The LSAT India

LSAT India Overview

The LSAT India was a standardized assessment designed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and administered by Pearson VUE. The LSAT India, which was distinct from the standard American version of the LSAT in several important ways, was taken exclusively by applicants to law schools in India. The need for a unique Indian version of the LSAT was at least partially due to the issue of applicant degree level. In the U.S., law study is reserved for graduate students only, but in India, many students interested in the law are prospective undergraduates. The LSAT India was available in pencil-and-paper format only.

LSAT India Availability and Registration

Unlike the standard LSAT, the LSAT India was offered just once per year in late May. LSAT India test centers were located in 23 cities all over the country, typically in or near major metro areas. The registration window was open from about seven months before to approximately 10 days before the date of the test. Registration was only available online, with a registration fee of Rs. 3800. Post-registration communications from Pearson were delivered via email.

LSAT India Content and Scoring

The LSAT India included two Logical Reasoning sections, one Analytical Reasoning section, and one Reading Comprehension section. Each section contained about 24 questions for a total of 92-100 questions, all of which were multiple choice. Unlike the standard LSAT, there were no experimental sections, and there was no Writing sample. The LSAT India was therefore a shorter exam than the regular LSAT with a total testing time of two hours and 20 minutes. Scoring for the LSAT India was reported on a percentile basis only—there was no 120-180 scale. Indian law schools used these percentiles to compare applicants to their peers in the same group. Results were released about two weeks after the test.

LSAT India Acceptance

Over 80 Indian institutions accepted LSAT India scores for degree programs such as the five-year BA LLB, five-year BBA LLB, three-year LLB, and one-year LLM. The LSAT India was not accepted by law schools in any other country. Indian students interested in American or Canadian law schools had to take the standard version of the LSAT, which continues to be available in India.

LSAT India Scores Needed for Law Program Admission

Knowledgeable individuals recommended that students aim for LSAT India scores in the 75th percentile or above. Tracking score data from previous academic years gave prospective students some idea of the minimum LSAT India score expectations for law degree programs, which tended to hover somewhere between the 50th and 60th percentiles. Students below the score cutoff level for a specific year were not offered admission during that year.

Scholarships Based on LSAT India Scores

The financial obligations associated with law study in India could be greatly reduced through strong LSAT India performance. Most Indian institutions offered scholarships to enrolled students based partially or entirely on LSAT India scores. Jindal Global Law School, for example, awarded O.P. Jindal Outstanding Merit Scholarships of Rs. 1 lakh per year to each of the top five LSAT India scorers in three of its degree programs.

Summary of Differences between the LSAT and the LSAT India

The LSAT India was a different exam than the standard LSAT because the former is meant to assess a broader group of students and a wider range of degree programs. Although the LSAT India's four multiple-choice sections were based on the American version of the exam, some sections had fewer answer options (four versus five). The LSAT India had no experimental or writing sections and was therefore a shorter exam that required less testing endurance. LSAT India acceptance and availability were much more limited than the standard LSAT; the LSAT India was only considered by law schools in that country and the test was only offered once per year. Standard LSAT scores are reported on a 120-180 scale, while LSAT India scores were reported as percentiles only. The LSAT India was a paper-and-pencil exam; the standard LSAT became entirely digital in North America as of 2019. The LSAT India tended to be a greater factor in financial aid awards than the standard LSAT, and some scholarships could be obtained exclusively through elite LSAT India scores.