The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test that is used to evaluate reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning skills for graduate law school admissions. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is responsible for administering the LSAT, which is available at test centers all around the world.
Contents
Why is the LSAT important?
For most law schools, the LSAT is an essential part of the application process for law school. LSAT results are used by law schools to assess candidates and compare them to other applicants. Having a high LSAT score can help you stand out from the competition and improve your chances of being admitted to the law school of your choice.
What is the LSAT format?
The LSAT is a computer-based test that takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The test consists of four sections:
- Analytical Reasoning (35 minutes): Solve 24 logic puzzles that test your ability to identify patterns, draw conclusions, and analyze arguments.
- Logical Reasoning (35 minutes): Solve 25 reading comprehension questions that test your ability to understand and analyze legal texts.
- Reading Comprehension (35 minutes): Solve 27 reading comprehension questions that test your ability to understand and analyze dense, complex passages.
- Writing Sample (35 minutes): Write a short essay analyzing and evaluating the rationale behind an example argument.
How Is The LSAT Scored?
The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 to 180, with a mean score of 150. Each section of the LSAT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with a total score range of 47 to 147. The writing sample is scored on a scale of 0 to 6, with a median score of 3.5.
2023/2024 LSAT Exam Date
Here are the key dates for the recent and upcoming LSAT administrations, all of which are listed in Eastern Time (ET). Please note that all receipt deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. ET.
U.S. / Canada
| Administration | Primary test dates | LSAT Writing opens | Registration deadline * | Scheduling opens ** | Score release | |
| October 2023 | 10/13/2023 10/14/2023 10/15/2023 10/16/2023 | 10/5/2023 | 8/31/2023 | 9/26/2023 | 11/1/2023 | |
| November 2023 | 11/8/2023 11/9/2023 11/10/2023 11/11/2023 | 10/31/2023 | 9/28/2023 | 10/24/2023 | 11/29/2023 | |
| January 2024 | 1/10/2024 1/11/2024 1/12/2024 1/13/2024 | 1/4/2024 | 11/30/2023 | TBD | 1/31/2024 | |
| February 2024 | 2/8/2024 2/9/2024 | 2/1/2024 | 12/26/2023 | TBD | 2/28/2024 | |
| April 2024 | 4/10/2024 4/11/2024 4/12/2024 | 4/4/2024 | 2/29/2024 | TBD | 5/1/2024 | |
| June 2024 | 6/5/2024 6/6/2024 6/7/2024 6/8/2024 | 5/30/2024 | 4/23/2024 | TBD | 6/26/2024 |
International
| Administration | Primary test dates | LSAT Writing opens | Registration deadline * | Scheduling opens ** | Score release | |
| October 2023 (international) | 10/14/2023 | 10/5/2023 | 8/31/2023 | 9/27/2023 | 11/1/2023 | |
| January 2024 (international) | 1/13/2024 | 1/4/2024 | 11/30/2023 | TBD | 1/31/2024 | |
| April 2024 (international) | TBD | 4/4/2024 | 2/29/2024 | TBD | 5/1/2024 | |
| June 2024 (international) | 6/8/2024 | 5/30/2024 | 4/23/2024 | TBD | 6/26/2024 |
How To Prepare For The LSAT
There are many different ways to prepare for the LSAT. You can study independently, take an LSAT prep course, or hire a private LSAT tutor. No matter how you choose to prepare, it is important to start early and develop a study plan that works for you.
Here are some tips for preparing for the LSAT:
- Familiarize yourself with the test format and content. Along with practice exams and sample questions, the LSAC website offers an extensive amount of information regarding the LSAT.
- Determine the things that you are good and poor at. To find the areas in which you need to improve, take a practice LSAT test.
- Create a study schedule. Make a timetable that will enable you to regularly study for the LSAT. To stay motivated, make sure to include breaks and rewards.
- Make use of top-notch LSAT study resources. Numerous LSAT preparation books and internet resources are accessible. Select readings that correspond with the structure and subject matter of the current LSAT exam.
- Practice often. You will be more prepared for the test the more you practice.
How To Register For The LSAT
You can register over the phone or online for the LSAT. The LSAT is available all year round at test centers across the globe.
When Should You Take The LSAT?
If you intend to apply to law school, you should take the LSAT at least three months in advance. This will allow you to retake the test if necessary.
Latest News
The notoriously challenging “logic games” section of the Law School Admissions Test will not be present in the upcoming version. There are numerous questions in this section that look like this:
According to Reuters:
The elimination of logic games comes after the LSAC [Law School Admissions Council] entered into a 2019 settlement with two blind LSAT takers who claimed the logic games violated the Americans With Disabilities Act because they could not draw the diagrams often used to complete that portion of the test. The council had four years to replace the logic games with a new analytical reasoning section under the settlement. Because the analytical and logical reasoning sections test the same skills, it made sense to drop analytical reasoning altogether, council president Kellye Testy said in an interview Wednesday.
A review of over 218,000 tests revealed that the addition of a new analytical reasoning section in place of the games section “had virtually no impact on overall scoring.” Sometimes, prospective law students are encouraged to study philosophy since philosophy majors typically score highly on the LSAT.
…despite the standard “correlation ≠ causation” disclaimers (though do see this). It remains to be seen if the removal of the logic games part will have an impact on philosophy majors’ exam scores.
As already said earlier, for most law schools, the LSAT is an essential part of the application process for law school. You can improve your chances of being admitted into the law school of your choice by planning ahead and taking the LSAT early.
