Begin with the test maker's materials: LSAC offers free Official LSAT PrepTests through LawHub, and AAMC's free MCAT Practice Exam One has 230 questions. Add a paid course or question set only when it fills a clear gap in practice, explanations, structure or feedback, and check the access period before enrolling.
An LSAT or MCAT prep decision starts with the program you plan to apply to: law-school and medical-school admissions use different tests. Compare prep materials for the required exam, try the official practice that is available, then decide whether paid instruction adds enough structure or feedback to justify its cost.
Compare official prep routes
| Exam | Official practice to start with | What to check before adding a paid product |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT | Free Official LSAT PrepTests and test-interface practice through LawHub | Which tests and explanations are included, whether practice is timed, and how long access lasts |
| MCAT | AAMC’s free 230-question Practice Exam One and 230-question unscored sample test | Whether the product covers the skills you need, the question format, score feedback and subscription length |
LSAC recommends practicing with official LSAT tests in LawHub. It also lists prep companies licensed to use official LSAT content, while stating that it does not audit their performance. A license is useful content information, not a finding about a course’s teaching quality.
AAMC’s MCAT Official Prep Hub includes free materials and purchased products. Its free planning page describes Practice Exam One as using questions from previously administered MCAT exams and the unscored sample test as matching the real exam’s length and functions without a scaled score or percentile rank. Read the current product description before choosing a paid question pack or practice exam.
Decide whether paid support fits
First take the official practice that matches your exam and mark where you need help. Then compare a provider’s course outline, instructor access, practice questions, explanations, timed sessions, schedule and cancellation terms. A self-paced course, live class, tutor and official question set offer different kinds of support; choose by the gap you identified rather than by the number of included videos or tests.
Do not compare LSAT and MCAT scores or prep products as if they served the same admissions route. For another graduate admissions test comparison, see GRE vs GMAT. For general questions about choosing online instruction, see how to choose online tutoring. Browse test-prep guides.
Sources
Common questions
Are official LSAT practice tests free?
LSAC provides free Official LSAT PrepTests through LawHub. Additional libraries and course options have their own access terms.
Does AAMC offer free MCAT practice?
Yes. AAMC lists a free 230-question Practice Exam One and a 230-question unscored sample test in its MCAT Official Prep resources.
Should I buy an LSAT or MCAT prep course?
Try the official practice available for the exam you must take, then pay for structure or feedback only if the course's format, schedule and support fit your needs.
Does an LSAT content license prove that a prep course is effective?
No. LSAC says its licensee list identifies companies using official LSAT content but that it does not review or audit those companies' performance.