LSAT Study Guide for Aspiring Law School Students

Getting into law school can be a competitive process. If you’re contemplating a career as an attorney, you may want to become familiar with law school admissions requirements. One way to stand out from other applicants is to get a high score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

This LSAT study guide explains what is on the current test, what it costs, how it is scored and where you take it, then lays out a study approach built around the free official practice materials from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the organization that administers the LSAT. In short, the multiple-choice portion now tests only logical reasoning and reading comprehension, and the best place to start is a free, timed official practice test.

What Is the LSAT?

The LSAT is a two-part, skills-based test. According to LSAC’s description of the test, part one is four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions, and part two is an unscored writing sample called LSAT Argumentative Writing. Law schools use the LSAT to help them decide whom to admit, and a higher LSAT score is one of several factors that can make you more competitive when applying.

Can You Get into Law School Without Taking the LSAT?

Yes, but it is still the exception. The American Bar Association (ABA) requires the law schools it approves to use a valid and reliable admission test, and since November 2024 its accrediting council has allowed schools to apply for a variance to admit some first-year JD students without an admission test score.

Most students still take the LSAT. In the admissions data ABA-approved law schools reported for fall 2025, 41,847 first-year students were admitted with an LSAT score, compared with 531 with a GRE score, 127 with a JD-Next score and 312 with no standardized test, according to the ABA’s December 2025 release.

Some law schools, including some that offer online JD programs, accept a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score instead of the LSAT. ETS, which administers the GRE, keeps a list of law schools that accept GRE scores for their JD programs. This option can help people who are considering law school and other graduate programs, since they can prepare for one test instead of two. Check each school’s current policy before you decide which test to take.

FAQ About the LSAT

How Many Sections are in the LSAT?

There are two parts to the LSAT. The first part is four 35-minute multiple-choice sections. Three are scored: two Logical Reasoning sections and one Reading Comprehension section. The fourth section is unscored, can be either Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension, and is used to try out new questions.

The Analytical Reasoning section, often called logic games, is no longer on the test. LSAC removed it starting with the August 2024 LSAT, so older prep books and practice tests that include logic games no longer match the scored sections.

The second part is LSAT Argumentative Writing, an unscored essay you write in response to a randomly assigned prompt you have not seen before.

How Much Does the LSAT Cost?

For the August 2026–June 2027 testing year, LSAT registration costs $253, which includes LSAT Argumentative Writing.

LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) costs $219, and the subscription stays active for five years. CAS simplifies the application process: you send your transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documents to LSAC once, and LSAC combines them with your LSAT score in a report for each law school you apply to. Each law school report costs $45. LSAC offers fee waivers to candidates who qualify.

How Long is the LSAT?

According to LSAC’s LSAT FAQ, the four 35-minute multiple-choice sections take about three hours, with a 10-minute intermission between the second and third sections.

LSAT Argumentative Writing is taken separately, online, through a remote proctoring platform. Most test takers have 50 minutes: 15 minutes for prewriting analysis and 35 minutes to write the essay. Your writing link opens eight days before your LSAT administration begins, and you need an approved writing sample on file before your score can be released to you or to law schools.

Where and When Can You Take the LSAT?

Starting with the August 2026 test, most test takers are required to take the LSAT in person at a Prometric testing center, LSAC announced in May 2026. Remote testing is limited to test takers with approved medical accommodations a test center cannot provide and those who live more than 180 miles or three hours of travel from a test center and request an exception. The 2026–2027 cycle includes August, September, October, November, January, February, April and June administrations.

Before test day, review LSAC’s guidance on getting ready for your LSAT, which covers what to expect at the test center.

How is the LSAT Scored?

All multiple-choice questions on the LSAT are weighted the same. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. There are no deductions for getting an answer wrong, which is why it is better to answer all the questions than to leave some blank. Your raw score is then converted to the LSAT scale, which runs from 120 to 180. Your score report also shows a percentile rank: the share of test takers in the previous three testing years who scored lower than you.

What is a Good LSAT Score?

A good score depends on the schools you plan to apply to. LSAC’s LSAT percentile table for the 2023–2024 through 2025–2026 testing years gives a sense of where scores fall: a 150 was higher than 36.56 percent of scores, a 160 was higher than 71.06 percent and a 170 was higher than 94.48 percent.

To set a target, compare your practice scores with the admissions data each ABA-approved law school must publish. The ABA notes that these Standard 509 reports are posted at abarequireddisclosures.org. If your first practice scores are below your target, a structured study plan, like the one below, can help you close the gap.

How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?

Under LSAC’s limits on repeating the test, you can take the LSAT five times within the current reportable score period, which began in July 2021, and seven times over your lifetime. Canceled scores count toward these limits; absences and withdrawals do not. Because retakes are limited, it makes sense to test once your practice scores are consistently near your goal.

LSAT Practice Questions

LSAC provides free official practice materials online, including full practice tests and drill sets. Working through them is one of the most useful ways to study, because they use real LSAT questions in the same digital interface you will see on test day. The two current question types work differently, so practice each one.

Reading Comprehension Questions

The Reading Comprehension section has four sets of questions. Each set is built around one longer passage or two related shorter passages (comparative reading), followed by five to eight questions. The questions ask about the main idea, information stated in the passage, inferences, the meaning of words in context, the passage’s structure and how new information would affect it. LSAC says its free drill sets on LawHub include hints and explanations for every passage and question.

Logical Reasoning Questions

The Logical Reasoning section asks you to analyze and evaluate arguments drawn from sources such as newspapers, scholarly publications, advertisements and everyday conversation. Each short argument is followed by one question, or occasionally two. The questions test skills such as recognizing the parts of an argument, drawing well-supported conclusions, detecting assumptions and identifying flaws in reasoning. You don’t need to know the specialized terminology of formal logic, but you do need practice reading arguments closely and quickly.

5 Tips: How to Study for the LSAT

1. Establish Your Baseline Score The first step in preparing for the LSAT is getting to know the test. Learn about the two multiple-choice question types and read through official sample questions and their explanations. Then take a full, timed official practice test before you begin studying. Your baseline score shows how much preparation you need and which types of questions give you the most trouble.
2. Choose Current Preparation Materials There are many LSAT preparation guides, and not all of them have been updated. Check that any book, course or question bank you buy reflects the format used since August 2024, with two Logical Reasoning sections and one Reading Comprehension section and no logic games. Some materials cover the whole test, while others focus on one question type.
3. Consider Taking an LSAT Prep Course You have to choose between an LSAT prep course and self-study. Which you land on depends on your learning style, schedule and budget. Do you prefer to listen to lectures or read a textbook yourself? Do you want to be able to go to someone for help, or are you prepared to analyze the answers on your own? LSAT prep courses are helpful, but they aren’t necessary.
4. Create an LSAT Study Schedule How long you need depends mainly on the gap between your baseline score and your target score and on how much time you can study each week. If you have a particularly busy life between school, work and family, start further out from your test date. Build in time to review every question you miss, not just to answer new ones, and leave room for several full practice tests before test day.
5. Take Full Practice Tests and Practice the Essay Part of the challenge of the LSAT is the time crunch. The best way to prepare is to time yourself and take full practice tests under test-day conditions. You can access real LSAT practice tests through LSAC. Practice LSAT Argumentative Writing under its time limits too, since you must complete a writing sample before your score is released.

LSAT Resources to Help Prepare You for Test Day

Free Official Prep From LSAC

• Official LSAT Prep on LawHub: LSAC’s free option includes full official LSAT PrepTests, unlimited practice in the authentic test interface, self-paced and simulated exam modes and instant scoring feedback. LawHub Advantage, a paid one-year subscription, adds a larger library of official practice tests.
• Drill sets: LawHub’s Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension drill sets let you practice one question type at a time, and LSAC says the Reading Comprehension sets include hints and explanations.
• Question type guides: LSAC’s pages on the types of LSAT questions describe what each section measures and link to sample questions.
• Writing guidance: LSAC’s LSAT Argumentative Writing FAQ explains the format, timing and technical requirements for the essay.

Choosing Commercial Books, Courses and Videos

Many companies sell LSAT prep books, courses, tutoring and video lessons, and LSAC makes its official practice tests available through licensed providers as well as on LawHub. Before you pay for one, check that it is built for the current test format, uses real LSAT questions, and fits your budget and learning style. Free official materials from LSAC are a good place to start, so you can decide what extra help you need after you know your baseline score.

Taking the LSAT May Give You More Options

Many law schools accept the GRE, and the ABA now lets some schools admit students without an admission test score, but the LSAT is still the test most admitted law students take. Taking it may give you more options. It also prepares you for the intense reading and reasoning you will do in law school. For a broader look at the application process, see our guide to how to get into law school, and if you are still weighing the decision, consider whether a JD is worth it for your goals.