LSAT Clock Management

LSAT students—unlike NFL football teams—should always ignore the clock. The guys cover the following questions: 

• When should you guess? 
• When should you change your strategy? 
• How to ignore the clock? 
• Where do you go faster? 

Mastering LSAT timing can be a challenge for many test-takers. Adam, a listener of LSAT Demon Daily, reached out with questions that reflect common concerns about timing strategies. In this article, we’ll break down our approach to LSAT timing and provide strategies for improving accuracy and performance.

The Core Timing Philosophy

Adam raised concerns about LSAT Demon’s emphasis on solving one question at a time and ignoring the clock. While it may seem counterintuitive, this approach eliminates the distraction of time pressure and allows for a deeper focus on understanding each question. You only get paid for the questions you get right, so there’s no sense in rushing through questions unless you’re confident you’re getting them right. 

The best part of prioritizing accuracy is that it will also make you faster over time. Focusing on accuracy forces students to understand what they are reading, which is slower at first, but as you improve your reading skills, you’ll naturally speed up while retaining high accuracy. If you focus on speed, you won’t get faster or more accurate.

Addressing Timing Concerns 

Worrying about falling behind schedule is a common issue, but it often indicates a misunderstanding of priorities. The goal is not to complete the section but to solve as many questions as possible with high accuracy. Turning off the timer during practice can help shift the focus entirely to comprehension and reasoning.

Accuracy leads to efficiency. By deeply understanding each question, test-takers eventually develop the ability to recognize patterns and eliminate wrong answers more quickly. Rushing sacrifices this understanding and ultimately slows progress.

Value Accuracy Over Speed

High scorers often fall into the trap of focusing on finishing every question, especially when scoring close to perfect. However, prioritizing accuracy—even if it means leaving a few questions unanswered—often results in higher scores. Guessing at the end of the section often leads to a few lucky points without having to wrestle with the test’s hardest questions while allowing for an adequate amount of time on the easier ones. 

For example, someone scoring between 166 and 176, as Adam described, may feel tempted to push harder to finish all questions. Instead, the focus should remain on solving attempted questions with precision. Building this habit ensures long-term improvement and higher scores.

Timing Adjustments for Higher Scorers

The LSAT timing strategy does not change based on scoring levels. Even for those aiming for the 170s, the principle remains the same: solve each question carefully. Attempting to speed through the test often leads to errors, reducing overall performance.

At the highest levels, the challenge is resisting the temptation to rush. High scorers should double down on ensuring every answered question is correct, even if it means guessing on a few questions at the end. This disciplined approach separates elite performers from those who falter under time pressure.

Key Takeaways

1. Ignore the clock: Focus entirely on solving each question without the distraction of time limits.

2. Prioritize understanding: Accuracy on attempted questions is more valuable than attempting every question.

3. Practice with intent: Focus on accuracy during practice to build confidence and efficiency.

4. Resist rushing: Even for high scorers, the temptation to rush should be avoided to maintain high accuracy.

By implementing these strategies, test-takers can improve their performance and reduce the stress associated with LSAT timing. The key is to focus on building a strong foundation of understanding and letting the results follow naturally. You got this! Now go drill.