Does Adderall Help Your LSAT Performance?

Introduction and Summary: Stimulants Caused A 9% Decrease In Cognitive Performance

Students sometimes believe that taking stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin (commonly prescribed for ADHD) improve cognitive performance on tasks such as the LSAT. A recent study corroborates other studies suggesting that the opposite is true for people who do not need the drug. Researchers concluded that there was about a 9% decrease in cognitive ability when comparing similar test subjects who (1) took Adderall, Provigal or Ritalin, and (2) took a placebo (with no stimulant).

Notable Findings From The Experiment for LSAT Prep Students

I found several aspects of this experiment particularly noteworthy for LSAT Prep students:

• The biggest issue was that the subjects taking the stimulants took far more time to complete the task than their placebo-taking counterparts.
• The time delays were caused by the manner in which the subjects taking the stimulants performed the tasks: it was more “random,” similar to trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle by throwing the pieces up in the air.
• Since a big challenge of the LSAT is finishing each section of the exam on time, the findings above are relevant.
• Of the three drugs administered, Ritalin caused the most significant time delay in cognitive performance.
• The stimulant drugs made people more motivated, but the benefits of that were canceled out by decreased performance.
• “Star” performers (i.e., people who normally would do really well) were the most adversely impacted – in other words, the better you naturally are at doing the LSAT, the more harm the drugs likely will have if they aren’t otherwise necessary for you.

You can read the full article here.

Implications of the Study

The results of this experiment and others like it don’t surprise me. While I haven’t done scientific research, my sense from my own experience and working with countless LSAT students tells me that the way to maximize your LSAT performance is to follow basic, common-sense guidelines including:

• Try to be well-rested. Sleep is very important and it’s value is often underrated.
• Eat sensibly – don’t take the exam when you are too full or extremely hungry (although I personally would much prefer being a little hungry than being too full).
• Keep yourself reasonably hydrated but not to the point where you feel like you need to go to the bathroom. (Caffeine is counterproductive for me – it makes me jittery – but you can evaluate that for yourself.)
• Avoid alcohol and/or any unnecessary stimulant or depressant drugs.
• Do whatever makes your mind naturally feel alert in terms of your eating, drinking and exercising.
• Prior to the exam, practice on LSAT problems extensively, eventually in timed conditions – don’t ever deceive yourself into thinking that there is a shortcut around the value of hard work and preparation if you want to maximize your LSAT score.
• Get expert instruction if you can, but don’t think that will replace the need for self-study. Good instruction is extremely helpful in making your self-study more effective and efficient, but it isn’t designed to replace it.