Test Day for the LSAT

All official LSAT administrations have listed start times of either 8:30 AM or 12:30 PM. These times are the latest that students will be admitted for check-in, and we strongly recommend that all test-takers get to the test center at least 30 minutes earlier. The check-in procedure and reading of exam rules take 30-60 minutes, and the exam itself will therefore begin at 9:00-9:30 or 1:00-1:30. Students take the first three multiple-choice sections, which last for 35 minutes each (plus a few minutes for directions). At approximately 10:50-11:20 or 2:50-3:20, test-takers receive a break of about 15-20 minutes. The next stage is the final two multiple-choice sections, also 35 minutes each; this stage concludes at 12:20-12:50 or 4:20-4:50. The last part of the test is the Writing sample (35 minutes), which is taken immediately afterwards. The test should end between 1:00 and 1:30 or 5:00 and 5:30, depending on how efficiently an individual test center is run and how many test-takers are in the group.

As indicated above, no student will be allowed into the test center after the posted start time. This means that test-takers should know how to get to that location before the day of the test. If the trip is to be made by car, learn the route and traffic conditions ahead of time; if the trip will be completed via public transportation, familiarize yourself with the appropriate stops and any necessary walking routes before test day. This alone will help reduce the stress of the LSAT. It is also wise to pack all necessary items (ID, admission ticket, pencils, drinks, and snacks) the night before the exam. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes that account for the season and any possible indoor conditions at the test center (too hot or too cold).

Test-takers are permitted to bring only the following items with them to the test center: admission ticket (which will be collected at check-in), identification documents, wallet, car keys, pencils, non-digital wristwatch, highlighters, eraser, pencil sharpener, hygiene products, tissues, drinks in clear plastic bottles, and snacks. Items not used during the test must be stored in a clear plastic bag under the student's seat, and they may not be accessed except during breaks.

Electronic devices of any kind are not allowed in LSAT test centers. Students may work only on the exam section dictated by proctors; they may not go back and look at or mark other sections. Also prohibited are taking the LSAT on another individual's behalf, attempting to remove test content from the test center, leaving the test room during the exam, and giving or receiving help to or from other test-takers.

No student will be admitted to the test center without an appropriate identification document. These documents must be original (no photocopies) and valid as of 90 days before the test date. Examples of appropriate identification documents include passports, driver's licenses, military IDs, Green Cards, and national ID cards. Among the documents that will not be accepted for identification purposes at the test center are Social Security cards, birth certificates, credit cards, and student ID cards. Neither of these lists is exhaustive, and test-takers who are unsure if the documents they have are acceptable should contact LSAC well ahead of their scheduled LSAT administration.

LSAT admission tickets are printed out by test-takers and brought to the test center. Do not sign the ticket until instructed to do so by test center staff. The admission ticket must include a recognizable photograph, which should be uploaded to the student's online LSAC accounts at the time of registration. Test-takers cannot simply scan the photo from their identification document; they must upload a different and recent photo.

Test-takers who fail to follow all of LSAC's rules for the administration of the LSAT are typically dismissed from the test center and their scores are cancelled. If the violation is minor, the student may first receive a warning from test center staff. Serious violations generally initiate LSAC investigations. Students who must leave the test center early for illness or other emergencies are responsible for voluntarily cancelling their scores (in these cases, LSAC will not complete this process automatically).