For most people applying to law school, the LSAT is the single most important number in their application. It’s also the one you have the most control over. Here’s how the test works today, how to plan for it and when an alternative might make sense.

How the LSAT works now

The Law School Admission Test is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). It changed in August 2024, when the Analytical Reasoning section, better known as Logic Games, was retired. Today the test has four 35-minute multiple-choice sections:

  • Two Logical Reasoning sections (scored): short arguments that test how well you analyze, evaluate and complete reasoning.
  • One Reading Comprehension section (scored): dense passages, including comparative passages, with questions about structure, meaning and inference.
  • One unscored section of either type, used to test new questions. You won’t know which section it is.

With a 10-minute break in the middle, the multiple-choice test takes about three hours. Scores range from 120 to 180.

The writing sample

LSAT Argumentative Writing is a separate, unscored essay you take online, on demand. It becomes available shortly before your test date, and you must have one on file before LSAC releases your first score. Law schools receive it with your application, so treat it seriously: a clear, well-organized argument is what they’re looking for.

Testing options and limits

  • Where: online with live remote proctoring, or in person at a test center.
  • How often: LSAC offers the test several times a year. Check its calendar for dates and registration deadlines.
  • Limits: five tests within the current reportable score period and seven over a lifetime. Canceled scores count toward those limits; absences and withdrawals don’t.
  • Score Preview: for an extra fee, you can see your score and decide within six days whether to keep or cancel it.
  • Reporting: LSAC reports scores from the current and five previous testing years to the schools you apply to.

How law schools use your score

Law schools see every reportable score, but many focus on your highest. Your score matters twice: for admission, and for merit scholarships, which are closely tied to where your score falls in each school’s range. That’s why a few points can make a real financial difference. Our guide to reading ABA 509 reports explains how to compare your numbers with each school’s.

When to take it

Law schools review applications on a rolling basis, so the best time to apply is early in the cycle, roughly September through November. Work backward from there:

  1. Take your first official test by late spring or summer of the year you apply.
  2. Leave room for a retake by early fall, so a second attempt doesn’t push your application late.
  3. Don’t test before you’re ready. Your practice scores are the best guide. If they’re consistently below your goal, it’s usually better to wait for a later date.
College students: the summer before senior year is a popular time to study and test, before fall coursework and applications compete for your attention. Many students take the LSAT after graduating instead and apply with work experience.

How to prepare

  • Start with a diagnostic using an official practice test, timed, to see where you stand.
  • Use official material. LSAC’s LawHub platform offers free official practice tests that mirror the real testing interface, with more available by subscription.
  • Study the reasoning, not just the answers. Review every missed question until you understand why the correct answer is right and each wrong answer is wrong.
  • Practice under real conditions, including full timed tests, before test day.
  • Plan for several months. Most people need sustained, consistent practice to reach their potential.

The alternatives

The GRE

Many ABA-approved law schools now accept the GRE General Test. The current GRE takes about two hours, with Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning scored from 130 to 170 and one Analytical Writing essay scored from 0 to 6. It can make sense if you’re applying to other graduate programs too, are considering a dual degree, or already have a strong GRE score.

Keep in mind:

  • Not every law school accepts it. Check each school on your list.
  • If you’ve taken the LSAT, schools will generally still see those scores through LSAC.
  • Law schools have far more experience interpreting LSAT scores, especially for scholarships.

JD-Next

JD-Next combines a short online course in legal reading and analysis with a final exam. A number of law schools have received permission from the ABA to use it in admissions. An ABA-commissioned review found it predicts early law school grades but recommended treating it as a supplement to other measures. If you’re considering it, confirm exactly how each school uses it.

Admission without a test

ABA Standard 503 still requires law schools to use a valid and reliable admission test, but the ABA allows some schools, through variances, to admit students without one. Some schools also offer early-admission or “3+3” programs with partner colleges. These paths are limited and school specific. For most applicants, a test score remains essential.

Lowering the cost

LSAC fee waivers can cover LSAT registration, the Credential Assembly Service and law school reports for applicants with financial need. Apply for a waiver before you register, since waivers generally aren’t retroactive. If you need testing accommodations, request them by the accommodation deadline for your test date. See our guides to fee waivers and testing accommodations.