All About The LSAT

The LSAT is typically administered biannually: in January and April in Singapore and most parts of the world. However, if you are aiming to sit for the test in the U.S. or Canada, more test dates are available.

Students can sit for the LSAT thrice each testing cycle, five times within five past testing years, and, at maximum, 7 times in a lifetime. Test scores are valid for five years.

This doesn’t mean that you should take multiple sittings of the test. Ideally, you should be completely prepared for your first sitting. If something goes wrong (e.g you fell ill on your test date or you know you messed up somewhere) then take the test again. If you are finding yourself wanting to take the test more than 3 times over more than one testing cycle, think carefully about why you want to do so – law schools may wonder why you needed so many sittings.

You have the option of sitting for the LSAT either during or after completing your undergraduate studies. LSAT prep can be arduous and require a significant time commitment. It is important that you set aside a few months for test preparation so that you can adequately prepare for the various sections and question types. Since preparation time differs from student to student, attempt a diagnostic test to get a gauge of your performance level before deciding when to sit for the test.

For the typical LSAT student, your ideal preparation timeline should look like this:

Phase 1: Content Focus (Weeks 1-8)

Familiarise yourself with the question types found in the three main sections – reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning. Work your way through different sample questions, acquainting yourself with the necessary strategies and techniques. You can either focus on each section individually or alternate between the sections depending on your preferred revision style.

Remember to keep an error log to keep track of your progress and identify any weaker areas. This will help you to revise smarter, not harder.

Phase 2: Accuracy Focus (Weeks 9-12)

Start attempting timed practice sets. In the LSAT, you are allotted 35 minutes per section, with an average of 26 questions per section. Hence, good time management is just as important as mastering the methods and thought processes you should adopt when approaching any given question.

At this stage, do not worry about immediately completing all the questions in under 35 minutes; instead, use the timing as a gauge to check your preparation level. You should focus on accuracy, rather than speed. As your techniques improve, your timing will naturally improve in tandem.

It is crucial that you review and update your error log to work on your weaker questions types across the sections.

Phase 3: Exam Focus (Weeks 13-16)

By this point, you should be comfortable with any question the LSAT throws at you and can commence full-length tests. The focus here is time management and building your stamina – sustaining your attention for a long 3.5 hour test will take some practice. Aim to complete 4 to 6 timed, full-length tests before your real LSAT. Remember to review and analyse your tests, focusing on questions you answered incorrectly or found challenging.

For the last two practice tests, reduce your timing by 10% – test day stress may negatively impact your time management during the real LSAT, and it is crucial that you prepare for that scenario.

Phase 4: LSAT Writing (flexible timing)

While you are not scored for this section, you should still attempt several practice essays to ensure your familiarity with the essay format and requirements.

Do take into consideration that the Writing component is administered separately from the scored test and can be completed up to 8 days prior to or 1 year after your LSAT test date; this component must be completed for your application to be considered valid.