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We break down the LSAT by What, When, Where, Why, and How on this webpage. While there are a wide variety of resources that exist to help you learn about and prepare for the LSAT, the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) information about the LSAT is the official source.

 

What:

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

The LSAT consists of two parts. The first part consists of four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions. Three of the four sections contribute to the test taker’s score. These sections include one Reading Comprehension section, one Analytical Reasoning section, and one Logical Reasoning sections. The unscored section, commonly referred to as the “variable section”, typically is used to pretest new test questions or to preequate new test forms. The placement of this section will vary. Identification of the unscored section is not available until you receive your score report. A 35-minute, unscored writing sample administered online using a proctoring software up to 8 days prior to test administration (from LSAC’s About the LSAT).

 
Your LSAT score is based on the number of questions answered correctly (the raw score). There is no deduction for incorrect answers, nor are individual questions on the various test sections weighted differently. Raw scores are converted to an LSAT scale that ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 the highest possible score (from LSAC’s Your LSAT Score).
 

When:

Please click on the link here to view the LSAT test dates for the current testing year.
 

Where:

The LSAT is taken online, monitored by a live proctor. Candidates must have a compatible laptop or desktop, a webcam, microphone, and Chrome or Firefox web browsers (from LSAC’s Your LSAT Score).

 

Why:

The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others (from LSAC’s About the LSAT).
 

How:

One of the most frequent questions we receive from Pre-Law students is about how to prepare for the LSAT. Preparing for the LSAT should take a few months. During your LSAT prep, you should 1) read multiple resources on LSAT strategies for answering questions and you should 2) take multiple LSAT practice tests. According to LSAC’s Preparing for the LSAT, “Very few people achieve their full potential on the LSAT without some preparation. At a minimum, you should take a practice test, including the writing sample, under actual time constraints. (Read about taking a Free LSAT Practice Test in PHPL Advising.) This will help you estimate how much time you can afford to spend on each question, as well as which question types you should spend additional time practicing.”
Below are some options that UCF Pre-Law students have used for LSAT preparation. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list of LSAT prep options, and it is not an endorsement of any of these LSAT prep companies. It is simply meant to be a list of resources to get you started and thinking about LSAT prep options.)
 
Self-Study Prep ($)
Online Class Prep ($)
In-Person Class Prep ($)
Private Tutor Prep ($)