How Does the LSAT Work?

The Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, is administered by the Law School Admissions Counsel (LSAC). The test has several different sections, including logical reasoning, reading & comprehension, analytical reasoning, an essay and an unscored section. The test-taker submits their scores to law schools during the application process.

About the LSAT

The LSAT sections are each approximately 35 minutes in length. There is a break given between the third and fourth sections, to allow test-takers to stretch their legs and get water. The logical reasoning section involves reading a set of conditions or reading an argument, then the test-taker answers questions about what they read. The reading comprehension section involves short works of about 400 to 500 words, and then the test-taker answers quick recall questions about that work. The analytical reasoning section is full of logic games and problems that the test-taker must solve.

Tips

It is important to remember there is an unscored section of the LSAT as well as the scored sections. The test-taker will not which section is the unscored section, so it is important to try your hardest on all the sections. It also important to remember there is no speaking during the test period, and no food or drink at many of the test sites.

LSAT Score and Law School

Each correctly scored question is worth one point and there is no deduction made for incorrect answers. All questions are weighted equally, and each LSAT test has a formula for converting the raw score into a scale ranging from 120 to 180. You can receive your score by mail or email about three weeks after the test is taken. The average LSAT score is 150, and to be accepted to one of the top law schools in the country you will need a score of 160 or above.