LSAT Preparation & Information

By Larry Hayman

Pre-Law Advisor & Specialist in the Center for Law, Justice & Culture

The LSAT, or Law School Admissions Test, is a required and critical component of your law school applications.  In fact, arguably, your LSAT score is the number one factor that determines where you will be accepted into law school. 

In order to take the LSAT, you must register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC). You can do this by visiting the LSAC website. The LSAT, unlike most admissions tests, does not test knowledge. Rather, the LSAT tests skills—logic, reasoning, and reading—under timed conditions. Because it is such an unusual test, many students find take a test preparation course. If you are able to study successfully with books borrowed from the library, you can save money by preparing for the LSAT on your own. But if you are the type of student who thrives in a structured learning environment, then plan to take a formal course. 

Either way, plan to take the LSAT only once. Do not take it until you have spent an extensive amount of time studying for it. It is far too important of a test to “wing it.” How much is enough? Those who do well, or very well, on the exam report spending between 250 and 500 hours on test preparation. 

The test itself is three hours and 30 minutes, excluding breaks. It consists of six sections, with 35 minutes to complete each section. The test seeks to measure your aptitude in reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and writing. It is administered four times a year, in February, June, September/October, and December. It can be taken up to three times in any two-year period. 

Scores on the test range from a low of 120 to a high of 180. Once receiving your LSAT score, you will be able to more accurately determine your chances of admission to a particular school.