The LSAT Explained: Format, Scoring and How to Prepare

The LSAT is a test of skills, not knowledge. You do not need to know any law to take it. Instead, it measures how well you read dense text, reason about arguments and analyze information under time pressure, which are the skills law school demands. That also makes it highly trainable: many people raise their scores substantially with structured practice.

This guide explains the current format, scoring and a sensible way to prepare. We checked the details at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) on the date shown above, and we leave out registration fees and test dates, which change.

What the LSAT is used for

Law schools in the United States, and many in Canada and elsewhere, use LSAT scores in admissions. Schools weigh the score alongside your grades, essays, recommendations and experience. A strong LSAT can offset a lower grade average, and the reverse, so it is often among the most important parts of the application. Check each school's published ranges, which show the typical scores of admitted students.

The current format

The LSAT changed in August 2024. The multiple-choice portion now has:

• two scored Logical Reasoning sections;
• one scored Reading Comprehension section;
• one unscored section, which is either Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension. You will not know which section is unscored.

Each section is 35 minutes, which means four sections, and there is a mandatory 10-minute break between the second and third sections. LSAC describes the whole test as about three hours.

The earlier Analytical Reasoning section, known as Logic Games, was removed starting with the August 2024 test. Older prep books that teach logic games are out of date for the current exam, though they may still be useful for general reasoning practice.

Logical Reasoning

This section tests your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments. Each question presents a short passage, often an argument, followed by a question. Typical tasks include:

• finding the conclusion and the premises;
• identifying the assumption an argument relies on;
• strengthening or weakening an argument;
• finding a flaw in the reasoning;
• applying principles to cases;
• drawing a valid inference from given statements;
• identifying parallel reasoning in another argument.

The skill is to see the structure of an argument, separate what is claimed from what is supported and evaluate whether the support is enough.

Reading Comprehension

This section has passages of dense, academic-style prose, followed by questions about the main point, the structure, the author's attitude, inferences and how parts of the passage relate to each other. Some sets pair two passages and ask you to compare them. The task is to understand not only what is said, but how the passage is organized and why the author makes the points. Preparing means reading demanding texts regularly and practicing summarizing their structure.

Scoring

Your raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly across the scored sections. That raw score is converted to a scaled score from 120 to 180, using a scale that adjusts for the difficulty of each test so that scores are comparable across administrations. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question.

LSAC kept the 120 to 180 scale for the revised test to provide continuity for schools and test takers. Reported average scores of test takers have generally fallen in the low 150s in recent years, according to LSAC data, though your target should depend on the schools you want.

Argumentative Writing

LSAT Argumentative Writing is administered separately from the multiple-choice sections. It is delivered online, is not scored and does not affect the 120 to 180 number. It is sent to the law schools you apply to as a writing sample, and it is required to complete your LSAT file. In it, you are given a prompt with competing considerations and you write an argument supporting a position. Take it seriously, because schools can read it, and write clearly with a clear position and reasoning.

How to prepare

Start with a diagnostic

Take a full, timed, official practice test early, to see your starting point and weakest question types. Official practice material from LSAC is the best guide, since the questions are real and the format is current.

Learn the question types

Each Logical Reasoning type has a method. Study how to find the conclusion, how to identify assumptions and how to evaluate answer choices. Many strong test takers keep a notebook of question types and their approach.

Practice untimed, then timed

Begin with untimed practice to learn the reasoning, then add time pressure gradually. Each section is 35 minutes, so build the habit of pacing: you cannot afford to spend too long on any question.

Review every mistake

The main way scores rise is by understanding errors. For each question you miss or guess, write why the right answer is right and why yours was wrong. Look for patterns, such as always falling for answers that are too broad, or misreading conclusions. Our guide to how to use past papers explains how to learn from practice tests, and the principles apply here.

Train reading

For Reading Comprehension, practice actively reading complex material: law, science, humanities and social science articles. After each passage, summarize it in a sentence, and note the author's tone and the purpose of each paragraph.

Build stamina

The test takes about three hours. Take full tests under real conditions, including the break, to build concentration. Learn to manage the unscored section by treating every section as if it counts.

Plan your schedule

A common plan runs for several months, with regular short sessions across the week and a full practice test every week or two nearer the date. Spread the work over time, in line with spaced learning, and include rest. Stick with official materials for tests, and treat other resources as supplements.

Test day

Follow LSAC's instructions for your test format, check your identification and technology requirements well in advance and plan the day so you arrive calm. Eat sensibly, sleep well and keep to your pacing plan. If a question is taking too long, mark it, guess and move on. Our guide to what to do on exam day covers the details.

Retakes and score reporting

You can often take the LSAT more than once, and law schools receive reports of your scores. How schools treat multiple scores varies, and some consider the highest score. LSAC limits the number of times you can test in certain periods, so check the current rules. Do not retake without changing your preparation.

Accommodations

If you have a disability or health condition, you can apply to LSAC for testing accommodations, such as extra time. The process requires documentation and takes time, so start early.

Common mistakes

1. Using outdated materials that focus on Logic Games.
2. Doing lots of questions without review.
3. Ignoring timing until late.
4. Skipping full practice tests.
5. Treating the writing sample casually.
6. Leaving questions blank, when there is no penalty.

A sample weekly study plan

A common structure for several months of preparation looks like this. On three weekdays, do 45 to 60 minutes of focused practice on one question type, then review. On one weekday, do a full timed section. On the weekend, do a longer review session and, every second week, a full timed practice test with the break included.

Keep one day completely free. As the test approaches, replace single-type drills with mixed sections, and run the full tests more often. Track your scores in a simple table so you can see trends instead of reacting to one bad day.

Reading for the LSAT in daily life

Some of the best preparation happens outside practice tests. Read one dense article a day from a serious publication, and write a sentence about its main point and a sentence about its weakest link. When you hear an argument in conversation, ask what it assumes. This turns everyday reading into training for Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, and it builds the stamina to focus on difficult prose.

The bottom line

The LSAT tests reasoning and reading, and it can be trained. Know the current format, with its two Logical Reasoning sections and one Reading Comprehension section, use official practice, review every mistake and build stamina with full timed tests. Steady practice over months is the most reliable route to a better score.