How to Know If Your Study Plan Is Actually Working

One of the sneakiest traps in LSAT prep is thinking that more studying automatically means more progress. You put in the hours, grind through practice tests, and cross your fingers that your score will catch up. But here’s the thing: time alone doesn’t guarantee improvement.

So how do you know if your study plan is actually moving the needle? Let’s break down the signs that your prep is working—and what to do if it’s not.

Myth: More Hours = More Progress

A lot of students measure success by the number of hours they log. “I studied for six hours today, so I must be improving.” But hours are just a surface metric. If those hours are filled with unfocused reading or random practice tests, you may actually be reinforcing bad habits instead of building new skills.

What matters isn’t the quantity of your study—it’s the quality.

Sign #1: You’re Seeing Consistent Score Movement

The most obvious signal your study plan is working is that your practice test scores are trending up. But don’t expect a perfect straight line.

Real improvement looks more like:

• Gradual increases over several weeks
• Occasional dips after trying new strategies
• Higher “floors” (even your low scores are creeping upward)

If your scores are stuck in the same 2–3 point range after a month, that’s a red flag that something needs to change.

Sign #2: You Understand Why You Got Questions Wrong

Here’s the difference between busy work and effective prep:

• Busy work = circling answers, checking the key, moving on.
• Effective prep = digging into every wrong answer to figure out why.

If you can clearly explain why the right answer is right and why each wrong answer is wrong, you’re building transferable skills. That’s how you know your study time is paying off.

Sign #3: Your Weaknesses Are Shrinking

Early in your prep, you’ll probably notice certain patterns: maybe main point questions in Reading Comp trip you up, or parallel reasoning questions in Logical Reasoning feel impossible.

A good study plan isn’t about ignoring those weaknesses—it’s about targeting them.

If you look back after two or three weeks and realize that those once-intimidating question types feel more manageable, you’re on the right track.

Sign #4: Your Endurance Is Growing

The LSAT isn’t just about logic—it’s about stamina. Four sections back-to-back is draining, and students who don’t train for endurance often fade halfway through.

One way to measure progress: do you still feel sharp on the last passage or question? If you can stay focused through the entire test without your accuracy plummeting, your prep is working.

Sign #5: You Can Teach It Back

One of the strongest markers of mastery is being able to explain concepts to someone else.

Try this: after reviewing a question, pretend you’re teaching it to a study partner. Can you explain the logic clearly, without looking at notes? If yes, that’s a clear sign the concept is sticking.

What If Your Study Plan Isn’t Working?

If you’re not seeing these signs, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’re doomed—it just means it’s time to adjust.

Here are some steps to reset:

1. Audit your time. How much of your study is spent on review vs. new material? (Hint: at least 50% should be review.)
2. Focus on one change at a time. Don’t overhaul everything at once—pick one weak area and target it for a week.
3. Shorten your sessions. If you’re constantly zoning out, trade marathon study days for shorter, high-focus blocks.
4. Track your trends. Keep a simple score log for practice sets and tests. Progress you can see on paper is easier to trust.
5. Get feedback. Sometimes it’s hard to see your blind spots—working with a tutor or study group can highlight what you’re missing.

Final Thought

Your study plan isn’t working if it just feels hard. The LSAT rewards smart strategy, not endless effort.

When your scores start climbing, your weak spots shrink, your focus lasts longer, and you can actually explain the test back to someone else—that’s when you know your prep is on track.

And remember: the best plan isn’t the one that looks perfect on paper. It’s the one that actually helps you grow, week after week.