LSAT or the Law School Admission Test is an admission examination to get into many prestigious law schools in the US, Canada, Australia, India and several other countries. LSAT is conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) of the US.
If you want to get admission in law schools affiliated to the American Bar Association (ABA) and Canadian Common Law Schools, passing LSAT is a must.
The test was previously conducted four times a year — June, September/October, December and February. However, from 2018, LSAT is conducted six times a year — January, March, June, July, September and November.
HOW TO APPLY?
You can register for the exam by setting up an LSAC account at https://www.lsac.org/lsat. Your account will act as a gateway to the entire law school admission process and will enable you to purchase test preparation materials, register for law school forums, register for LSAT, receive LSAT score by email, use LSAC’s credential assembly service and apply online to law schools.
You will also be able to get information on financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study and loans from related links on the account.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
LSAC does not specify any eligibility criteria to write the exam. Students need to check for any specific criteria with their preferred law schools. There is no age limit to attend the exam.
LSAT EXAM PATTERN
LSAT, which lasts for 3 hours and 30 minutes, comprises multiple-choice questions.
| Section | Time Allowed | Number of Questions |
| Logical Reasoning -I | 35 min | 24-26 |
| Logical reasoning-II | 35 min | 24-26 |
| Logic Games (Analytical Reasoning) | 35 min | 22-24 |
| Reading Comprehension | 35 min | 26-28 |
| Experimental Section | 35 min | 22-28 |
| Writing Sample | 35 min | 1 Essay |
One section is experimental, which does not add to the overall score.
Logical Reasoning: The two sections, also known as “arguments” are designed to test a candidate’s ability to analyze arguments. Each Logical Reasoning Section begins with a small argument or a set of facts. You need to identify the underlying assumption, alternative conclusions, errors or logical omissions, arguments with parallel reasoning, or a statement that would strengthen/weaken the argument. The two Logical Reasoning sections account for 50% of the score.
Analytical Reasoning: This section is also known as “Logic Games”. The questions are in sets of single passages. They analyze the candidate’s ability to draw conclusions from the set of statements. The challenge you face is to analyze the range of possibilities embedded in a set of rules. This section is generally considered the toughest by the candidates appearing for LSAT exam and accounts for 23% of the score.
Reading Comprehension: This section which contributes 27% to the total score, has three long passages and one short passage. This is to test one’s ability to draw inferences, describe the structure and author’s main idea. The passages generally are on law, arts and humanities, physical and social sciences.
Writing Sample: Also known as “Essay Writing”, this section is the final section of the exam. The writing sample is presented in the form of a decision prompt, which provides you with a problem and two criteria for deciding. You must then write an essay arguing for one of the two options over the other. The writing sample is not scored. Instead, the essay is digitally imaged and sent to admission offices along with the LSAT score.
Variable Section: This is a wild card. It is used to test new questions for future exams. The performance of the examinee on this section is not part of the final score. But the catch is that the Candidates are told which section is experimental.
LSAT SCORE
LSAT’s score range is 120-180. Most law schools assign a weightage to your LSAT score along with your GPA. Generally, weightage assigned to LSAT score is greater or equal to 50%.
Multiple Scores: A candidate may take the test as many times as he/she wishes. Earlier, only three attempts were allowed in a period of two calendar years.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an integral part of law school admission in the United States, Canada, and a growing number of other countries.Some law schools will accept tests other than the LSAT for admission. However, students who want to maximize their chances for admission are advised to take the LSAT. It is the only test accepted by all ABA-accredited law schools, and it is the only test that helps the test taker to determine if law school is right for them.
