The LSAT determines whether prospective law school students are prepared to enter law school. If you decide to apply to law school, the LSAT will test your knowledge in several areas, each with a time limit of 35 minutes. These areas include the following:2
- Logic and reasoning: In this section, the LSAT tests whether you can understand other peoples’ reasoning by requiring you to respond to a series of passages.
- Reading comprehension: The LSAT tests your ability to understand written statements by requiring you to read a series of passages and either evaluate them or compare and contrast multiple passages.
- Logic games: This section tests your skills in logic, analysis and reasoning by asking you to read a series of passages and make logical conclusions about them.
- Writing: This section tests your writing skills by answering an essay prompt. Like all other sections of the test, you’ll have 35 minutes to complete the essay portion, but you may complete it online as early as eight days before the test.
- Experimental: You are not graded on this section. Rather, the test makers will use the results from this section's questions to use in future tests.
You can begin prepping for the LSAT by analyzing your preferred study methods. There are many practice questions and tests available, which you can use to study the best methods for completing the test. Then, you can practice these methods until you find the one that works best for you.
Next, you can use these methods to practice your speed at completing them. As you practice more, you can increase your speed until you can complete each section within the allotted time. Once you complete each section, you’ll be able to review your work and discern which answers were correct, what you have yet to learn and how you can improve your method.
The key to prepping for the LSAT is to allow yourself time to study. Studying early — at least a month in advance — prevents burnout and reduces stress, both leading up to the test and on the day of the test. You can also practice taking the test in a quiet environment, where you can practice sitting still for long periods of time. This will make the actual test easier to endure.
It is also helpful to practice studying for the test with the goal of thoroughly understanding the material. Many people focus only on getting a good score, which does not allow them to truly understand the test material. If you focus instead on learning the material and thoroughly understanding it, you’ll be prepared both for the test and for a future in law, which will also help to lower your stress and prevent burnout.3
The LSAT is the standardized exam used when applying to law school in the United States. This exam is known to be very challenging, so it’s important to begin preparing for the LSAT with enough time that you will feel confident with the material before the exam.
Even if you have only recently become an undergraduate student, there are still ways to prepare for the LSAT that can help ease the burden of intense studying later on. You can find LSAT preparation materials, including practice exams, in bookstores as well as for free online,. Take multiple practice exams to identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can better prepare yourself.
Additionally, the Law School Administration Council (LSAC), which administers the LSAT, has teamed up with Khan Academy to offer free LSAT prep materials online, including practice tests with official questions.
Grand Canyon University is committed to helping aspiring lawyers prepare for law school and take the next step in their careers with a wide range of undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and government. Request more information at the top of the page to learn more about the degree options available to you as a future law student.
Retrieved from:
1 PublicLegal, 2020 Raw Data Law School Rankings in June 2021.
2Kaplan, What Is the LSAT? in January 2023.
3 Kaplan, Prep for the LSAT (With Limited Time) in January 2023.
Approved by faculty for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Feb. 7, 2023.