Planning on going to law school in the United States? Read on and learn everything you need to know about how to start the application process.
The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is a standardized exam administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) that is required to apply to most law school graduate programs in the United States.
This half-day standardized test is designed to assess reading comprehension and logical reasoning. English comprehension factors heavily into success on this important law school admissions test, so foreign students who are just starting to learn English should set aside extra prep time for language studies.
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January 2025 update
Along with an online version, the standard in-person test can be taken at a Prometric testing center. The cost is the same, regardless of format.
For both online and in-person tests, students have the option of choosing a time that works best for them from a list of preset options. The exam takes approximately three hours to complete.
Test-takers’ scores will be released on the specific date associated with their testing date. For more specifics, visit the LSAC website.
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What Is the LSAT?
This standardized law school admissions exam covers reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and argumentative writing. Most law schools in the US require students to take this test and achieve a minimum score in order to be admitted.
How Hard Is the LSAT?
This exam is challenging and requires extensive preparation and advanced study. Students are required to analyze and evaluate written material, which is particularly important for international students who do not speak English as their first language. Since getting into law school in the United States is quite competitive, your score is important to the law school admissions process.
What Is the Structure of the LSAT? How Is It Scored?
More specifically, how many sections does the exam have? How many questions are on it? How is each section scored?
The Law School Admission Test comprises two parts: the first has three 35-minute scored sections and one 35-minute unscored section of multiple-choice questions. The unscored section may cover reading comprehension or logical reasoning. The second consists of one 50-minute writing test which can be completed online at any time up to one year after your official test date.
Sections include:
The two logical reasoning sections have 24-26 questions each that involve dissecting and analyzing a short argument or set of facts to identify the main assumption, alternate conclusions, errors and omissions, similar arguments, and elements that strengthen or weaken the argument.
One 26-to 28-question reading comprehension section consisting of four 400–500-word passages with five to eight related questions each. Topics may include law, humanities, physical sciences, biological sciences, or social sciences, and require test takers to identify the main idea, specific information, inferences, and/or writing structure.
The variable section is where administrators test new questions for future exams, and the results are not factored into the final score. But remember, there is no way to tell which section is the variable while taking the test.
Finally, the argumentative writing exam is completed separately, on the test taker’s own computer, using a secure proctoring software. Test takers have a total of 50 minutes to complete this section where they can take 15 minutes to read the prompt and draft an outline, and 35 minutes to write an argumentative essay taking a position on the issue. The focus is on the writer’s ability to construct an argument and defend it based on their own judgment and analysis of the issue. This section is not scored, but a scan of the essay is sent along with the scaled numerical score to applicants’ prospective law schools.
How Long Is the LSAT? How Long Does It Take to Get Scores?
The test consists of four 35-minute sections in addition to a 10-minute interval — it takes about three hours to complete. Scores are typically received three to four weeks after the exam. You may need to have your writing sample on file to view your scores.
What Is a Good LSAT Score?
The raw scores from these sections are converted to a scaled score between 120 and 180, with a median score of around 150. Depending upon the competitiveness of the program, a score that is above average is desired.
Logistics
When Can I Register to Take the Test?
The exam is offered multiple times a year worldwide. You can find international test dates, designated testing centers, and register at lsac.org.
How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?
You can take the exam up to five times within the current reportable period and up to seven times in a lifetime. Tests taken before September 2019 do not count toward these totals. Additionally, tests from May to August 2020 do not count under these limitations. Keep in mind that canceled scores will count towards the limit, whereas absences and withdrawals will not. All scores from the past five years are reported, and either your highest score or an average of your scores will be used, depending on your potential law school’s policy.
How to Study for the LSAT
PrepTests are the Law School Admission Test’s official practice tests; these are a valuable resource for understanding the types of questions that can appear on the test. Other reputable study guide test prep materials are available from Kaplan and The Princeton Review.
Remember that test scores are only one part of the admissions process, so do your best — and good luck!
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