Effective time management typically breaks down as: 3-4 minutes for reading and planning, 20-25 minutes for writing, and 5-7 minutes for review. The key is spending enough time upfront to organize your argument clearly rather than rushing into writing. Many students struggle with pacing, so practicing with timed essays helps you develop a rhythm that works for your writing speed and thinking process.

Students often rush into writing without a clear outline, resulting in disorganized arguments that lack coherence. Others spend too much time on the essay itself, leaving minimal time for review and polishing. A third common issue is failing to directly address both sides of the prompt—law schools want to see that you understand the constraints and can make a reasoned choice. Working with a tutor helps you identify your specific patterns and develop strategies to avoid these pitfalls.

While the essay isn't scored numerically, focused tutoring can dramatically strengthen the quality of your written argument, organization, and clarity—factors that admissions committees notice. Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of consistent practice with feedback, particularly when they work on identifying their personal writing weaknesses and learning targeted strategies. The improvement depends on your starting point and how actively you apply feedback to practice essays.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in LSAT preparation, including the essay section. When you reach out, you can specify your focus areas—whether that's argument construction, time management, or overall writing clarity—and get matched with a tutor whose expertise aligns with your needs. Many tutors offer flexible scheduling to fit around your study plan and test timeline.

Effective practice combines timed writing (to build speed and confidence) with detailed feedback on your arguments' logic and clarity. Start with untimed essays to focus on argument quality, then gradually add time constraints. Review actual LSAT prompts and compare your responses to sample essays, noting how stronger essays structure their reasoning. A tutor can provide personalized feedback on your essays that identifies patterns in your thinking and writing that you might miss on your own.

Your primary focus should be the scored sections (Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Analytical Reasoning), as these determine your LSAT score. However, the essay is still important—admissions committees see it, and a well-written essay can reinforce your candidacy. Most students benefit from dedicating 10-15% of their study time to essay practice, particularly in the final weeks before test day, once they've built strength in the scored sections.

Essay anxiety often stems from uncertainty about what makes a "good" argument or fear of running out of time. Building confidence through repeated, timed practice with feedback helps—you'll see that you can generate solid arguments under pressure. Developing a consistent pre-writing routine (reading the prompt carefully, outlining your position, identifying key supporting points) gives you a predictable process to rely on. A tutor can also help you reframe the essay as an opportunity to demonstrate your reasoning skills rather than a high-stakes performance.