Preparing for the LSAT

All students applying to law school should consider taking the LSAT. All ABA-approved schools accept the LSAT as the testing requirement for admission. The LSAT is a test of your general skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and your ability to deal with the unfamiliar. You do not need to have any legal knowledge to do well on this test!

When and how many times should I take the LSAT?

• Ideally, you will take the LSAT the spring or the summer of the year that you plan to apply. (Usually this is the spring or summer before your senior year.)
• This time is ideal because it allows you to spend time on your law school applications in the fall, and gives you an opportunity to retake the LSAT (if you so choose) before your applications are due. Most schools will take your highest LSAT score.   
• LSAC (lsac.org) has great resources, including practice exams, to begin preparing for the test.

How do I register?

First, sign up for an LSAC account. It is free to set up. 
After creating an account, follow the steps for registering for the LSAT exam through your online account. The administration fee for the LSAT exam is $238.00 (2024-2025 exams). This includes the LSAT Argumentative Writing section.

Fee waivers are applicable if you meet requirements.

LSAC Fee Waivers

LSAT Quick Facts

• The test is offered multiple times a year.
• Starting August 2024, the test is comprised of four 35-minute sections:
  • Two Logical Reasoning (LR)
  • One Reading Comprehension (RC)
  • One experimental section comprised of either LR or RC
• All of these sections are multiple choice, and the experimental section will not be scored. You will not know which section is the experimental section.
• You will have the choice to take the test remotely via a proctor, or at a test center. If you choose the test center, the exam will still be taken online. 
• You will take the writing section, Argumentative Writing, separately. This section is also 35 minutes.
• LSAC offers testing accommodations to any test takers who may require them. Examples of accommodations available are extended test times, additional breaks, or use of a reader. Documentation is required, apply for accommodations on the LSAC website

How should I prepare for the LSAT?

• There is no "best" way to study for this test. What is best for you depends on your study habits and skills as a student. For example, some students prefer to have someone teach them, others would rather study independently. Cost is also a factor to consider when trying to decide how you will study for the LSAT.
• LSAC offers some free test preparation for free through their new program LawHub. There is also a paid version of LawHub that offers more features. Spending money on the LSAT can be daunting but it is important to consider this preparation for the LSAT as a way of investing in your future.

 

Test Preparation Options

You can choose to do any of the following. Again, there is no "best" way to study for the LSAT so take your personal preferences and other factors into account.

• Buy official LSAT tests from the Law School Admission Council.
• Get a LSAT book (or a set of books) at your local bookstore.
• Participate in these, or other preparatory courses.
  • Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
  • Powerscore
  • Princeton Review
  • ScorePerfect
  • Blueprint
  • 7Sage
  • LSAT Demon
  • LSAT Max