For 75 years, the Law School Admission Test has been an almost universal requirement to enter law school. If you're wondering "What is the LSAT," it's a standardized test designed to assess student aptitude.

About 169,000 students took the LSAT from July 2020 through June 2021. The non-profit Pennsylvania-based Law School Admission Council (LSAC) administers the test. In recent years, some law schools have moved away from requiring students to take this exam. 

Keep reading to learn why, and if you should invest the time, money, and effort for the LSAT.

Key highlights about the LSAT

What is the LSAT's focus?

At the time of this guide's publication, the LSAT had three scored sections and an unscored, variable section. The variable section includes questions LSAC is considering including in future versions of the exam.

People who take the LSAT must also write an essay. Here's a closer look at what skills the LSAT assesses.

Reading comprehension

This section measures your ability to read and understand lengthy and complex texts. The reading passages on the exam are similar to what you might encounter in law school.

Analytical reasoning

Using provided facts and rules, you'll determine a conclusion about a scenario. These questions reflect the detailed analyses of information that a law student must perform in legal problem-solving. 

Logical reasoning

In this section, you'll demonstrate your ability to recognize similarities and differences between patterns of reasoning, identify points of disagreement, and use available information to draw conclusions.

LSAT writing

You'll have 35 minutes to write an essay in response to a writing prompt. LSAC says the prompts are intended to allow people to demonstrate their ability to create an argumentative or persuasive writing piece, similar to what might be expected of a law school student or legal professional. 

You may take this portion of the LSAT up to eight days before your scheduled test date. It's proctored and available online and on-demand.

How do I take the LSAT?

Advance registration is required for the LSAT. It's a computer-based, remotely proctored exam. Registration closes two days before all scheduled testing dates. 

Can I take the LSAT online?

The LSAT is currently offered online only. LSAC plans to continue this format through June 2023. Before the pandemic, you took the exam at a testing center. 

The current, online-only version of the test is available to anyone with a laptop or desktop computer. Your device must have the Windows or Mac operating system. The LSAT is live-proctored. That means a person monitors you via audio and video while you take the test.

Can I take the LSAT more than once?

Yes, but conditions apply. You can take the LSAT three times in a testing year, five times within the current and past testing years, or up to seven times in a lifetime. 

However, LSAC decided in August 2020 that LSAT-Flex tests offered during the height of the pandemic do not count toward the test limits. 

When should I take the LSAT?

If you want to start law school in the fall after finishing your bachelor's degree, take the LSAT in the fall of your fourth year of college. You may also take it the summer between your third and fourth year of college, as Pennsylvania State University suggests.

Otherwise, plan to take the exam one year before your intended start date.  

This schedule allows you extra time to focus on test preparation. You'll also have time to retake the test before law school application deadlines close. According to LSAC, the exam will be offered on around 15 dates in 2022.

Also, be aware that the LSAT is usually offered just nine months a year. It's offered twice in some months, only once in others, and not at all in certain months