What is the LSAT?

The LSAT is an exam administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). For the vast majority of law schools, taking the LSAT is required in order to gain admission. (Some schools accept the GRE, and a very small number of schools have pathways for admission that don’t require taking a standardized test.)

The LSAT is typically offered 8 times a year in the United States and Canada and 4 times a year internationally. In most parts of the world, the LSAT is offered either at an in-person test center or remotely. Whether you take the exam at a test center or remotely, the LSAT is administered through an online interface. You’ll be allowed/given scratch paper, but LSAT questions will be presented digitally on a computer screen.

What’s the format of the LSAT?

The multiple-choice portion of the LSAT consists of 4 sections. Three are scored and one is unscored.

• 2 of the scored sections are Logical Reasoning (LR). Each LR section has 24 to 26 questions
• 1 scored section is Reading Comprehension (RC). An RC section 26 to 28 questions.
• The unscored section can be either LR or RC. You won’t know which section is unscored when you sit for the official exam. So you’ll have to try your best on all 4 sections, even if one of them ends up not counting toward your score. The unscored section is sometimes called the “experimental” section, because the LSAC uses it to vet new material that will be used on future LSAT administrations.

Under standard timing, you’ll receive 35 minutes for each section, with a 5-minute warning before time’s up. You’ll take all 4 sections back-to-back, but with a 10-minute break between the first 2 sections and the last 2.

There’s also an unscored writing section that’s taken separately from the LR and RC sections. The writing section currently isn’t scored, but you’ll need 1 completed writing section on record in order to see your scores on the multiple-choice portion. Don’t worry about the writing section until after you take your first official LSAT. As long as you take the writing section in the week or two after your LSAT, you’ll be able to see your score when it’s released.

(And of course, we got you — when the time comes, we have a module designed to prepare you for the writing section.)

How is the LSAT Scored?

The total number of questions you get correct on the 3 scored sections is your Raw Score. This will be anywhere from 0 to typically 77 or 78.

Your Raw Score is converted to a Scaled Score from 120 to 180. This is what people typically refer to as an “LSAT score” and it’s what law schools (and your parents?) are interested in.

The Raw Score to Scaled Score conversion is determined by a scale set by the LSAC based on the difficulty of the scored sections you took. There’s a lot of complicated math and data involved in how the LSAC sets the scale, but here’s what you should know:

• A Scaled Score on one LSAT is equivalent to the same Scaled Score on a different LSAT. So if you get an exam that’s more difficult, and your friend gets an exam that’s easier, you don’t have to worry about unfairness in scoring. A more difficult exam will have a more lenient scale. For example, on a more difficult exam, you might need to get 67 questions correct to get a 170. But on an easier exam, you might need to get 70 questions correct.
• Your Scaled Score isn’t based on a curve against the other people who took the same LSAT. It’s based on the LSAC’s own mathematical assessment of the inherent difficulty of the sections. So don’t worry about competing against other people who are studying for the same LSAT — how they perform on the test doesn’t impact your score.
• There’s no penalty for guessing! Your Raw Score is simply the total number of questions you get correct. So make sure to select an answer on every question.

Can I get accommodations?

Yes, it is possible to receive accommodations for a variety of needs. These accommodations can include (but are not limited to) extra time, extra breaks, and paper-and-pencil format. If you believe you need accommodations, you should apply for them through the process described here.

The LSAT is a standardized test that most law schools require for admission. The test consists of four multiple-choice sections—three scored (two LR sections with 24-26 questions each and one RC section with 26-28 questions) and one unscored "experimental" section that can be either LR or RC. You get 35 minutes for each section.

The LSAT is scored from 120 to 180. This is based on your raw score, which is the total number of questions you get correct on the three scored sections. The conversion of your raw score into a 120 to 180 score is based on a scale set by the LSAC that is adjusted for test difficulty to ensure fairness across different LSAT administrations.

Accommodations are available for various needs, including extra time, breaks, or pencil-and-paper format.