Summary of the LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a four-section exam with a total testing time of two hours and 30 minutes. All students who sit for the LSAT will complete two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored section that will be either Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension. Each section of the LSAT is separately timed and lasts for 35 minutes. All questions on the Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections are multiple choice, and test takers are given one 10-minute break after completing the second test section. The LSAT can be taken remotely with a virtual proctor or at a designated testing center.
Logical Reasoning Section
The LSAT's two or three Logical Reasoning sections include 24-26 questions each. According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the developer and administrator of the test, these questions "evaluate a test taker's ability to understand, analyze, criticize, and complete arguments." All Logical Reasoning questions are preceded by short passages of text, and these passages may be the subject of either one or two questions. Textual passages are similar to material found in general-interest publications such as magazines or newspapers, and students will not need advance knowledge of the law to complete these (or any) LSAT exercises. All LSAT multiple-choice questions have five answer options.
Reading Comprehension Section
The LSAT's Reading Comprehension section features 26-28 questions. Students will see at least one Reading Comprehension section and possibly two. The section is structured around four reading passages that are each about 450 words long, with sets of 5-8 questions for each passage. One of these may be a pair of passages, and the questions for paired passages may concern either or both texts (this is known as "comparative reading" in LSAT parlance). This portion of the LSAT, per LSAC, is intended to "measure your ability to read, with understanding and insight, examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those commonly encountered in law school work."
Variable or Experimental Section
As noted above, one of the multiple-choice sections (Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension) will be variable, for the purpose of evaluating new exercises for potential inclusion in future versions of the LSAT. It's obviously possible for test takers to infer the content of the variable section while taking the test, but they will not know which specific section it is. For example, if a LSAT administration contains two Reading Comprehension sections, the student can be sure one of them is experimental, but trying to determine which one is the variable section would be pure guesswork. Students are advised to make every effort to do their best on all sections, even if they think they know the identity of the variable section.
LSAT Argumentative Writing
The LSAT Argumentative Writing task is completed separately from the four multiple-choice sections, although it is included in the standard exam registration fee. Those taking the LSAT for the first time are required to complete the Argumentative Writing task. While it is unscored and does not contribute to a test taker's overall LSAT score, LSAC requires students to have a writing sample on file in order for their test scores to be sent to law schools. If a test taker has previously taken the LSAT and completed the Argumentative Writing task in the past five years, they don't need to complete it again.
The Argumentative Writing task is completed online in a proctored setting and can be taken up to eight days before the rest of the LSAT. Test takers have 50 minutes to complete it. While some people taking the exam may view the writing task as merely a formality, this would be a mistake, as all available evidence shows law programs take this part of the exam seriously. LSAC has cited a number of reasons for the inclusion of a writing assessment on the LSAT, including the importance of effective written communication and the usefulness of writing as a diagnostic tool. Given the rise in AI-assisted writing programs and the use of these programs in crafting law school applications and essays, it's likely the Argumentative Writing task will become even more important in the law school admissions process.