The Power of Taking Breaks: Why We Enforce the 1.5-Hour Rule

There is a common myth in the pre-law world that the harder you "grind," the higher your score will go. Students often brag about four-hour study sessions and "No-Days-Off" streaks, thinking that brute force is the key to success. At JurisPrep, we take a different view. We believe the LSAT is an endurance sport for your brain, and just like an elite athlete, your performance depends entirely on your recovery. That is why we recommend a strict study schedule: five days a week, for no more than 90 minutes a day.

The reason for this "1.5-Hour Rule" is the law of diminishing returns. The LSAT isn't a test of memorization; it’s a test of high-level critical thinking and focus. After about 90 minutes of intense logical analysis, your brain begins to tire. You’ll start making silly mistakes—misreading a word or missing a negation—that you wouldn’t make if you were fresh. If you keep pushing past that point, you aren't actually getting better at the test; you’re just practicing bad habits.

We also insist that our clients take two (ideally consecutive) days off every week. This isn't just a suggestion for your mental health; it’s a strategic requirement for your score. You have friends, hobbies, and a life outside of law school applications. Engaging with those things gives your brain the reset it needs to return to the LSAT with clarity.

Think about it this way: if you go to the gym every day for the next three weeks and only do bicep curls for hours each day, your biceps are going to snap. The same is true with you brain. If you study for hours on end seven days a week, the test starts to feel like a burden, which leads to the kind of burnout that causes scores to plateau (at best), decrease (uh-oh), or the worst case scenario, you decide law school is no longer worth it and give up entirely.

A typical JurisPrep study week is designed for maximum efficiency and minimum burnout. Four of your study days should be spent on timed sections followed by a deep, thorough review of the questions you missed. The fifth day is reserved for a 1.5-hour LSAT Coaching session. By keeping these sessions short and high-intensity, you ensure that you are always training at your peak. You’ll find that you make more progress in one hour of focused work than you ever did in four hours of marathon studying.

Ultimately, the goal of LSAT prep is to reach your Scholarship Score™ without losing your mind in the process. By respecting your brain’s limits and prioritizing quality over quantity, you avoid the trap of "busy work" that plagues so many applicants. At JurisPrep, we don't just want you to work hard—we want you to work smart, so you can walk into the testing center feeling fresh, sharp, and ready to secure a full ride.