For those who are preparing to take the LSAT, there are a number of LSAT prep courses available.
Popular LSAT Prep Courses
The two most popular, and probably the most expensive, providers of LSAT prep courses are
In addition, a few smaller companies have gained increased popularity and their rates are generally cheaper than the big two:
- Testmasters – Testmasters provides more live classroom instruction time than Kaplan or Princeton Review but does not have as many classroom locations as the other two. Testmasters also provides an intensive weekend course.
- LSAT Intensive Review – Like Testmasters intensive weekend course, LSAT Intensive Review provides a two-day intensive course.
- PowerScore – PowerScore offers an 80-hour course and a weekend course.
Which LSAT Prep Course Should You Take?
When considering which LSAT prep course is best, here are a few factors to consider.
- The LSAT prep courses are generally very similar, aside from the amount of time involved and the way you take the course.
- The LSAT prep courses are offered in different ways—in person, online, on a DVD, on a CD, in a book—so decide which is best for your style of learning.
- Some LSAT prep courses are short and some are long, so decide which works best for your schedule.
The number one benefit of taking an LSAT prep course is it forces you to study and prepare for the LSAT despite all the other parts of life that compete for your time. Many students who don’t take an LSAT prep course never get around to preparing for the LSAT. So unless you are a very disciplined individual, taking an LSAT prep course is essential to ensure you do the necessary test preparation. If you decide to prepare for the LSAT without taking a prep course, be sure to get an LSAT prep book.
The courses are constantly changing, so ask around and see what others are saying. Keep in mind that online reviews may be biased, because many times people are paid to write reviews online.
I took the Princeton Review course around 2002 to prepare for the LSAT. It was great. My only complaint was that it was a bit too theoretical. I heard from students in my Princeton Review course, who also had taken the Kaplan course, that the Kaplan course was more practical and useful. However, it has been about a decade since then, so the courses may have changed.
My recommendations are as follows:
First, buy the Kaplan LSAT book. It’s cheap and it gives you a preview of what you will need to learn for the LSAT. Many people simply use an LSAT prep book instead of an LSAT prep course.
Second, consider the amount of money you want to spend on an LSAT prep course, whether you want to take it in person, online, by CD/book/DVD, etc., and whether you want a long or short course. Then check out the companies listed above and find the LSAT prep course that matches your interests. Again, they are all good and people’s opinion of which is best varies.
