LSAT stands for Law School Admission Test, and it’s administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). It’s a test of logic and argumentation. This sets the LSAT apart from other pre-graduate level standardized tests like the GRE or the GMAT, which mirror the SAT and ACT that you are likely familiar with; those exams test reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The LSAT comprises four 35-minute sections (plus the Writing Sample), only three of which factor into the score that law schools receive.

2 sections of Logical Reasoning: The Logical Reasoning section has 24-26 multiple-choice questions. Each question consists of a brief paragraph – usually an argument – a question about the contents of the paragraph, and five answer choices.

1 Section of Reading Comprehension: You’ll receive four passages, each featuring five and eight associated multiple-choice questions.

1 Unscored Experimental Section: During the exam, you will get one extra Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension section that won’t be scored. This “Experimental” section allows LSAC to test questions they plan to use on future exams. You will not know which section is experimental while you’re taking the exam.

1 Unscored LSAT Argumentative Writing Section: Test takers will be presented with a debatable issue, background information, and an open-ended question that doesn’t necessarily have a right or wrong answer. You'll need to put together an argument in response to the question. The LSAT writing section is completed at home.

The LSAT is offered about eight times per year. The LSAT testing year generally runs from August through June. There will usually be between two and four LSAT test dates every administration.

The LSAT will be offered eight times in 2024: January 2024, February 2024, April 2024, June 2024, August 2024, September 2024, October 2024, and November 2024. There is no LSAT in March, December, May, or July in 2024.

The 2025 LSAT dates are currently: January 2025, February 2025, April 2025, and June 2025.

There is no such thing as an easier or harder LSAT test date—objectively speaking. A particularly tough LSAT will likely result in lower raw scores across the board. This means you can miss more questions and still get the same scaled score as an “easier” test with higher average raw scores. Unfortunately, this is not something anyone can predict before your LSAT date.

You can register for an LSAT test date on the Law School Admissions Council’s (LSAC) website before the LSAT date’s application deadline. To register, you’ll need to create an LSAC account, choose your preferred test center, and pay the registration fee. The LSAT registration fee is $238.

Yes! Things happen and sometimes you need to reschedule your LSAT date or take it at a different test center. Rescheduling your LSATtest date or changing your test center costs $145, and you must do so through your LSAC account up to seven days after your test administration’s registration deadline.

The short answer: take the LSAT when you’re ready, but “ready” can be subjective. We advise students to sign up for an LSAT date that will give them enough time to prep without feeling like they’re taking too much on or ignoring other responsibilities.

You need to also think about when you’re applying to law school and when applications are due. If you are planning to apply to law school in the same year that you’re taking the LSAT, you should try to choose an LSAT test date earlier in the year, if possible. Since most law schools begin accepting applicants as soon as September, it’s better to apply early in the application cycle (September or October) rather than later (January or February of the following year). You will need a reportable LSAT score, so it’s better to take the LSAT early, provided you have enough time to study with LSAT prep courses to get your score back in time.

You can take the LSAT as early as your freshman year of college. However, LSAT test scores are only valid for five years. If you’re planning on applying to law school after college, you might be better off waiting until your junior or senior year.

It’s not uncommon to retake the LSAT more than once to earn a competitive score. Just remember there are rules for how many times you can take the LSAT

• Five times within the current reportable score period (i.e., since June 2017)
• A total of seven times over a lifetime

Some people can wake up one morning and decide to take the LSAT without preparing for it (if they registered for an LSAT test date, of course). However, most of us will need some amount of studying and LSAT test prep. Since we all retain information differently, LSAT prep is not one-size-fits-all. The method that works for you will likely depend on your schedule, goals, learning preference, and location. There are a few common ways LSAT courses are offered:

• Online Courses: These courses are fully online and usually consist of on-demand video lessons, making them ideal for someone with a busy schedule or who would rather prep for the LSAT at their own pace.
• Live Course Courses: The perfect hybrid of online and in-person courses. Live Course courses are taught by an instructor and live-streamed at set times a few days per week. You get the interaction of an in-person course with the convenience of a virtual learning experience.

You’ll want to devote between two and four months to prep for the LSAT. Blueprint's Live Course and 170+ Course runs between two and eight months, but students can choose to access the Self-Paced Course before and after the class ends for additional practice. People retaking the LSAT might be able to get away with less prep time, as long as they understand what their strengths and weaknesses are—working with a private tutor is great for that!

If you’re sure you want to take the LSAT, this is a great place to start! First, choose an LSAT test date and decide when you want to take the LSAT based on your schedule and when you plan on applying to law school. Then, check the LSAC site to see if registration is open for the test you’ve picked. Once you’ve registered for your LSAT date, it’s time to choose your prep. If you’re not sure which LSAT prep is right for you, you can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our LSAT Advisors to help walk you through your options. If you want a taste of the LSAT, sign-up for our free LSAT Practice Bundle to take a diagnostic exam.