Understanding the LSAT Test Sections: A Comprehensive Guide

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a crucial step for anyone aspiring to attend law school. It is the only standardized test designed specifically for law school admission. The LSAT assesses skills deemed essential for success in the first year of law school, as validated by studies involving law school faculty. This article provides a detailed overview of the LSAT's structure, sections, and what each section entails.

LSAT Structure and Timing

The LSAT is structured in two parts. The first part is a proctored multiple-choice test consisting of three, 35-minute scored sections of multiple-choice questions and one 35-minute unscored section. The second part of the LSAT is LSAT Argumentative Writing, a 50-minute, remotely proctored, on-demand writing exam. The entire multiple-choice portion of the LSAT takes two hours and 30 minutes of testing time.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.

Multiple-Choice Sections

The multiple-choice portion of the LSAT includes three scored sections and one unscored section, which enables us to validate new test questions for future use. The unscored section can be any one of the question types - Reading Comprehension or Logical Reasoning - and can occur at any point in the test. The order in which sections appear on the actual test is random, so test takers will not know which section is scored and which section is not. The purpose of the unscored section is to review the questions for appropriate content and fairness to all groups and backgrounds and ensure they are free from any form of bias and are fair to every group of test takers. Any question that shows any racial, ethnic, or gender bias in field testing is rejected and never used in the scored sections of the test.

Logical Reasoning

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.

On these questions, you’ll have to identify whether the arguments are strong or weak, as well as the foundation for said strength or weakness. Hence, being able to analyze arguments is central to legal analysis. Law school will challenge you to analyze, evaluate, construct, and refute arguments. In the logical reasoning sections, you’ll be presented with short arguments drawn from various sources, such as newspapers, magazines, scholarly publications, and advertisements.

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Reading Comprehension

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).

On the reading comprehension section, you are presented with scholarly passages. This section consists of four passages: three with one author and one with two authors who discuss the same topic. Each section is followed by 5 to 8 questions, containing about 27 questions in total. On this LSAT section, you will be given a series of long, complex passages drawn from various subjects. These subjects include the social sciences, biology, physical science, and areas related to law. Furthermore, you will need to be able to differentiate concepts based on precise language. For example, writing briefs and making legal arguments largely depends on your ability to compare, analyze, synthesize and apply principles and rules. In law school, you’ll also be required to understand difficult and challenging material.

Variable 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. The variable section is the unscored portion of the test. However, you may not be able to immediately recognize it, so you need to take it seriously and do the best you can on it. It can be any of the sections discussed above. This section is used to test out new questions or evaluate test forms.

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) (Until June 2024)

The analytical reasoning or “logic games” section consists of four logic games with four to seven multiple-choice questions. This section tests your ability to consider a group of facts and rules and determine outcomes based on this information. On this section, you will be presented with a single passage and then be asked a series of questions based on the passage. Basically, you must be able to order or group relationships in order to correctly answer them. There are different types of logic games. Some will require matching, others require sequencing, and some require both. Essentially, this portion of the test is included on the LSAT because it assesses a test taker’s ability to problem solve: an essential skill for all lawyers. For many test takers, this is the hardest section of the test and where they spend the most time on their preparation.

Change to LSAT Format Starting August 2024

Starting with the August 2024 test, the LSAT will consist of two scored Logical Reasoning (LR) sections, one scored Reading Comprehension (RC) section, plus one unscored section of either LR or RC that enables us to pilot items for future tests. While the logic games will be sunsetting after the June 2024 test, the LSAT will continue to assess prospective law students’ skills at analytical and deductive reasoning. The LR section has been a component of the LSAT for decades and was designed to assess many varieties of reasoning skills that are essential for law school success, including the deductive reasoning skills that were the focus of the “logic games” exercises. Replacing the current logic games with a second LR section will ensure that the LSAT continues to assess the reasoning skills that are so important to the study and practice of law, while eliminating the concerns that were raised about the use of diagramming.

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. 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.

LSAT Argumentative Writing samples don’t receive a score, they are considered by law school admission committees when reviewing individuals’ applications. LSAT Argumentative Writing is administered using ProctorU’s secure proctoring software on your own computer. You are eligible to take LSAT Argumentative Writing starting eight (8) days prior to the LSAT test administration.

As a part of the writing task, you will be presented with a debatable issue, along with three or four perspectives that provide additional context for the issue. You will then draft an argumentative essay in which you take a position on the issue, while addressing some of the arguments and ideas presented by the other perspectives. There are no “right” or “wrong” positions; the writing sample is designed to let you demonstrate your persuasive writing skills. Law schools will examine the reasoning, clarity, organization, language usage, and writing mechanics you display in your sample.

The Intermission

The LSAT consists of four sections: three scored sections and one unscored section. Between the second and third sections, test takers are provided a 10-minute intermission. The intermission will be your opportunity to take a quick pause, use the restroom, perhaps eat or drink something or stretch your legs, but you must continue to follow the rules and not engage in any prohibited behaviors.

At the completion of Section 2, the test will go into an Intermission screen with a brief description of the 10-minute intermission. At the bottom of the screen you will see a countdown timer and a Continue to Step 2 button. Once the intermission begins, you have up to 10 minutes to leave your testing area, use the restroom, eat or drink something, stretch, and get ready for the second half of your test. Section 3 will not begin until the countdown clock expires. Test takers must click the Continue to Step 2 button in order to move on to Section 3. Once this button is clicked, your proctor will resecure your testing environment so that you can go on to Section 3.

Intermission Rules

You must notify your proctor that the 10-minute intermission has begun and await acknowledgement prior to leaving the testing area.
You must return from the intermission at or before the required 10-minute time window expires. There will be an onscreen timer to assist you. (Note that Section 3 will not begin until the full 10 minutes has expired.)
You may not access any electronic devices, such as a mobile phone, during the intermission unless you have an LSAC-approved testing accommodation that permits use of the specific device. Unauthorized access of an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, will cause your testing session to be terminated.
You may not use your computer for any purpose other than your test session/intermission.
You may not discuss the test with anyone.
You may not work on your scratch paper.

How the LSAT Is Used

LSAT results help you and admission decision makers gain valuable insight as to law school readiness. The LSAT enables schools to identify qualified candidates who might otherwise be overlooked based on undergraduate institution, GPA, extracurricular activities, or other factors. Research consistently shows the LSAT is the best single predictor of law school success - and becomes an invaluable component of a holistic admission process.

Preparation

LSAT preparation can help you drastically improve your scores in all sections of the test. Additionally, the LSAT is one test that you can teach yourself. Solid LSAT prep will walk you through the various sections and give you strategies for tackling each one. By concentrating your time on enhancing your skills in critical reading, analytical thinking and verbal reasoning, you will be directly increasing your potential LSAT score. As part of that process, LSAC is working with Khan Academy and Equity Accelerator to evolve how they provide test preparation for students, including practice tests, explanatory lessons, focused problem sets, and other resources.

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