Frequently Asked Questions
The Nuts and
Bolts Of The LSAT - What Is It?
The letters "L S A T" stand for Law School Admission
Test. The LSAT is
required as part of the admissions process for almost all law schools in the
United States and Canada.
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When
Can You Take The LSAT?
The LSAT is available to be taken four times a year.
In general there will be a test in early October, early December, early
February and mid June. Every administration except for the June administration
is on Saturday mornings. The June administration is on a Monday afternoon. For
Saturday Sabbath observers the October, December and February test dates are
the Monday following the Saturday of the regular test date. Special
arrangements can also be made for the physically challenged. See the Law
Services Information Book for full details.
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The form to
register for the LSAT may be found in the Law Services Information Book.
This book may be obtained free of charge from your local law school, career
counseling center or from Law Services directly. You may write to Law Services
and request one at:
Law School Admission Services
Box 2006
Newtown, PA 18940-0963
U.S.A.
(215) 968-1001
http://www.LSAC.org
They do not have a toll-free telephone line.
You must register to take the LSAT and there is a fee. To see how to register
you should refer to the Law Services Information Book. At the present time
there are three ways to register for the LSAT.
1. Regular Registration by Mail, Telephone or Online - approximately five
weeks before the test date.
2. Late Registration by Mail - a "window period" that extends for
approximately one week after the deadline for regular registration expires.
3. Late Registration by Telephone and Online - a "window period" that
extends for approximately eleven days after the deadline for regular
registration expires.
The most inexpensive way to take the LSAT is through "Regular Registration."
You will find that the LSAT is administered at most universities in the United
States and Canada. It is up you to select the location at which you wish to
take the test.
Warning!! It is very common for certain test centers to fill up.
Hence, it is to your benefit to register as early as possible!
There are both Canadian and U.S. editions of the Law Services Information
Book. Both have basic information about the LSAT. The Canadian edition also
includes information on each of Canada's common law schools. Information on
U.S. schools may be obtained in the Official Guide To U.S. Law Schools which
is available from Law Services.
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What Kind Of
Test Is The LSAT?
The LSAT is a multiple choice test. It presently
consists of five thirty-five minute sections and a separate writing sample
section. Four of the five sections count towards your LSAT score. The
remaining section is experimental. Its purpose is to allow the test designer
(LSAC/LSAS) to try out questions for future use. The four sections that count
are as follows:
1. Reading Comprehension - four passages - approximately 28 questions
2. Logic Games - four sets of conditions - approximately 24 questions
3. Logical Reasoning - approximately 16 arguments and approximately 24
questions
4. Logical Reasoning - same as number 3 above
The four sections are in no specific order. Different test takers will
encounter the four sections in different orders. The experimental section will
be a repeat of one of these four sections.
The writing sample is administered separately either before or after the main
LSAT is over. It is a thirty minute exercise. A copy of the writing sample is
sent along with your LSAT score to every school that receives a copy of your
LSAT score. The writing sample is not graded and is placed in your file for
possible consideration.
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How Is The
LSAT Used?
The LSAT score which is based on the number of
questions you answer correctly is reported on a scale of 120 - 180. There is
no penalty for guessing or putting the wrong answer. The LSAT is not a pass or
fail exam. Your score is simply a reflection of how you perform relative to
everybody else taking the test. Each school is free to decide how to use the
LSAT and to decide what score will satisfy its admissions requirements.
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How Many Times Can You Take The LSAT?
You may not take the LSAT more than three times in
any two year period. You should, however, be aware that some schools will take
the average of your LSAT scores and some will take the highest. Clearly, the
LSAT should never be taken for practice!
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What Does The Score Mean And What Is A Good Score?
Your scaled score from 120 - 180 is a reflection of
how you performed relative to all test takers. You need not get all the
questions right to get a score of 180. It is possible to get three or four
questions wrong and still get a score of 180.
Your score report will also give the percentile ranking that your scaled score
(120 - 180) is equivalent to. For example a score of 180 would mean that you
scored better than 99.9% of all test takers.
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When And How Do Law Schools Receive Your LSAT Score(s)?
Until you apply to a law school your LSAT score will
be known only to you. After you submit your application to a law school, the
school will request your score from Law Services. In the case of multiple LSAT
scores, Law Services will report multiple scores. The policy on the number of
scores reported, changes from year to year.
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May I Take
The LSAT and Not Receive the Score?
It is important for you to know that, at the present
time, it is possible to take the LSAT and choose to not have the test scored.
The information for when and how to cancel your score may be found in the Law
Services Information Book. Please note that if you cancel your score, you will
still have used one of your three attempts at the LSAT.
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When To Take
The LSAT
You should take the LSAT as early in the year as
possible. By taking the LSAT earlier you will be leaving yourself an
opportunity to take the test again (should that option be desirable). By doing
the test in June or October you will be doing the test:
At a time when you will have the least pressure from
other academic commitments.
Many schools require that the LSAT be taken no later than December. It is
important that you check the requirements for every school that you are
applying to! Even if it is an option don't leave your first LSAT attempt until
the February administration. The first problem you will face is that your
application will not be complete until the February LSAT scores are released.
This will be sometime in March. The second reason for not doing the LSAT for
the first time in February is emotional. While you are actually taking the
LSAT it is important for you to know that you have another attempt at the
test. If you take the LSAT in February it should be a "follow up attempt."
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