About the LSAT Flex

The LSAT During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The LSAT was first developed in 1948, and for most of its more than 70-year history, it remained a paper-and-pencil exam. This changed, however, in September 2019, when a digital version of the exam was introduced. The digital LSAT retained the same content, timing, structure and scoring as before; the only difference was that students completed the exam on a tablet-type electronic device provided at the test center. The transition to a digital exam at this time was particularly fortuitous, as the world shut down just a few months later in March 2020 with the outbreak of COVID-19. 

Given the social distancing protocols during the pandemic, it was clear students wouldn't be completing the LSAT in testing centers any time soon. But tens of thousands of students still wanted to attend law school, so the need for the LSAT remained. This led the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) to create the LSAT Flex in May 2020. It was a shorter version of the test that was completed using a test taker's personal computer with a webcam and microphone that allowed for remote proctoring. Test takers who didn't own a personal computer were encouraged to contact the LSAC for assistance in obtaining loaned resources. In certain cases, the LSAC also helped test takers find secure and safe locations to complete the exam if their living environment was not ideal to take the test during the pandemic.

The LSAT Flex

Prior to the creation of the LSAT Flex, the standard LSAT consisted of five sections: two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, one scored Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section, and one unscored or experimental section that could feature Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, or Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) questions. Completing the five sections of the LSAT took roughly 3.5 hours, and test takers received one 15-minute break during the exam. The Argumentative Writing task was completed separately from the other five multiple choice sections, and test takers had 35 minutes to read a prompt and write an essay.

With the creation of the LSAT Flex, several aspects of the exam were changed. The exam was shortened from five sections to three sections: one scored Logical Reasoning section, one scored Analytical Reasoning section, and one scored Reading Comprehension section. Test takers were given 35 minutes to complete each section, and the unscored or experimental section was temporarily done away with. At just two hours, the LSAT Flex was significantly shorter than previous versions of the LSAT. Unlike the previous version of the exam, test takers were not given any breaks. 

A few aspects of the LSAT did not change with the introduction of the LSAT Flex. The Argumentative Writing task was still required and still completed separately from the rest of the exam. The scoring system also remained the same, with scores reported on a scale of 120 to 180. 

The last LSAT Flex exam was administered in June 2021, at which point the pandemic-inspired version of the exam was discontinued. According to those who shared their experiences taking the LSAT Flex, many prospective law school students found the exam easier due to its shorter format, as well as the ability to take it at home. Others who took the exam disliked the digitized version and found reading on a screen to be more difficult than reading from a piece of paper. Based on the scores test takers obtained, the LSAC reported that the LSAT Flex was neither harder nor easier than previous versions of the LSAT, but resulted in a scores very similar to those from before the pandemic.