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What Is the LSAT?
By
Savannah Dawson
Prior to coming to Scholarships360 for her first internship in 2022, Savannah utilized her campus publications by joining various fashion publications that are offered at Ohio University. One of those publications is Thread Magazine, where Savannah has had the opportunity to work on articles related to world-wide related fashion news and events, as well as articles closer to home, such as a fashion piece on Athens hometown-hero Joe Burrow. This year, Savannah also had the opportunity to be a content writing intern for Aiken House, as well as a section editor for Southeast Ohio Magazine. In 2023, Savannah served as the Chapter President of her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. These collective experiences, as well as her experience currently working for Ohio University’s Undergraduate Admissions, has led her to Scholarships360 and aided in her passion for helping students better understand the college admissions process and financial aid. In her free time, Savannah enjoys horseback riding, watching Formula One races, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. Savannah will graduate from Ohio University in May 2024 with a degree in Journalism News and Information and a certificate in Italian Studies.
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The LSAT, or the Law School Admission Test, tests students on the knowledge and skills that are necessary for entrance to law school. It also helps to let students know whether or not law school is right for them. The exam takes a great deal of time and preparation, so let’s get started breaking down why that is so.
Things to keep in mind
- Some law schools accept tests other than the LSAT, but you have to check with your respective school to make sure
- The LSAT is just one part of the holistic review that most law schools consider before accepting students
- Registration for the LSAT is from October to June
- Due to COVID-19, the LSAT is still being conducted in a live-remote format
What is on the LSAT?
There are two portions of the LSAT that are both equally important. This includes a multiple choice question section and a written essay called LSAT Writing.
Multiple choice
This section is a four part multiple choice test, consisting of questions about reading comprehension, reasoning, and analytics. This multiple choice section is separate from the writing portion of the test. There are three separate sections: Analytical Reasoning, or “Logic Games”, Logical Reasoning, or “Arguments”, and Reading Comprehension. This portion of the exam is scored on a scale of 120 to 180.
LSAT Writing
This section of the test is a written essay which assesses a prospective student’s persuasive writing skills. The LSAT Writing portion can be taken up until eight days before the multiple choice section. While this portion of the test does not receive a score, it is still taken into consideration because it becomes a decision maker when students’ scores and resumes are similar.
How long does the LSAT take?
The LSAT is composed of four 35-minute tests. There is also a 10-minute intermission between the second and third sections, totaling at about three hours for the average test taker.
How much does the LSAT cost?
There are many different fees that come with taking the LSAT. These include:
- Cost of the test (including writing): $215
- Credential Assembly Service: $195
- Law School Report: $45
Additional auxiliary fees
- LSAT score preview: $45 (if you sign up prior to the first day of testing) or $75 (you sign up during a specified period after testing concludes)
- Official candidate LSAT score report: $50
- Score audit: $150
In addition to the above, there is an extra charge if you decide to change the date through your test administration’s registration deadline. If you need to change your test date up to 10 days after your administration’s registration deadline, there is a $135 fee. If you decide to change your test date 11 days after your administration’s registration deadline, the organization will charge you a $215 fee.
How can I pay for the LSAT?
Forms of payment
For the online payment, LSAT accepts all major credit cards. See the following if this is not possible.
What if I can’t pay?
There are multiple options if you don’t think you will be able to pay for the LSAT. For starters, you may be eligible for the LSAT fee waiver. There are four fee waiver tiers that apply, depending on the level of financial need. These waivers cover up to $430 worth of fees.
In addition to the fee waiver, there are various options for law school scholarships that could potentially pay for the fees that are included in the application process. Some of those include the Elite Lawyer Scholarship, or the AABA Law Foundation Scholarships.
Related: How to pay for law school
Final thoughts for students
The LSAT is a very important test for those considering going into law. Even if it is optional for one of the schools you are looking into, it is a great way to mentally prepare yourself for the type of material that you will be expected to learn in most law programs.
Additional resources
Once you have taken the LSAT and you are ready to finish applying to law school, we have you covered on some quick tips and tricks to help make your life easier. Although you’re already one step ahead, our how-to guide on how to become a lawyer is a great place to start if you are thinking about this career path. You can also check out our other articles on how to get into law school with a low GPA, and find a bunch of great law school scholarships at Scholarships360 too. Good luck!
