Navigating the LSAT: A Beginner's Guide

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is one of the major steps needed to apply for law school. The test has 4 sections: 2 logical reasoning, 1 reading comprehension, and one section that could be either category. The order of these sections is randomized and students are given 35 minutes to complete each section (unless accommodations were requested.) One of the sections is randomly left ungraded and used as data for the following LSAT exams. The scores from the test fall within a range of 120 to 180 (lowest to highest.) The average score is around 150.

Similar to SAT and ACT scores, law schools often have an average score they anticipate from students they plan to accept. This is typically based on statistics from the previous application cycle. However, the LSAT is administered almost year-round (eight out of twelve months), creating better flexibility for testing schedules. The test can be taken remotely with virtual proctoring or in a testing facility. The test costs $238 (as of June 2024) and can be taken up to 5 times by one student. High scores often give students a higher chance of admission and generous scholarships. 

There are many different methods used to study for the LSAT. Many students pay for tutors or programs to help them learn in a live setting. Others approach the LSAT through self-studying with workbooks and on-demand lectures. While self-studying seems more cost-effective for underprivileged students, fee waivers and financial aid are options for many well-known study tools. There are also fee waivers for the LSAT itself depending on household income and number of household members. 

The LSAT is considered one of the first hurdles of many legal professions, despite how insignificant it can be in the grand scheme of an application. A low LSAT score should not discourage students from applying to a school they believe is a good fit. If a school feels you are a well-rounded candidate, they will accept you if your score is below what may be their median.