What Is The LSAT?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a comprehensive exam that must be completed when applying to law schools. It is a standardized test that lasts for 175 minutes. The exam is similar to sitting for the SAT but much harder. The LSAT is used as a standard measure of your ability to read, dissect and problem-solve. The exam is administered only four times a year. The LSAT is a way for law schools to determine how well you will do in your first year of law school. First year law students will have to read mounds of case studies and present or dissect arguments. Law schools want to know if you have the analytical and reasoning skills to succeed in the first year. 

Depending on the law school, your LSAT score can carry more weight than your cumulative GPA.This is a make or break test, so be prepared. Here is a breakdown of the different test sections you will have to power through. The LSAT consists of four sections: two Logical Reasoning sections, one Analytical Reasoning section and one Reading Comprehension section. A non-scored Experimental section and a Writing Sample section are also included.

Logical Reasoning: This section will include 24 to 26 questions with a given time of 35 minutes to complete. The section consists of passages of about three to four sentences. You will be asked to answer one question after each passage. The LSAT has two Logical Reasoning Sections for a total of half your LSAT score.

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games): This section lays out four logic games with five to eight questions per logic game. The section has a total of 24 questions with a given time of 35 minutes to complete. Each game begins with a set of statements or rules. You will have to answer questions by analyzing the statements or rules and how they affect relationships.

Reading Comprehension: This section consists of four passages followed by a set of five to eight questions. The passages are 400 to 500 hundred words long. There will be a total of 26 to 28 questions with a given time of 35 minutes to complete.

Experimental: This is an extra, non-scored section on the LSAT. It can look like any of the previous sections. This is a way for the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) to test future exam questions.

Writing Sample: The writing sample is another non-scored section. You will be prompted to write a two page essay with a given time of 30 minutes to complete. A copy of the essay will be sent to law schools along with your LSAT score.

LSAT Score: The exam is scored on a scale of 120 to 180. Average test takers score about 150. The higher the score the better. Expect to score over 160 to be admitted to the top 25 law schools. Since the LSAT is a deciding factor in the admissions process, don’t take the exam lightly. Be sure that you are adequately prepared. Although the exam is a test of your critical thinking skills, it will also test your endurance. Because of the administrative tasks and breaks, expect to spend four or five hours for the LSAT during test day. More discuss