The Law School Admission Test All American Bar
Association (ABA)-approved law schools and many non-ABA-approved law
schools require that you take the LSAT. (On rare occasions, exceptions
may be made for people with certain disabilities.)
The test consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice
questions, in three different item types. A 30-minute writing sample is
administered at the end of the test. Four of the five sections
contribute to the test taker's score. The fifth section is typically
used to pretest new test items and to preequate new test forms. Law
services does not score the writing sample. Copies of the writing sample
are sent to all law schools to which you apply.
Some schools place greater weight than others on the LSAT; still, low
LSAT scores will hamper your chances for admission, particularly at the
most competitive schools. Most law schools do make a genuine effort to
evaluate your full credentials. Students registered with the Center have
opportunities to take practice LSAT tests. Professors review the test
results on an individual basis with students.
What the Test Measures
The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential
for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex
tests with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of
information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the
ability to reason critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the
reasoning and argument of others.
The three item types in the LSAT are:
