I am often asked if it is worthwhile for prospective law students to invest in Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) Prep. In the past, my answer has often been a ‘soft yes’ because the answer is dependent upon the individual’s study habits, time constraints and most notably their financial situation. I’ve been reluctant to be 'all in' on a test prep recommendation, knowing that for many aspiring law students the financial constraints of commercial prep services are prohibitive.

But I also know that the LSAT is a high stakes standardized test – and applicants should do anything and everything they can to position themselves to have as many law school choices as possible. I am so pleased to finally be able to give a ‘hard yes’ to the question, now that there is free, flexible, fully online LSAT prep. 

On June 1, 2018 Khan Academy, in partnership with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), launched a free LSAT Prep program that provides personalized study plans with official practice questions from the LSAC. This is the first free and official test prep program for the LSAT and the only LSAC-partnered test prep service available. 

Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep diagnoses each student's strengths and weaknesses. The program guides students through lessons and practice questions at just the right level for them. Videos, articles, and explanations cover every concept on the LSAT and, as weaknesses turn into strengths, students track their progress toward their goal. This individualized approach coupled with the experience and reputation of the Khan Academy sets this Test Prep apart from all others.

Last year, more than 100,000 prospective law school students took the LSAT. Many students can’t afford to pay for commercial test prep, which can cost hundreds of dollars to more than $2,000 for various LSAT packages. Working through the Khan Academy program can diagnose problem areas, provide understanding of difficult concepts and equally importantly - boost confidence for test-takers. All of this is done in a self-paced environment which also provides valuable diagnostic feedback and educational resources. So – every aspiring law student can position themselves to be as successful as possible.

Should you be wondering how/why does the LSAT matter so much to your law school application, stay tuned for my next blog which will tackle that question. For now, I will simply say that it matters a great deal for your application to the vast majority of law schools. At this time, there is a clear uptick in interest in legal education (thus potentially making law school admissions more competitive), and the LSAT continues to be the only admission test accepted by all law schools.

One further note about Khan Academy. This marks the launch of Khan Academy’s second official test prep for critical standardized exams. In 2015, Khan Academy launched Official SAT Practice with the College Board. Nearly six million people have used Official SAT Practice, and research shows that practice on Khan Academy advances all students regardless of high school GPA, gender, race and ethnicity, and parental education level. “We’ve seen that free and personalized test prep that is widely available for everyone can have a profound and positive impact,” said Khan. “With the launch of Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep, we’re excited to help all aspiring law students pursue their dreams.”

So – should you invest in LSAT Prep? The answer is – Yes! Invest your time and your energy into the test prep program that fits your learning style and know that you are doing all you can to put forth the best application you can. 

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash