The LSAT is offered multiple times throughout the year. Test dates and deadlines are available for viewing. Not every test center administers the LSAT on all testing dates, so students should select a site that indicates “yes”. Many test sites fill up quickly, so early registration is recommended.
The LSAT is offered around the world, and test dates may differ from the U.S. test dates.
U.S. LSAT locations
International LSAT options
Students and alumni may meet with a prelaw advisor for assistance in considering the pros and cons of each available LSAT option.
The LSAT contains four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions plus a writing sample.
Three of the sections are calculated for the test taker’s score, relative to other test takers.
- The remaining section is experimental.
- The sections are randomly ordered, and the experimental section is not identified.
The following comprise the four sections:
- Logical reasoning (two scored sections) - assesses the ability to analyze, critically evaluate, and complete arguments as they occur in ordinary language
- Reading comprehension (one scored section) - lengthy and complex passages to test reading and reasoning skills
- Variable/experimental — designed to prepare items for future tests
- Since this section can be any section of the exam, students should practice taking four sections while preparing.
- Students will receive an additional section of either reading comprehension or logical reasoning as their variable section.
The LSAT Argumentative Writing is a proctored, on-demand writing exam administered online using secure proctoring software installed on the test taker’s own computer. It aims to assess a test taker’s ability to construct a cogent argument based on a variety of evidentiary sources. Test takers will be presented with a debatable issue, along with three or four perspectives that provide additional context for the issue. The test taker will then draft an argumentative essay in which they take a position on the issue, while addressing some of the arguments and ideas presented by the other perspectives.
Scoring
Test takers will receive a score between 120 and 180.
Retake policy
Test takers will be permitted to take the LSAT:
- Five times within the current reportable score period (since June 2018).
- A total of seven times over a lifetime.
A prelaw advisor can help students determine whether to retake the LSAT.
Deciding when to take the LSAT is a highly individual decision, but the best time is when the student feels fully prepared. Students should plan ahead to ensure adequate preparation time, generally considered to be four to six months of consistent preparation. This also allows students to take the test at an opportune time. Sufficient preparation is critical, because every LSAT score is reported to each law school to which an applicant applies.
Test prep