LSAT
Overview
The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is the primary standardized test for students applying to law school. It is conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which is the same organization that manages the submission of law school applications.
Upcoming LSAT dates and registration deadlines can be found here.
The LSAT contains three types of sections: logical reasoning, analytical reasoning (logic games), and reading comprehension. Each section lasts 35 minutes and contains roughly 23-27 multiple-choice questions.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LSAT switched to a virtually-proctored LSAT-Flex format in mid-2020. Future examinations will likely share similar qualities to the virtual version.
Resources
- Review the steps for registering for the LSAT
- LSAT score defines the range of schools for which you will be a competitive applicant, which expands or limits employment choices and salary possibilities
- Take a look at the Law School search by GPA and LSAT score to identify 4 or 5 of the law schools you would like to attend and understand the LSAT scores and GPA needed for those schools
- Take a free practice LSAT (e.g., LSAC; Kaplan; Blueprint;, et al.) to gauge your baseline score, where you need to focus study; and gaina metric for measuring improvement as you study
- Plan 3-4 months for studying; strive to study some portion of time (perhaps 1 or 2 hours) nearly every or most days
- Plan to take the LSAT once and early enough you have time to take it again before applying in case something goes amiss during the first testing
- It is common to study for and take the LSAT during the Spring of junior year and/or during the summer between your junior and senior year; this timeline is necessary if you are applying for law school immediately after graduation
- Take as many practice tests as you can
- LSAT scores are good for 5 years
- Fees associated with the test and law school reports
- Free, self-driven LSAT preparation tools include: Kahn Academy; Kaplan Free LSAT practice tests; Kaplan self-guided
- Instructor and fee-based LSAT preparation tools include: Powerscore; Kaplan; LSAC’s list of LSAT Content Licensees
LSAT Prep Database
Here is a compilation of reviews from alumni who have taken the LSAT on the prep resources they used: