LSAT Info, Test and Registration Dates

Prepare for the LSAT by knowing when and how to take it.

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The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day, standardized test administered four times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. All American Bar Association-approved law schools, most Canadian law schools, and many other law schools require applicants to take the LSAT as part of their admission process. Many law schools require that the LSAT be taken by December for admission the following fall. However, taking the test earlier—in June or September—is often advised.

The test consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions. Four of the five sections contribute to the test taker’s score. The unscored section, commonly referred to as the variable section, typically is used to pretest new test questions or to preequate new test forms. The placement of this section will vary. A 35-minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test. LSAC does not score the writing sample, but copies of the writing sample are sent to all law schools to which you apply. The LSAT is designed to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others.

Reading Comprehension Questions-- These questions measure your ability to read, with understanding and insight, examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those commonly encountered in law school work. The reading comprehension section contains four sets of reading questions, each consisting of a selection of reading material, followed by five to eight questions that test reading and reasoning abilities.
Analytical Reasoning Questions--These questions are designed to measure your ability to understand a structure of relationships and to draw logical conclusions about that structure. You are asked to make deductions from a set of statements, rules, or conditions that describe relationships among entities such as persons, places, things, or events. They simulate the kinds of detailed analyses of relationships that a law student must perform in solving legal problems.
Logical Reasoning Questions-- These questions are designed to evaluate your ability to understand, analyze, criticize, and complete a variety of arguments. Each logical reasoning question requires you to read and comprehend a short passage, then answer a question about it. The questions test a variety of abilities involved in reasoning logically and thinking critically.

LSAT Test and Registration Dates for the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean for the 2016 - 2017 Academic Year

Test Date: Saturday, September 24 and Monday, September 26, 2016*

Registration Online, by Mail, by Telephone: August 10 (receipt deadline)
Late Registration Online and by Telephone: August 17 (receipt deadline)

Test Dates: Saturday, December 3 and Monday, December 5, 2016*

Registration Online, by Mail, by Telephone: October 18 (receipt deadline)
Late Registration Online and by Telephone: October 25 (receipt deadline)

Test Dates: Saturday, February 4 and Monday, February 6, 2017*

Registration Online, by Mail, by Telephone: December 21, 2016 (receipt deadline)
Late Registration Online and by Telephone: December 28, 2016 (receipt deadline)

*Monday tests are for Saturday Sabbath observers only. Basic Fees:

LSAT Registration: $180
Late Registration: $90
Law School Reports: $30
Nonpublished Test Centers, Domestic: $275
Nonpublished Test Centers, International: $370

To Register: Online: The easiest way to register is online through LSAC. By Phone: Call weekdays at 215.968.1001 between 8:30 am and 6:00 pm ET, September-February, and between 8:30 am and 4:45 pm ET, March-August.

By Mail: Contact LSAC for a mail packet or e-mail their candidate service representatives at LSACINFO@LSAC.org. Information compiled from https://www.lsac.org. More information about LSAT test dates and deadlines.