LSAT
Administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a computer-based exam and is used for law school admissions. Many selective law schools weigh the LSAT heavily in their admissions processes. While some schools accept the GRE and GMAT in lieu of the LSAT, the LSAT is the only test accepted by all ABA-accredited law schools.
The LSAT is administered in two parts: (1) a multiple-choice exam on the computer, and (2) a writing exam using a secure proctoring software.
The exam is now offered either in-person at a testing center or remotely.
Timing:
The LSAT is offered either in-person at a testing center or administered digitally, with a live remote-proctor format. The exam is approximately 3 hours in length and consists of three multiple-choice sections: one Reading Comprehension section and two Logical Reasoning sections. The number of question per test and section varies, but students can expect roughly 100 questions per test. There is a ten-minute intermission between the second and third sections.
A complete breakdown of sections is below:
Multiple Choice:
| Section | Section Length | Content |
| Reading Comprehension | 35 minutes | Critical reading comprehension of dense passages |
| Logical Reasoning | Two 35-minute sections | Analyzing, evaluating, constructing and refuting arguments |
| Experimental (unscored/unidentified) | 35 minutes | Comprises of one of the above sections |
LSAT Writing:
The LSAT Writing test is a 35-minute essay prompt, administered on a student’s home computer using a secure proctoring software. This is not taken at the official test administration. Students are required to have at least one writing sample on file along with their LSAT scores.
Test Dates: The LSAT is offered in June, July, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April.
Please click here for the full list of test dates.
Students receive a score on the LSAT that is scaled from 120 to 180, based upon the multiple-choice test. All questions on the test sections are weighted exactly the same, and the score is reflective of the number of questions answered correctly. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. The writing test is unscored but included in the student’s score report for admission to Law School.
Score review & cancellation:
Students will receive scores by email approximately three weeks after each test date. Score release dates are posted on the LSAT website. For more information about the LSAT’s score band, which offers insight into a student’s proficiency in the skills tested on the LSAT, please click here.
Certain tests are “disclosed tests,” meaning the student will also receive a copy of the scored sections to review which questions they answered incorrectly.
Students are able to cancel their scores beginning the day of their test by logging into their LSAC account. This option is only available within six calendar days of the student’s test.
Many law schools require students to submit all received scores, but the highest scores is often given more weight. Please check each individual school website for more information.
LSAT Scores are valid for five years.
Starting with the August 2023 test administration, test takers will be permitted to take the LSAT:
- Five times within the current and five past testing years (the period in which LSAC reports scores to law schools).
- A total of seven times over a lifetime.
- Please note: With the introduction of the LSAT-Flex to provide a safe and effective mechanism for candidates to earn scores during the COVID-19 emergency, LSAC made the decision that the May, June, July, and August 2020 LSAT-Flex tests do not count toward these limits. Other tests taken prior to the August 2023 test administration will be counted against these limits. Please see all other the exceptions listed here.
Students may request accommodations after they have already registered for the LSAT exam. The LSAC will provide notice of accommodations in the candidates online account. If a student takes the LSAT more than once, most students are automatically approved to receive the same accommodations received previously, unless otherwise noted in this policy.
