About The LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an exam required by all law schools that are members of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) - 202 schools in all. Most U.S. law schools require their applicants to take the test. These schools use the test as one measure of a student's reading and verbal reasoning skills. The test occurs 4 times every year at locations across the globe, and it is extremely important because it is the single biggest factor for admission to most schools. For some schools, it accounts for 70% of the admission decision. This site, About-LSAT-Prep.com, has been created to present information on the LSAT and to help students improve their score on the test.
The LSAT is somewhat similar to the SAT in format, but it differs from the SAT and most other standardized tests in one key way - it is skills-based instead of knowledge-based. Students do not need to memorize and regurgitate facts or use specific known formulas to generate answers. Instead, it requires test-takers to think in a thorough and strategic way. Basically, it covers the skills of analytical thinking and critical reading that are crucial for success in law school.
The LSAT is composed of the following sections:
- Logical Reasoning - 35 minutes
- Analytical Reasoning - 35 minutes
- Reading Comprehension - 35 minutes
- Experimental - 35 minutes
- Writing Sample - 35 minutes
All sections except the Writing Sample section are multiple choice. Logical Reasoning questions test the student's ability to comprehend, criticize, and draw conclusions from arguments. The Analytical Reasoning questions measure the ability of students to understand relationships between systems and make deductive conclusions. Reading Comprehension questions test students on accurate reading and drawing inferences from the material. The Experimental section appears the same as one of the other sections but is not scored. The Writing Sample section asks students to write an essay that evaluates their ability to write organized, persuasive, coherent, and cogent arguments. It also tests the student's command of the English language.
The LSAT is a long test, taking 4 to 5 hours from beginning to end, including administrative details and breaks. That's a daunting task for many students. But fortunately the LSAT doesn't change very much from year to year, so students can be pretty sure of what to expect. This means that careful preparation can easily lead to a good score. The last change to the test occurred in 1992 when the testing service switched the order of the test to put the Writing Sample at the end, rather than the beginning, of the test.
LSAT prep work can take many forms. Students can prep for the test by taking practice tests and/or seeking tutorial help. LSAT tutors can help a student prep for the test by helping them find their weaknesses, and then helping them learn the material to improve their scores in those areas.
The articles on this site are here to help you learn more about the LSAT test, and find help if you need it. Please pick the articles that interest you from the column on the right, and enjoy the reading.
