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Posted June 26, 2023

What is the LSAT?

LSAT – Law School Admissions Test

The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardised test administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) in the United States and Canada, as well as in some other countries. The test is designed to assess students’ critical thinking skills, logical reasoning skills and analytical skills, which are all necessary for success at law school.

Law schools in the United States use LSAT scores as one of the factors in evaluating applicants for admission to their faculty. Along with undergraduate GPA (Grade Point Average), personal statements (statement of purpose), letters of recommendation and other supporting application documents, the LSAT score provides law schools with a standardised measure of an applicant's ability to perform well at law school.

What is in the LSAT?

The LSAT consists of several sections, including Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning (also known as Logic Games), Reading Comprehension and a Writing Sample – these sections are designed to assess different skills necessary for success in law school.

Logical Reasoning – this section measures the student’s ability to analyse and evaluate arguments. Students must answer questions based on short passages to test their ability to understand, analyse and draw conclusions from information.

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) – here students are given a set of rules and a scenario, then they must use logic to answer questions related to that scenario. Common types of logic games include sequencing, grouping and matching.

Reading Comprehension – in this section, students will read passages on various subjects and answer questions based on the information presented. The passages are typically from disciplines like law, social sciences, natural sciences and the humanities.

Writing Sample – this is unscored but is sent to any law schools the students apply to. Students are given a prompt and asked to write an essay presenting and supporting an argument.

Please note, the LSAT is a standardised test and the order of the sections may vary. Plus, there may be experimental sections that do not contribute to your score.

Each section of the LSAT is timed, and the entire test will take approximately three hours and 30 minutes to complete.

LSAT achievement is measured on a scale of 120 to 180, with 180 being the highest possible score.

How do you prepare for the LSAT?

Preparing for the LSAT usually involves studying test-taking strategies, reviewing sample questions and taking practice exams. There are various resources available to help students prepare for the exam, including study guides, preparation courses and online materials.

Let’s look at how you can prepare for the LSAT in more details.

Understand the LSAT – familiarise yourself with the structure, content and timing of the LSAT. By understanding the different sections, question types and scoring system you can develop a study plan that suits your needs.

Create a study schedule – take the time to create a study schedule that allows for regular study sessions. Allocate specific time slots for different sections or question types and be disciplined.

Get the right study materials – ensure you have access to official LSAT prep books, practice tests and online resources. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) provides official practice tests, sample questions and study guides on their website.

Do practice questions – regular practice is crucial for LSAT preparation. Work through a variety of LSAT practice questions to improve your understanding and proficiency. Start with easier questions and gradually progress to more difficult ones as you build your skills. Also, make sure you full-length practice tests under timed conditions to simulate the actual test experience.

Analyse your mistakes – review your practice tests and analyse your mistakes so you can understand why you made the mistakes in the first place.

Seek additional resources – consider enrolling in an LSAT prep course, either in-person or online, which can provide structured guidance and additional study materials.

Look after yourself – maintain a healthy lifestyle during your LSAT preparation by getting enough sleep, doing regular exercise and eating healthily.

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