The LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (“LSAT”) is a half-day standardized test published by the Law School Admission Council (“LSAC”) and administered 8 times per year. Currently, the test may be taken on your own laptop, in a quiet, private space and proctored remotely, or in a testing center. Please note that currently, the closest test center to campus is at Atlantic Place, Building B,  Suite #44, 311 Darling Avenue, South Portland, ME 04106. 

The test currently consists of four scores sections and one unscored section: 

• Reading Comprehension 
• Analytical Reasoning (formerly known as Logic Games) 
• Logical Reasoning 

The test also contains a fourth, unscored Experimental Section, but it will be similar enough to one of the other three sections that you won’t know which one it is. While it is unscored and used by LSAC to try out questions to use on future tests, you will have to complete it as you won’t know whether it is a scored section when you are taking the test. 

You will also need to complete a Writing Sample with a writing prompt, on your own computer, on your own time.  The writing sample is unscored but is seen by law schools and may be referred to if the admissions office has questions about an applicant’s writing ability. In this time of uncertainty about ChatGPT policies, schools may pay more attention to the writing sample which is timed and administered on a secured proctored platform. 

How Should I Prepare for the LSAT? 

There is a slight predictive value between LSAT score and how students do during their first year of law school. Therefore, law schools do rely on this tool in part to make admissions decisions. The test assesses the skills you will need in law school. These skills include reading comprehension and understanding of complex, lengthy materials; your ability to consider a structure of rules and relationships and given those facts, determine what could or must be true; your ability to analyze, critically evaluate and complete arguments; and your persuasive writing skills.  

Plan to spend at least 180-200 hours over 3-4 months preparing for the test. You will need to consider LSAT prep to be a part-time job in addition to your other time commitments so plan carefully and decide when you will have time to study for the test. 

It’s imperative that you become familiar with the test question types, format and instructions before taking it when it counts. 

Make sure you have a complete set of study materials for each of the test sections. 

Try the sample problems and read the explanations so that you understand and have practiced what you will have to do on test day.  

Take full-length timed practice tests once a week for several weeks (ideally 10-18 weeks!) leading up to the test date. You can get these tests from LSAC’s LawHub (2 for free or $115 for $75+ tests) which are supposed to most closely resemble what you will experience on test day in terms of the computer interface. You can also buy copies of released tests through LSAC’s prep materials, or online. Make sure you are practicing with actual LSAT released tests. Go over the answers and understand why you got a question wrong. If you are buying self-study or commercial test prep materials, find out how many practice test questions they provide answer explanations for. LSAC offers free test prep through Khan Academy. 

Should I pay for a commercial test prep course? 

The answer to this question depends on your individual circumstances. How comfortable do you feel with standardized tests? Do you experience test anxiety and if so, will taking a commercial test prep course relieve your anxiety somewhat? Just because one applicant has a great experience with a particular test prep company does not mean another applicant will as well. The experience may in large part depend upon the course instructor. Many applicants do extremely well without taking a commercial test prep course. You must know yourself, including whether you will be disciplined enough to hold yourself accountable to a study schedule. Some test prep companies offer fee waivers to those who qualify for an LSAC fee waiver. In addition, you should always ask a test prep company if they have any financial assistance or discounted rates available given your specific circumstances. Here is a list of test prep companies that have licenses to use LSAT content. Speak to your pre-law advisor to find out about lower cost self-study options or sponsored programs that may include test prep.