The LSAT

  1. Rationale: The LSAT is designed to measure the intellectual abilities and skills that are deemed essential to the successful study of law. Based upon validity studies, the LSAT is considered to be a fairly reliable predictor of first year grades in law school. The correlation between the LSAT score and first year grades is measured in terms of a coefficient between 1.00 (an exact correlation) and zero (no correlation other than pure coincidence). Based on validity studies among 171 law schools, the median coefficient was .42.  Although law school admissions officers acknowledge that the LSAT is far from a perfect predictor, none have been willing to forego the LSAT in favor of any other measure. The allegiance to the LSAT perhaps can be summed up in one phrase: It's not perfect, but it's the best we've got.
  2. Dates given: The LSAT is administered nine (9) times each year in digital format: January, February, March, April, June, July, September, October, and November. Depending upon the month, the test is administered on either Monday afternoon or Saturday morning. For those observing the Saturday Sabbath, alternate test dates are available. 
  3. Registering for the LSAT: You may register for the LSAT (1) online through your LSAC.org account or (2) by telephoning LSAC at 215.968.1001. You also should register for the Credential Assembly Service at the same time. 
    • You must take the LSAT byno later than December of the year preceding the fall in which you wish to matriculate at a law school. For example, if you intend to begin law school in Fall 2020, you must take the LSAT by no later than November 2019. Although a few schools make an exception and accept scores from a later exam date, you should not rely upon this exception. Optimally, you should take the LSAT either in June or July after completing your junior year courses or September or October of your senior year. In either case, you should plan to submit your applications early in the fall of your senior year, preferably October or November.
  4. LSAT accommodations for students with disabilities: If you have a documented disability (as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act), and require accommodations to complete the LSAT, you MUST first register to complete the LSAT on a specific test date and submit a request for the accommodations by the registration deadline for that specific LSAT test date. Be sure to provide all of the requested documentation to LSAC. Requests for accommodations are reviewed by LSAC in the order in which they are received. Because of the large volume of requests received by LSAC, you should apply as early as possible before the designated test date deadline. By applying early, you will afford yourself ample time to respond to requests by LSAC for additional information, or to file a timely appeal with LSAC in the event of a denial or inadequate accommodations. All requests for reconsideration and supporting documentation must be received by the deadline for the specific LSAT test date for which you have registered. PLEASE, PLAN AHEAD!

  5. Form of the LSAT

Beginning September 2019, the LSAT will be administered in digital form via tablets that will be provided at the test center. The LSAT consists of five multiple-choice sections plus a thirty-minute writing sample. 

  1. The multiple-choice section of the test is comprised of the following:
    1. Reading comprehension (one section of approximately 26-28 questions)
    2. Analytical reasoning (sometimes referred to as "Logic games") (one section of approximately 24 questions)
    3. Logical thinking (2 sections of approximately 24-28 questions each)
    4. One unscored section (consisting of questions from one of the three types of questions listed above)
  1. Beginning June 2019, the writing sample is administered separately from the multiple choice section of the LSAT via a secure online testing platform. You can complete the writing sample on the day of your choosing from the date of your LSAT test and for up to one year thereafter. You will be afforded 35 minutes to complete the essay. The writing prompt presents a decision problem, and you are asked to choose between two positions or courses of action, and defend your choice. Your essay should reflect the logical development of your position. In addition, you should pay special attention to the mechanics of good writing – organization, clarity, grammar, and spelling. The writing sample is unscored; however, it is forwarded to the law schools with your LSAT score and may be considered in the admission decision.

F. Scoring

The multiple choice sections of the test are scored based upon the number of correct answers given. No penalty is assessed for guessing. Therefore, never leave an answer blank -- guess! The LSAT scale ranges from 120 (the lowest possible score) to 180 (the highest possible score). 

G. Repeated tests

Starting with the September 2019 test administration, test takers will be permitted to take the LSAT:

  • Three times in a single testing year (the testing year goes from June 1 to May 31).
  • 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.
  • This policy is forward-looking, not retroactive. Tests taken prior to September 2019 will not count against these numerical limits.

You should not approach the LSAT, however, with a view that you can "just take it again" if you're not satisfied with the score from your first effort. Why not? 

  1. Absent unusual circumstances (such as illness during the test), you should not assume that you would gain a dramatic increase in your score simply by repeating the LSAT. A research report sponsored by the LSAC determined that on the 120-180 LSAT score scale, second-time takers earned, on average, about 2.7 points higher than their first scores, and third-time takers earned only 1.5 points higher than their second scores. (See The Performance of Repeat Test Takers on the Law School Admission Test, Deborah L. Schnipke, Lisa Anthony, and Lynda M. Reese.)
  1. Law schools will be aware of each of your LSAT scores. LSAC automatically reports the results of all LSATs in your file, including cancellations and absences, since June 1, 2004. Law schools may be influenced by an LSAC-sponsored study which concluded that the average score better predicts first year law school grades than using either the highest or most recent score. See The Validity of Law School Admission Test Scores for Repeaters: A Replication, Susan P. Dalessandro and Lori D. McLeod.

    In short, you should be prepared to take the LSAT once and perform to the best of your ability

H.Test preparation

  1. You would be ill-advised to take the LSAT without adequate preparation. 
  1. The LSAT is unlike any other test you have taken and requires some time to acquaint yourself with the types of questions posed. Although you cannot "study" for the LSAT in the same way in which you study for college exams, you can develop a familiarity with the form of test questions and develop a strategy for responding to the questions. In any event, it is very unlikely that you will perform well if you walk in "cold." 
  1. The LSAC makes available study materials, including "past tests," that you can use to prepare for the LSAT. You can purchase a copy of these LSAT Prep Books and eBooks through several booksellers. In addition, LSAC has partnered with Khan Academy to provide FREE, personalized test prep, which is accessible through the LSAC’s website under the tab “The LSAT.” You should explore the LSAC’s webpage to determine which resources might work best for you.  
  1. A number of commercial courses also exist to help you prepare for the exam. The cost of these courses can be substantial. As an alternative, some of the local colleges offer "prep courses" that tend to be less expensive and less time-intensive that the commercial courses. You are NOT required to take an LSAT prep course! 
  1. The most important point to remember is that you take time to prepare for the LSAT, regardless of which method you choose. The golden rule when it comes to preparing for the LSAT is practice, practice, practice!  
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