Recent Changes to the LSAT
Changes to the LSAT in 2024
The LSAT underwent important changes 2024. The Analytical Reasoning section commonly known as "Logic Games" was removed from the exam and replaced by a second Logical Reasoning section. This means the test now features two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored or experimental Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension section.
The LSAT Argumentative Writing task was updated with an emphasis on providing a way for test takers to demonstrate their analytical skills. Previous versions gave test takers 35 minutes to write an essay. Following the 2024 change, they now have 15 minutes to read different positions on a debated topic, and 35 minutes to write an argument addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the various ideas presented. While the updated Argumentative Writing task is currently unscored, the LSAC has noted that it may begin scoring the essay starting in the fall of 2025. It was also made available to students as early as eight days before the rest of the LSAT exam, meaning students could complete this fully online, proctored writing task at their convenience.
Changes to LSAT in 2020
LSAC created the LSAT Flex in 2020 in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented taking the LSAT in designated testing centers. The fully online, proctored exam consisted of only three sections: Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Analytical Reasoning. The experimental or unscored section was removed, which made the test significantly shorter at two hours long instead of the previous three-and-a-half hours. The LSAT Flex was discontinued in June 2021, and the LSAT transitioned back to the standard test format that could be taken digitally or in a designated testing center.
Changes to the LSAT in 2019
The LSAT Goes Digital
The LSAT steadfastly remained a paper-and-pencil test until 2019, even though most graduate-level standardized tests had been electronic for some time. The test became available to selected students in digital format starting in July 2019, with the transition to an all-digital LSAT made by September 2019. The exam itself did not change; the LSAT retained the same content, timing, structure, and scoring as before. Unlike some other electronic standardized tests (such as the GMAT), computer adaptation did not become a feature of the digital LSAT. (Computer-adaptive tests adjust the difficulty level of later questions based on student responses to earlier questions). The digital LSAT was created to give students the convenience of an electronic testing medium without sacrificing the test's tried-and-true credibility.
Students completed the digital LSAT on a tablet-type electronic device provided at the test center. Standard tablet features included adjustable font sizes, magnification, and brightness. Additionally, test takers were given a stylus, which allowed them to highlight on-screen passages of text. Each test section included a navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, which students could use to flag and return to specific questions. The tablets were purported to more easily accommodate special testing features for students with disabilities.
Click here for more information on the digital LSAT.
The New LSAT Writing Sample
Beginning with the June 2019 LSAT test date, students were no longer required to complete the LSAT writing sample on the same day as the other exam sections. The essay task remained the same, but test takers were able to write their essays anytime from the day of the test up to one year afterwards. LSAT writing samples were proctored remotely, using the webcam, screen, and microphone of the test taker's personal computer, along with a writing interface that included word processing software. For students who did not own computers, the LSAT writing section could be taken at authorized test centers.
Expansion of the Number of Test Dates
For much of its history, the LSAT was offered just four times per year. This put the LSAT at a disadvantage compared to other common tests for graduate school (the GRE, for example, may be taken on almost any day of the year). In 2017, LSAC announced its intention to increase the number of yearly test dates to six, and as of the 2019-2020 testing year (which began in June 2019), the total number of available annual test dates was increased to nine (once each in June, July, September, October, November, January, February, March, and April). LSAT administrations were held either on Saturdays or Mondays, with additional dates for test takers who observe the Sabbath on Saturdays.
Changes to the LSAT in 2016
GRE Acceptance by Law Schools
The University of Arizona Law School became the first law school to accept GRE scores in place of LSAT scores in 2016. Harvard Law School began accepting GRE scores in 2018. In November 2021, the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted to allow law schools to accept GRE scores in place of LSAT scores. This led to significantly more schools accepting GRE scores. In May 2019, 26 accredited law schools accepted GRE scores. As of 2025, 94 ABA-accredited law schools accept them.
While GRE scores are becoming increasingly common, the LSAT is still the exam of choice for most law school applicants. As of 2024, less than 10% of students admitted to top law schools submitted a GRE score rather than an LSAT score. It is also important to note that LSAT scores—rather than GRE scores—are used to determine a law program's ranking in comparison to other law programs. As more applicants submit GRE scores, it's likely law programs will collect the data needed to determine the GRE's usefulness. But for now, there is strong data demonstrating that a good LSAT score accurately predicts a person's success in law school.
Changes to the LSAT in 2007
A noteworthy LSAT content revision was implemented in 2007 with the introduction of a paired reading passage in the Reading Comprehension section. This type of exercise is generally referred to as "comparative reading," and it has become an entrenched feature of the exam's assessment of reading comprehension skills.