The LSAT Argumentative Writing Task
LSAT Argumentative Writing Task Scoring
The LSAT Argumentative Writing task is an unscored part of the exam, which means it does not count towards the LSAT total score that ranges from 120-180. But just because the Argumentative Writing task is not scored doesn't mean it's not important, and test takers are advised not to ignore or overlook this section.
Registration for the Argumentative Writing task is included with your $248 LSAT registration fee. You can complete it up to eight (8) days before or up to one (1) year after taking the multiple-choice sections of the LSAT. The Argumentative Writing task is not taken at the same time as the multiple-choice sections, and it can’t be taken at a testing center. The Writing task is completed remotely on a laptop or desktop from the comfort of your home or other quiet location, and is proctored by a test administrator via your webcam and microphone.
You are required to have a writing sample on file in order to view your LSAT score and have it sent to your designated law schools. The Argumentative Writing task fulfills that requirement, and if you have completed the Writing task once within the past five years, you do not need to take it again. While the Writing task is not a new part of the LSAT, it was updated in 2024 to allow for a more thorough assessment of a test taker's inherent writing abilities rather than focusing strictly on presenting an argument through logical reasoning.
Test takers are still given a debatable prompt, but rather than being provided two options, as well as advantages and disadvantages for each, they are now given three to four different perspectives intended to provide additional context and promote critical thinking. Some perspectives may support one another while other perspectives may directly conflict. Still other perspectives may do neither and simply present additional information.
Test takers have 50 minutes to complete the Argumentative Writing task. The first 15 minutes are intended for "prewriting analysis." This involves reading the prompt and provided perspectives, drafting a thesis, and organizing an essay outline by deciding which points you want to make and what your conclusion will be. The last 35 minutes of the Writing task are used for writing your essay.
Could the Argumentative Writing Task Become a Scored Part of the Exam?
In recent years, law programs have expressed concern to LSAC about the rise in law school applicants using AI-assisted writing technologies to craft personal statements and complete law school applications. The use of this technology has made it increasingly difficult for admission committees to assess the innate writing skills of potential students, and this difficulty is one of the primary reasons LSAC updated the Writing sample and created the Argumentative Writing task.
LSAC said that the Argumentative Writing task would remain unscored for the 2024-2025 testing cycle. However, they noted they would be analyzing data from this testing cycle to assess the reliability and validity of the Argumentative Writing task. This is being done "with a long-term goal of providing a scored LSAT Writing assessment that schools may use in their holistic admission process."
This means that, yes, at some point the Argumentative Writing task will become a scored part of the LSAT. It's unknown whether it will be a stand-alone score or incorporated into the LSAT Total score, although the former seems more likely. Regardless, it's clear that the Argumentative Writing task is becoming an increasingly important part of the LSAT, and students are encouraged to view it that way.
What Role Does the Argumentative Writing Task Play in the Law School Admission Process?
How much the Writing task factors into an admission decision varies among law schools. Some read every applicant's essay thoroughly, others use it as the deciding factor when choosing between two candidates who are otherwise very similar. Still others read the essay to better understand an applicant with a less-than-ideal LSAT score, lower-than-expected GPA, or a significant time gap between finishing their undergraduate degree and applying to law school. Since there is no way of knowing how an admission committee will use your essay, it's always better to treat the Writing task as an important part of the exam and strive to perform your very best on it.