Taking an LSAT prep course online or in person might seem like an expensive option when compared to self-study through use of a book. However, with the possibility of scholarships and differing career potential when you graduate from higher ranked schools it is worth considering for some test takers.
Self-study books have the advantage of being very inexpensive. Also they are perfect for the task of conducting self-examinations. When you take a practice exam, you should mimic as closely as possible that actual testing conditions that you will be under on the exam itself. Doing so will give you an accurate assessment of how much studying you need to do and whether a course would be worth the investment. Time is a major factor on this exam for many students, so failing to take the exam under timed conditions would not be advisable. Another advantage to studying from a book is that it allows a student to focus on the sections of the test she has the most trouble with.
All of the questions on the LSAT are worth equal value, so a student that struggles with time might want to consider doing easier questions first. There is no penalty for wrong answers so a student should not leave any blanks but should rather fill in random letters if she runs out of time. The logic games section is most sensitive to the amount of time you spend studying. It is very important to go over the explanations for the questions that you get incorrect in practice tests so that you can learn the exam's tricks and not repeat your mistakes. Many people believe that the LSAT is similar to an IQ test that one does not benefit from studying for, but this is not the case as people can increase their scores. When compared with the magnitude of importance of any particular individual college entrance exam, the LSAT is much more important when you apply to law school.