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LSAT

 

The LSAT is the Law School Admissions Test. The LSAT Test is required for admission to all ABA-accredited law schools, although scores required for admission vary from school to school.


Format

The test consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions, in three different item types. Four of the five sections contribute to the test taker’s score. The unscored section, commonly referred to as the variable section, typically is used to pretest new test questions or to preequate new test forms. The placement of this section will vary. A 35-minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test. LSAC does not score the writing sample, but copies of the writing sample are sent to all law schools to which you apply.

 

What the Test Measures

The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.

The three multiple-choice question types in the LSAT are:

1. Reading Comprehension Questions
These questions measure your ability to read, with understanding and insight, examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those commonly encountered in law school work. The reading comprehension section contains four sets of reading questions, each consisting of a selection of reading material, followed by five to eight questions that test reading and reasoning abilities.

  • Consists of four dense passages of 400-500 words each
  • Varied subject matter, usually based in the liberal arts and sciences
  • Each section followed by 5-8 questions that measure your understanding of the reading
  • Note: You are not required to have particular knowledge in advance of the test. All of the information you need will be contained in the passage itself.


2. Analytical Reasoning Questions
These questions are designed to measure your ability to understand a structure of relationships and to draw logical conclusions about that structure. You are asked to make deductions from a set of statements, rules, or conditions that describe relationships among entities such as persons, places, things, or events. They simulate the kinds of detailed analyses of relationships that a law student must perform in solving legal problems.

  • Also known as the "games" section of the LSAT
  • Example: "Amanda invites seven children to her birthday party and gives each of them a different colored balloon. When she lines them up for cake, the child with the red balloon is not first or second in line. The children with the blue and purple balloons are not last in line. The child with the yellow balloon is not between the child with the red balloon and the front of the line. The child with the purple balloon or the child with the pink balloon is directly behind the child with the yellow balloon. The child with the orange balloon will either be immediately ahead of or immediately behind the child with the green balloon. If the child with the orange balloon is first, which of the following must be true? (a) The child with the blue balloon is sixth in line. (b) The child with the yellow balloon is immediately behind the child with the red balloon. (c) The child with the red balloon is third in line. (d) The child with the blue balloon is immediately behind the child with the purple balloon. (e) The child with the pink balloon is last in line."


3. Logical Reasoning Questions (2 sections)
These questions are designed to evaluate your ability to understand, analyze, criticize, and complete a variety of arguments. Each logical reasoning question requires you to read and comprehend a short passage, then answer one question about it. The questions test a variety of abilities involved in reasoning logically and thinking critically.

  • Consists of a series of brief passages which presents information and draws conclusions from it
  • Each passage is followed by one or two questions
  • "The best answer" is required because there is often more than one plausible answer
  • You may:
    • Be given an additional piece of information and asked about its impact on the original conclusion
    • Be asked to make an inference from the passage
    • Be asked to find a flaw in the argument
    • Be asked to identify an underlying assumption.

Writing Sample

  • You will be asked to take a position on a topic.
    • You will not be expected to have prior knowledge about the subject matter.
    • There is no right and wrong.
    • Admissions personnel will be interested in how well you write and how well you support your position.
    • Unless you have a brilliant idea, stick to your traditional 3-5 paragraph essay:
      • Introduction, including thesis
      • 1-3 paragraphs supporting the thesis, with each paragraph built around a sub-thesis
      • Conclusion
      • That's your no-fail format. Don't panic, and do take a few minutes at the beginning to plan your essay.

 

click here for an intro video about the LSAT produced by LSAC

 


The Importance of the LSAT

The LSAT is commonly considered to be the most important piece of the law school application, and statistics indicate that it really is very important. Why is it so important?

  • Law schools are ill-equipped to evaluate the rigor of differing academic programs, either within universities or between universities.
  • The LSAT becomes an objective standard by which to measure an applicant's academic potential.


When should I take the LSAT?

  • Take it in June, if possible. This is the optimal time to take the test, because:
    1. It frees you up later in the summer to:
      • work on your personal statement
      • work on your resume
      • get your packets together for your recommenders
      • research appropriate law schools
      • write or call for applications
    2. It allows you to get off to a strong start on your fall senior year classes without the burden of test prep.
    3. It allows you to get your applications in as early as October, a benefit in rolling admissions.
    4. It gives you a second chance to take the test in October if you have a disaster in June.
  • December of the year prior to anticipated entry is the last date to take the exam and still meet all law school application deadlines.


What will happen on the day of the test?

  • You Will:
    • Report to the testing center at the place and time indicated on your admission ticket with
      • Your admission ticket
      • A photo I.D.
      • #2 pencils
    • Be assigned a seat and fingerprinted.
    • Get a break after the 3rd section
    • Need permission from the test supervisor to leave the room other than at the break.
  • You Will Not:
    • Be admitted if you're late.
    • Be allowed to eat or drink.


Should I take the LSAT more than once ?

  • Take the test only once, at the point where you think your performance will be at its peak
  • Law school admissions officers envision officers envision a band of several points around an LSAT score; they surmise that a student's "real" score would fall somewhere within the band.:
    • Example: if you score 158 on the LSAT, admissions officials would estimate that your "real" score would fall somewhere between 155 and 161.
  • Multiple Tests:
    • Most law schools take the average score if students take the test more than once, concluding that the average is probably the best estimate of the student's most accurate score.
    • Drawbacks of taking a second test:
      • Law schools expect that a student will do better the second time around. Therefore, if you do not score at least 5 or 6 points higher on the second test, you have not even broken your score band, and you have not done yourself any favors.
      • You have put yourself through at least two more months of agony in anticipation of the test, perhaps neglecting your coursework or your applications; and you have just reinforced the score you already had.
      • Of course, there's also the very real possibility that you'll receive a lower score on the second test, which is, of course, the worst case scenario.


So I should never take the LSAT a second time?

There are certain circumstances under which you must take the test a second time:

  • You scored significantly lower than the scores you were consistently attaining on your latest series of practice tests
  • You scored so low that it would be almost impossible for you to do more poorly
  • You really goofed up (putting the answers in the wrong bubbles, for example).


Should I take the test with accommodations if I can?

Anyone with a diagnosed and documented learning disability may be able to take the test with accommodations.

Will Law Schools Know?

  • There is a notation next to your score on the report indicating that you took the test with accommodations. Law schools will know that.
  • They will not know, however, what your accommodations were or why you requested it.

How Will It Affect Me?

  • Judging the impact this has on an admissions committee is very difficult.
  • Of course, you may run into some admissions committee members who are biased against you because of your learning disability. You may run into some who are biased in your favor because you have overcome hardship to get where you are. There is no way to predict.
  • If you need the accommodation, you need the accommodation. Be sure to write an essay (either as an essay or an addendum) explaining what your disability is, how you've worked to overcome it, and why you know it won't have a negative impact on your law school performance.


Under what circumstances should I cancel my score?

  • You have the option of canceling your score within five days after the test, but you won't know your score when you do so.
  • Your score report will indicate that you took the test and canceled the score, but it will not report what that score was.
  • If you feel certain that you did poorly on the test, consider this option. It is better to have a cancellation on your report than a poor score.
  • Do not, however, take the test as a dry run intending to cancel the score. Stick to the practice tests instead.


How do I cancel my score?

You can cancel it at the test in the space provided on the answer sheet, or you can make a written request to cancel within five working days of the test by fax or overnight letter.


Can I cancel my score after I've seen it?

No.


What will my score look like?

Your raw score will be converted to a number on a 120-180 point scale. You will also receive your percentile rank.


When do I get my LSAT score?

Approximately five weeks after the test date. For a fee of $10, you can call two weeks in advance of the mail date and get your score by phone.


So you've taken the LSAT officially or in practice and you've received your score. How do you know how you did compared to other students?

The following is a general breakdown of the percentile rank of possible LSAT scores:

Score Percentile
172-180  99
163-171 90-98
159-162 80-89
156-158 70-79
154-155 60-69
151-153 50-59
149-150 40-49
146-148 30-39
143-145 20-29
142-0 0-20


How do I know if I should enroll in a commercial test prep course?

  • A lot depends on your individual circumstances
  • We recommend that prior to enrolling in a test prep course, you purchase an LSAT prep book (or borrow one from the Pre-Law Library ) and take a practice test. See how you do on the test, and how far you are from where you'd like to score.

Independent Study

  • If your score is within 5 points or so from where you would like to be scoring and you are self-disciplined in studying, it is probably not worth the great expense involved in enrolling in a commercial course.
  • Plan several months ahead and create a study schedule for yourself, using the LSAT prep book and other materials from the LSAC as your guide.
  • Study with a friend who has different academic strengths and weaknesses from you.

Commercial Test Prep Courses

  • However, if your score significantly differs from what you were hoping for or if you know that you have a difficult time motivating yourself to study ahead of time, you may benefit from taking a commercial prep course.
  • Depending on which company you go with, the cost of a single course is usually between $1000 and $1400.
  • The length of the course, the material provided and the size of the class vary greatly from company to company, so we strongly recommend you do some research before you sign up.
  • Also, ask friends or acquaintances who have taken prep courses before for their opinions on how effective the course was and whether it really helped them improve their scores.
  • USC students have taken LSAT prep courses from a number of local and national companies, including: