The LSAT

The LSAT is the standardized test you will need to take in order to apply for law school. There are official practice tests you can take as well preparation courses through test prep companies, see below for a list of some of the companies. Be sure to ask these companies if they have a student discount! The LSAC has a Fee Waiver Program, which covers the cost of at least one LSAT test and LSAC’s LawHubAdvantage LSAT test prep. When preparing for the LSAT, use the study techniques that work best for you. For some, that means self studying and for others that might mean taking a prep course. Some test prep companies recommend studying for 200-300 hours and doing 2,500 practice questions.

Many law schools also accept the GRE in place of the LSAT. Admissions committees do not prefer one test over the other so take the test that you will do best on. The GRE is an especially good option for you if you’re applying to other graduate programs that require the GRE. Take free practice exams online for each test to help you decide which exam is right for you.

Taking the test in June will give you enough time to retake the LSAT, if you choose to, and will allow you to submit an earlier application. You can wait until the November test and still apply by the end of the year. Remember, law schools use rolling admissions so it’s best to submit your application in the fall by the end of December.

It’s ok if you take the test more than once, however, it’s ideal to only take the LSAT once. So, don’t take the test until you’re ready. 

Test Prep Companies:

• Khan Academy
• Kaplan
• The Princeton Review
• LSAT Demon
• 7Sage
• Peterson’s
• TestMasters
• PowerScore
• Blueprint

The LSAT Argumentative Writing Section

The LSAT argumentative writing section aims to assess a test taker’s ability to construct a cogent argument based on a variety of evidentiary sources. Test takers will be presented with a debatable issue along with different perspectives that provide additional context. These perspectives, each of which is conveyed in a few sentences, are representative of a system of beliefs or values. Together, the perspectives illustrate competing ideologies and arguments around a particular issue. The test taker will then draft an argumentative essay in which they take a position, while addressing some of the arguments and ideas presented by the other perspectives.

Most test takers will have a total of 50 minutes — 15 minutes for prewriting analysis and notetaking and 35 minutes for essay writing. Test takers with approved accommodations for additional time will have their time allocations adjusted accordingly.

To give test takers the opportunity to prepare, the LSAC has published a sample prompt as part of the free Official LSAT PrepTest library available in LawHub. Test takers can begin to familiarize themselves with the new approach and take practice LSAT Writing sessions in the official LSAT Writing environment.

The LSAC is also providing a sample of the new LSAT Writing prompt on LSAC.org. It should be noted that this LSAC.org sample is a “text only” version and that test functionality, including the timer and the digital notetaking tool, is included in the practice environment in LawHub.

For the 2024-2025 testing cycle, LSAT Writing will remain an unscored part of the LSAT. Over the course of the 2024-2025 testing cycle, the LSAC will be analyzing data on the new LSAT Writing prompt to assess its validity and reliability with a long-term goal of providing a scored LSAT Writing assessment that schools may use in their holistic admission processes.

This new argumentative writing prompt will be activated on July 31, 2024.