The LSAT is exceedingly
important for your admissions chances and it is the most important
admissions factor at most law schools. It is administered by
the LSAC (Law School Admissions Council)
four times each year (February, June, October, and December)
If
you took the SAT to get into college, then you know the routine.
The test is a similar experience, but the LSAT is much harder.
The Bad
News: Taking the LSAT
is a marathon. The tests are a total of 175 minutes long and
the writing sample is 30 minutes long. Add to that some administrative
work and a break and the whole LSAT test day "experience"
will take you about 4 to 5 hours. You will have to take practice
tests in blocks of several hours to simulate the test day experience.
The Good
News: The LSAT doesn't
tend to change much from year to year. It has been essentially
the same test for over 20 years. This means that if you take enough
practice tests and learn the right strategies, you can effectively
prepare for the test. The LSAT is a "beatable" test (unlike the GMAT and SAT, where prep companies can't help as much). Companies like Kaplan have spent decades decoding the LSAT and it is no wonder why tens of thousands of students use them every year.
The LSAT
Test Sections
The LSAT consists
of five multiple choice sections with a total of about 101 questions.
Section
|
# of sections
|
# of questions
|
length
|
content
|
| Logical Reasoning (Arguments) |
2
|
24-26
|
35 min
|
analyze statements
for logical errors
|
| Analytical Reasoning (Games) |
1
|
24
|
35 min
|
solve complex logical
deductive puzzles
|
| Reading Comprehension |
1
|
26-28
|
35 min
|
read passages and answer
questions
|
| Experimental |
1
|
Depends on section
|
35 min
|
Depends on section
|
| Writing Sample |
1
|
1
|
30 min
|
Write an essay on a topic
|
|
In
addition to the above multiple choice sections (Logical Reasoning,
Logic Games, Reading Comprehension), you will have to produce
a Writing
Sample short essay. The
essay is not
scored, but it is sent
with your application to law schools. Law schools usually do
not use it as a significant part of your admissions process.
Nevertheless, it is important to put effort into writing this
essay in the off chance that it is read. Since many people use
admissions consultants to write their admissions essays, the
LSAT essay is the one place where admissions evaluators can see
how you actually write.
>> Continue to the LSAT Scores & Admissions (page 2 of 4, Chapter 1)
