The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized test that lasts approximately half a day, and takes place four times a year at various testing sites all over the world. It is a vital prerequisite to being admitted into law school in a number of countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the Caribbean, and several others. It is usually occurs on a Saturday, except for during the month of June, when it takes place on a Monday. A majority of law schools require that future students take the LSAT before December if they plan to gain admittance the following fall, but it is often suggested that it be taken much earlier, in case you may need to retake the exam. So what is the LSAT?
What is the LSAT?
How is the LSAT formatted? The LSAT consists of five sections of multiple choice questions, and each section is given a 35 minute time limit. A written portion is also administered during the LSAT, but is not scored. A copy of this written section is, however, sent to the law schools you plan to apply to. Four of the five multiple choice sections are scored, and contribute to the test’s results, while the fifth, called the variable, is used to try out new questions for future exams.
What is covered in the LSAT? The three types of questions featured in the LSAT are: logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. All of these skills, to some degree, directly relate to the knowledge one might need if they wished to be accepted into law school and do well while they are in attendance. The reading comprehension portion is designed to test the student’s ability to understand complex material that one might find in law documents. The logical reasoning portion is utilized to test one’s capability to analyze and carry out effective arguments, which is a useful skill for any law student. While the analytical reasoning portion gauges one’s ability to understand relationships between events or people and to reach conclusions from viewing those relationships.
How often can you take the LSAT? You are able to take the LSAT a total of 3 times within a two year period. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as illness or an emergency, the LSAT results of the original and retaken tests are averaged. In cases where the test scores vary greatly, all tests completed by that individual are rechecked to make sure there was no misconduct involved.
Additional information about the LSAT. The LSAT, as it is today, has been around since 1991, however earlier forms of it have existed since 1948. The results of the test are measured on a scale of 120 to 180, with the latter being the highest possible score. It currently costs around $140 to take the LSAT in the United States and $144 (CAN) within Canada.
The LSAT must be taken by all who intend to enroll in Law School within a number of countries across the globe. And an ever increasing amount of countries are beginning to require it before entering their law systems. Preparation for the LSAT is often lengthy and involved, however there are a number of websites and books that offer test prep and tips in order to help you achieve your highest score. Good luck and aim for 180!
