand how law schools evaluate essays and what judges look for, allowing you to revise with purpose rather than guessing. This targeted approach typically leads to faster improvement than practicing essays alone.

Anxiety during timed writing often stems from uncertainty about what to do or fear of running out of time. Building confidence through repeated timed practice—where you successfully complete essays under pressure—is the most effective antidote. Developing a consistent pre-writing routine (e.g., spending 2 minutes analyzing both positions, 1 minute outlining) gives you a sense of control. Tutors can help you practice this routine until it becomes automatic, reducing anxiety and freeing mental energy for actual writing on test day.