Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Guide

The LSAT does not measure any specialized background knowledge; but rather the students’ ability to use reasoning, analytical, and logic skills. Through the LSAT, law schools aim to determine the students’ chances of success in law school.

Brief Summary of the LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test, known as an entrance exam, designed for law programs at the graduate level. Usually, law schools in the United States and Canada use the LSAT; however, the test is growing in popularity in other countries or universities worldwide. The first Law School Admission Test administration took place in 1948.

Its early history dates three years before its first administration, in 1945, when Frank H. Bowles (1907-1975), admissions director of Columbia Law School, suggested a set of criteria for admission to law schools. He proposed that the test should accurately predict law school performance. It should have easy-to-interpret scoring and assess students’ specific skills to succeed in legal studies.

Along with Frank H. Bowles, Willis Reese (Columbia professor) and Henry Chauncey (College Board president) also gave their contributions to the creation of the test and the format it has today. It was only during the 70s and 80s when the modern-day LSAT began to take shape. During that period, the Logical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning sections, as we know them today, first appeared in the LSAT.

LSAT Administration Period

The test’s administration period and how many times you can take it within the year/lifetime are limited. Specifically, the LSAC has announced that starting in September 2019, test-takers are only allowed to take the test the following specified number of times.

LSAT takers are allowed to take the test:

• Three times within a single testing year (the next testing cycle begins: August 2021 through the June 2022 test).
• Five times within five past testing years (including the current year).
• Seven times within a lifetime.

Keep in mind: The following LSAT-Flex tests do not count towards the above-mentioned limits:

• The May 2020 LSAT-Flex.
• The June 2020 LSAT-Flex.
• The July 2020 LSAT-Flex.
• The August 2020 LSAT-Flex.

Test beginning with the October 2020 administration will count towards the testing limits.

Again: The numerical limits do not apply to tests taken prior to September 2019 (which is when the LSAC announced the previously-mentioned limitations).

If you have already scored a perfect score of 180 (within the current and five past testing years), you will not be permitted to retake the LSAT.

LSAT Format and Question Types

The LSAT format is comprehensive and practical. The total duration of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), starting August 2021, is 2 hours and 55 minutes. There is a 10-minute break between the second and third sections. The LSAT contains four sections with multiple-choice questions, with 35 available minutes to complete each section. Overall, the LSAT provides sufficient time to complete all sections, which will then be evaluated (scored) by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Note: In May 2020, the LSAC have introduced an online, live remote-proctored version of the LSAT, known as LSAT-Flex. The online LSAT (LSAT-Flex) will continue through June 2022. This version of the LSAT used to contain only three sections, namely, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. However, since August 2021, the test includes four sections (not three), including the experimental (unscored) section. Find more information below:

The cost of the LSAT-Flex is the same as the standard LSAT. With the addition of the experimental section, it takes approximately 3 hours for standard test takers to accomplish the exam. Test takers may now take a 10-minute intermission (break) between the second and the third section. Back when the online LSAT only had three sections, test-takers were not allowed to take a break.

Below you will find the main differences and similarities between these two versions of the LSAT.

Analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension are the scored sections of the test; meanwhile, the last section, the writing sample, is unscored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). However, the writing sample will be seen by the law schools you apply to in the future, so schools might evaluate it although it is not scored. You must take the writing sample section of the test seriously and make sure you give the best you can.

The LSAT usually contains an additional section that is unscored by the LSAT. Students do not know which section is unscored (because it is a variable/experimental section). This unscored section is used to test new items and evaluate new test forms. Although this unscored section will not count towards your final score, the Law School Admission Council will use your response to define future scoring scales.

1. Analytical Reasoning (AR)

The LSAT comprises at least one scored section of Analytical Reasoning (AR) also known as Logic Games (LG). In this section, you will have to read passages that comprise approximately 130 words. The passages will describe specific scenarios which you should go through carefully. After reading the passage/scenario, you will be asked to answer some 5 to 7 questions regarding the scenario. In total, in the Analytical Reasoning section, you will have to read four different passages and then answer the subsequent questions.

The Analytical Reasoning section has approximately 23 multiple-choice questions related to the passages you will read. The topics and scenarios of the passages are general and not based on academic subjects. The questions ask students to use their reasoning skills when answering. Scenarios consist of two parts: different lists of items (person A, B, C, D, and E) or a list of conditions (person A is younger than person B). Answering these questions requires no prior academic knowledge but your reasoning skills.

The Analytical Reasoning section tests the following skills:

• The skill of determining the complete solution to a problem by analyzing relationships between people/objects in the scenario.
• The skill of reasoning using ‘if/then’ statements.
• The skill of reasoning using ‘what could/must be true’ in the given scenario.
• The skill of reasoning using ‘what could/must be true’ given certain facts, rules, hypothetical situations.
• The skill of recognizing the logical equivalence of two statements.

LSAT Analytical Reasoning Section sample questions.

2. Logical Reasoning (LR)

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) always has two scored Logical Reasoning (LR) sections. The LR sections require students to read a few short and argumentative passages, anywhere from 20-100 words and answer one question per passage. In total, one Logical Reasoning section has approximately 25 questions, which means around 50 questions in total for two LR sections. Test takers do not need any specialized background knowledge to answer these questions, and they cover a wide range of topics.

The LSAT’s Logical Reasoning section is designed to critically evaluate the students’ ability to analyze and examine arguments. Although only a few of the arguments presented in the section might have law as the subject, the arguments are taken from a wide range of sources and subject matters, including advertisements, everyday discourse, newspapers, or other non-law-related magazines. This section tests logical reasoning skills, especially those that are essential in legal reasoning.

The Logical Reasoning section tests the following skills:

• The skill of recognizing parts of an argument and their relationships
• The skill of recognizing similarities and differences.
• The skill of coming up with conclusions based on facts.
• The skill of recognizing misunderstandings/disagreements.
• The skill of detecting flaws and explanations.
• The skill of reasoning through analogies.

LSAT Logical Reasoning Section sample questions.

3. Reading Comprehension (RC)

The LSAT contains one scored Reading Comprehension section, with approximately 27 questions in total. This section contains four sets of reading questions, which follow a selection of reading material (up to 460 words per reading material). Each single reading material is followed by five to eight questions regarding the reading. One set of questions out of the total four contains two related shorter passages, which the LSAC calls Comparative Reading (CR).

Although the passages or pairs of passages will cover a wide range of topics, test takers will not need any specialized academic knowledge to answer the questions. The questions in the RC section of the test ask test-takers to read carefully and determine relationships between parts of the passage or draw conclusions and inferences regarding the passage. The passages are well-written, contain extensive vocabulary, and sometimes, multiple points of view.

The Reading Comprehension section tests the following skills:

• The skill of determining the main idea of the passage.
• The skill of determining the idea/information that is indirectly stated.
• The skill of finding the meaning of words according to the context.
• The skill of understanding the organization or structure of the text.
• The skill of recognizing the author’s attitude and tone of the passage.
• The skill of recognizing analogies and arguments in the passage.

LSAT Reading Comprehension Section sample questions.

4. Writing Sample

The LSAT writing sample is the last part of the Law School Admission Test. It occurs in addition to the five multiple-choice sections of the test.. The Writing Sample section of the test is not scored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC); however, it does get passed along to the law schools you apply to. The majority of law schools require applicants to have a writing sample in their file, and it is often an integral part of the admissions process, although not the main one.

Starting June 2019, the LSAT Writing Section is administered separately from the rest of the test, in a digital format. This allows candidates to take the Writing Sample section of the test at their own convenience, from the comfort of their home, as early as eight days before their LSAT multiple-choice administration. LSAT Writing, which is the name of the digitally-administered writing sample, will be administered by the LSAC through an online proctoring software on the candidate’s computer.

The LSAC does not give you a score on your Writing Sample section of the test. Your writing sample should be in response to a prompt. Usually, the prompt will provide two different alternatives, in which you should write a short essay where you argue for one of the alternatives over the other. Test takers will have 35 minutes to complete the essay, which is usually sufficient to make your point and show your writing skills.

Law schools do not usually prioritize the Writing Sample of the LSAT during the process of admission. In fact, some schools might not even consider it. But, it is impossible to know whether or not your school will evaluate your Writing Sample. Often, law schools prioritize your LSAT scores, GPA, and Personal Statement (which should be well written and structured). The LSAT Writing Sample will help law schools confirm the originality of your Personal Statement.

LSAT Writing Sample example

5. Experimental Section

The experimental section of the LSAT is an additional (unscored) multiple-choice section. Test-takers are not aware which the experimental section is because it blends, quite well, with the rest of the test. The experimental section can either be an extra Analytical Reasoning section, Logical Reasoning section, or Reading Comprehension section. In the LSAT, there will always be one AR section, one RC section, and two LR sections.

If you see two Reading Comprehension sections on the LSAT, you should know that one of them was the experimental section. Similarly, when you see three Logical Reasoning sections in the test, one of them is definitely the experimental section. The experimental section of the LSAT is unscored by the LSAC and its only purpose is to pretest new test questions and forms that might appear in future LSAT administrations.

Which Countries Use LSAT?

The LSAT is a crucial part of the law school admission process in the United States and Canada. It is in the process of gaining popularity in numerous other countries. The LSAT is the only test accepted by all schools accredited by the ABA (American Bar Association). This test examines the students’ skills to succeed during law school.

The Law School Admission Test examines skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, and writing. Although some law schools might accept tests other than the LSAT, a stellar score on the LSAT maximizes admission chances. It shows the admission committee that you have great potential and chances of success during law studies.

Which Countries Administer LSAT?

Some countries administer the LSAT digitally, and others administer it in a paper-and-pencil format. The former include Canada, Puerto Rico, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands.

On the other hand, countries that administer the LSAT on a paper-and-pencil format include:

How Much Does LSAT Cost?

Students have to pay $200 to take the LSAT. The subscription to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), a requirement for the application process in many law schools, costs $195. Both the payment for the LSAT and CAS include a free score report. Any additional score report will cost $45 for test-takers who sign up prior to the first day of testing. For those who sign up during a specified period after the test administration, the score preview cost will be $75.

Are LSAT Fees Refundable?

The LSAT fees are only partially refundable because processing costs are incurred in the process of registration, whether or not you take the test. The request for an LSAT registration refund is only available up until a specific deadline (e.g., if you withdraw your LSAT registration the night before the test, you will not receive a refund), and you will be required to pay the full fee if you register for another LSAT administration.

Can You Guess on LSAT?

There is no penalty for guessing on the LSAT, and guessing does not hurt your score if you originally planned to leave a question blank. In fact, many suggest that you do not leave a question blank and, instead, guess the ones you do not know the answer to. Instead of guessing from five available options, a random tip would be to eliminate at least two or three and guess from a lesser number of options to increase your chances of a right guess.

When is LSAT Administered?

Currently, the LSAT is administered seven times per year. Before, the LSAT was administered four times annually, in February, June, October, and December. In 2019, the LSAT was administered seven times per year, specifically in January, March, June, July, September, October, and November. Meanwhile, in 2020, there were 8 LSAT administered tests in January, February, May, June, July, late August, October, and November.

How to Register for LSAT?

The LSAT registration should be done either by phone (calling the LSAC during business hours) or, more commonly, online by creating an LSAC account. The online registration requires you to indicate an LSAT date and testing location. Although the LSAT registration procedure opens way earlier than testing dates, the registration deadline is usually 5-6 weeks before your chosen test date.

Students in the United States who want to take the LSAT should also register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) because most law schools require students to apply through this service. CAS includes transcript summarization, letter of recommendation processing, law school reports, and electronic law school application processing.

What is the LSAT Score Range?

The LSAT score ranges from 120 to 180, with the former being the lowest score and 180 being the highest score possible. The score range is based on the questions you have answered correctly on the test, and there is no deduction for any incorrect answers. Each question has the same weight on the score range, and it does not matter which specific question you have answered correctly because they all hold the same value.

What is a Good LSAT Score?

A ‘good LSAT score’ depends on the law schools you plan on applying to. Top-tier law schools usually require some of the highest scores as part of their requirements. From a score range of 120-180, a 160 and above score is typically considered a ‘good LSAT score.’ A 160 score, however, might not be sufficient for admission to top-tier law schools, but many renowned law schools might accept this score.

Generally, scoring 170 and above is also considered a good score that might or might not grant you admission to top law schools when matched with other parts of your application. Top law schools, like Harvard and Yale, usually do not accept applicants with LSAT scores below 172. So, a good score more often than not depends on the schools you aspire to attend.

How Long is the LSAT?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is 3 hours and 30 minutes long, including break time (a 10-15 minute break after the 3rd section). The LSAT consists of 5 multiple-choice sections, and a writing sample. Each section should be completed within 35 minutes, including the writing sample. You cannot go on to the next section or look back at the past sections if you finish one section earlier than 35 minutes.

From June 2019, the day of administration has become shorter for LSAT candidates. This is due to the fact that the Writing Sample section of the test is administered separately from the rest of the test, in a digital format. Without the Writing Sample section, the actual testing time for the multiple-choice sections of the LSAT is 2 hours and 55 minutes. Although now administered in a digital format (and separately), candidates still have 35 minutes to write the essay.

How Long are LSAT Scores Valid?

Your LSAT score is valid for five testing years after your testing year. Starting from the 2021-2022 testing year, the LSAT testing years include the period between July-June. This means that the June 2021 LSAT is included in the 2020-2021 testing year. If you want to apply to law school in 2021, you can use the test scores you earned up to five years prior, in 2015.

Can I Change My LSAT Test Date?

You can change your LSAT test date through your LSAC account if your administration’s test date change deadline has not passed. To change the test date, you should pay an administrative fee of $125 if you change the date less than two weeks before the administration begins.

What Is LSAT-Flex?

The LSAT-Flex is an “online, live remote-proctored” version of the LSAT, created in May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The LSAT-Flex has three sections (Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension) using the same question types as the traditional LSAT. Through LSAT-Flex, students were able to complete the test and proceed with their law school aspirations, although in a remote environment.

The Writing Section of the LSAT-Flex is available separately from the multiple choice sections. Even after the traditional LSAT proceeds, when health and safety conditions allow, the LSAC plans to offer the online testing method at least through June 2022.

Tips for LSAT Success

An excellent score on the LSAT will improve your chances of gaining admission to world-class law schools. The LSAT, unlike other standardized tests, does not test any type of specialized academic knowledge. In fact, it tests your ability to rationalize and use logic. The LSAT measures how well you are likely to excel in law school through its question types and format. With this in mind, take a look at the four tips for LSAT success below.

1. Start Early

Many potential LSAT test-takers wonder how long it is appropriate to study for the LSAT. Generally, the appropriate amount of time suitable for LSAT prep is two to three months or around 20-25 hours per week for three months. This preparation period includes everything from private practice to classes and private tutoring. The answer to how long one should study for the LSAT is not definitive, but you should start as early as possible.

2. Go Through Sample Tests

Practice tests are a great way to practice for the test and familiarize yourself with the test format. There is plenty of LSAT prep material available for purchase, and the LSAC official website lists a wide range of sample questions with explanations for potential test-takers. It would be great if you could practice a new section of the test each day and decide which ones you are having trouble with.

3. Practice

Practicing is essential. Although the recommended time to study for the LSAT is somewhere around two to three months, there is no harm in practicing for longer periods of time. Spend some time practicing under the same conditions of the test by taking an entire test under time constraints. You should have plenty of time to practice each section individually and then practice the test as a whole.

4. Stay Calm and Rested

Make sure you are calm and rested on test day and during the test. The LSAT tests your ability to use logic, reasoning, and analytical thinking. This is why you should be calm, rested, and relaxed during the test. It is an entirely skill-based test that requires great practice. You should go through each section carefully and analyze each detail. You should be able to make quick (and correct) decisions, for which you need a clear mind.

Three months is the appropriate amount of time you need to fully prepare for the LSAT—however, the more practice, the better. Below, find a sample study plan you can use to prepare for your LSAT in a matter of three months. Time is of the essence!

Keep in mind: The LSAT study plan week begins Monday and ends Saturday. Use Sundays to take a break and recharge for the upcoming week. We will use the following abbreviations throughout the study plan: Analytical Reasoning (AR), Logical Reasoning (LR), Reading Comprehension (RC).

Article Updated: May 14, 2021