LSAT: A BRIEF EXPLANATION

If you are interested in attending law school prepare to take The Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

The LSAT is required for admission at all American Bar Association (ABA) approved law schools, and many non-ABA-approved law schools. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) administers the LSAT.

The LSAT is a standardized exam consisting of five sections of multiple-choice questions. Each section has a 35-minute time limit, and these sections include one reading comprehension section, one analytical reasoning section, and two logical reasoning sections. Each LSAT contains approximately 100 questions, and the score is based on the number of correctly answered questions. At the end of the exam a 35-minute writing sample is administered. The writing sample is not scored, but copies of it are sent to all law schools to which the test-taker applies.

The LSAT is given four times a year; early in the months of February, June, October, and December. The deadline for regular registration for the exam is about a month before the exam date, and the late registration deadline is about three weeks before the exam date. The present regular registration fee is $115, and the late registration fee is an additional $58. Walk-in registration on the day of exam is not allowed.

The LSAT is scored on a scale from 120 to 180. The scores are available by email or telephone about three weeks after the exam, and are mailed to test takers about four weeks after the exam.

The LSAT is administered at hundreds of test centers worldwide, but not every test center is open on all testing dates. Also, each test center has limited space so register as early as possible to improve your chances of being assigned to your first-choice test center.

To do well on the LSAT requires significant preparation. There are many courses, books, and tutors available to assist you with preparing for the exam. For more information about the LSAT and the law school application process go to the LSAC's official website: lsac.org .

Other related articles on this website include LSAT Scores Explained and LSAT Scores' Importance.

Good luck on the LSAT!

Michael Santana

michael.santana@lawboost.com

If you have any questions or comments about this article, or want to write your own article about the pre-law or law school process, feel free to contact me.