You can prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) with any combination of an LSAT prep course, video tutorials, a personal tutor, and studying with the best LSAT prep books. The best LSAT prep books include study guides, real test questions, and test-taking strategies that students need to get high LSAT scores.
With many LSAT prep books, it can be hard to choose the best book. Each book has its pros and cons, but any book you choose should include LSAT prep for the three test sections. This article contains a comprehensive review of the best LSAT prep books. It also features a list of some free LSAT prep books and online resources.
Should I Take the LSAT?
Yes, you should take the LSAT if you want to become a lawyer. Most law school requirements include the LSAT, and a good LSAT score is an important part of your law school application. According to the Law School Admission Council Test Taker Statistics, 170,385 people registered to take the LSAT in the 2020-2021 session.
Common LSAT Sections You Need to Prepare For
- Logical Reasoning. The logical reasoning section tests your ability to determine the key points and evaluate the logic of an argument from a passage. There are two logical reasoning sections with 24 to 26 logical reasoning questions in each section.
- Analytical Reasoning. This is also called the logic games section. You will have to apply logic to complex situations and demonstrate your understanding of the effect of rules on outcomes and relationships. It contains four logic games with four to seven multiple-choice questions each.
- Reading Comprehension. In this section, you’ll read four short passages and find the main ideas and important information. There are 27 multiple-choice questions in this passage.
- Experimental Section. The experimental section is where the LSAT test writers try out new sections for future tests. Also called the unscored session; the experimental session has no impact on your final LSAT score. It could be an extra section of logical reasoning, logic games, or reading comprehension.
- Writing Sample. This section gives you a chance to show off your writing skills. This section is not scored, but law schools read it as part of your overall application.
The 9 Best LSAT Prep Books to Help You Get Ready
1. The LSAT Trainer: A Remarkable Self-Study Guide For The Self-Driven Student, 2nd Edition
- Best for: First-time LSAT takers
The LSAT Trainer by Mike Kim is one of the best LSAT prep books for students who prefer to self-study. Compared to other prep books on this list, this book is shorter and straight to the point, making it more digestible and easier to read. It contains 200 official test questions with well-detailed explanations and 30 practice drills.
2. 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests, Volume VI
- Best for: Students who like to learn through practice tests
This is the official prep book developed by the Law School Admission Council. It contains questions and answers from ten recent LSAT exams. Inside you’ll find full-length practice tests with an answer key, writing samples, and score conversion tables. This book is the best way to get familiar with potential LSAT question types that you may face in the test.
3. Kaplan LSAT Prep Plus, 2020-2021
- Best for: First-time LSAT takers
Kaplan LSAT Prep Plus is a complete study guide to prepare for the exam. It has the best approaches and effective tips to answer the logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and logic games sections. This book includes access to online resources including instructor-led online workshops, tutorial videos, study plans, full-length practice tests, and data-driven learning strategies.
4. Princeton Review LSAT Premium Prep, 28th Edition
- Best for: Students who are struggling with the basics
The Princeton Review LSAT prep book contains extensive resources for each LSAT section. It gives in-depth explanations in a straightforward way that is easy for beginners to understand. Every chapter has short drills and a summary. Students can practice with step-by-step examples, more than 100 LSAT questions, and full-length practice tests.
5. Mometrix Test Preparation LSAT Prep Books
- Best for: Visual and auditory learners
The Mometrix Test Preparation is a comprehensive prep book that offers a detailed breakdown of LSAT principles and concepts. It equips students with in-depth strategies and actual problem-solving techniques to answer every section of the LSAT exam. It also features online resources with expert video instruction, making it a great prep book for visual and auditory learners.
6. Manhattan Prep LSAT Strategy Guides
- Best for: Students who want to build reading comprehension skills
Manhattan Prep’s LSAT Strategy Guide Set is a series of prep materials for each of the LSAT test sections. This LSAT prep option provides a complete breakdown of all the information that potential law school students need to pass the LSAT on their first attempt. It also comes with the LSAT navigator, an app for creating a prep plan with study schedules and monitoring your prep journey.
7. The PowerScore LSAT Bible Trilogy
- Best for: Students who have a long time before their test
The PowerScore LSAT Bible Trilogy is a combination of the three PowerScore books, one for each of the three LSAT sections. This book teaches the principles and concepts behind the LSAT exam. It includes practice questions with detailed answer explanations and complete practice tests. Students can also use the PowerScore self-study site and a free online LSAT prep guide.
8. The LSAT Tutor: LSAT Prep Books 2021-2022
- Best for: Beginners who just started preparation
This LSAT prep book starts with an overview of the LSAT exam, followed by in-depth explanations of the different sections of the LSAT. It includes drills, practice questions, and practice exams that students can use to test their preparedness for the exam. It includes tips to reduce exam anxiety and a glossary with important LSAT vocabulary.
9. Introducing the LSAT: The Fox Test Prep Quick & Dirty LSAT Primer
- Best for: Best for students with short study timelines
This LSAT prep book by Nathan Fox is a crash course on the LSAT curriculum that is a great option for students who don’t have a lot of time for preparation. In this book, Nathan Fox employs a conversational learning style to teach important LSAT-specific skills and the tips and tricks you will need to ace the exam. This concise prep book doesn’t have full-length tests, so you’ll need additional test prep books to round out your study plan.
Free LSAT Books and Resources to Help You Get Ready
- Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep
- Magoosh LSAT Study Guide
- Official LSAT Prep by the Law School Admission Council
- LSAT Full-length Test by Kaplan
- LSAT Practice Questions by Manhattan Review
Best LSAT Prep Books FAQ
The LSAT Trainer, Princeton Review, and PowerScore LSAT Bible Trilogy are some of the best LSAT prep books. They are comprehensive options with online extras that break down complex concepts. All the LSAT prep books in this guide can help you in your exam preparation, but you might need to supplement some with other study resources.
Yes, with an LSAT score of 160 you can get admitted into many law schools. However, you will need a baseline score of 170 or above to get admitted into a top 10 law school. The median LSAT score for the Harvard Law School class of 2024 was 174.
You will need at least 20 hours per week over a two to three-month period to effectively study for the LSAT. This will amount to about 150-300 hours of LSAT preparation. You can study using a combination of online practice tests, official questions, study books, video explanations, and prep courses.
Yes, you can self-study for the LSAT. Make yourself a study plan, get a solid book to study from, and practice taking full-length tests. Make sure you study different types of questions from official prep tests so you are prepared when you sit down to take the actual exam.
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