This page was drafted in September 2025 – Subject to change. For the latest info, always check LSAC’s official site.
What is the LSAT?
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a standardized test used by law schools to assess skills important for legal study. It has two parts: a multiple-choice portion (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes total) and an unscored writing sample. The multiple-choice part consists of four 35-minute sections: two scored Logical Reasoning (LR) sections, one scored Reading Comprehension (RC) section, and one unscored “pilot” section (either LR or RC) used to test new questions. The old Analytical Reasoning “logic games” section was sunsetted after June 2024 and replaced with a second LR section.
- Reading Comprehension (RC): One section of 26–28 questions on 4 long, complex passages. It measures your ability to read carefully and understand dense written material.
- Logical Reasoning (LR): Two sections of 24–26 questions each, each problem asking you to analyze, evaluate, or complete short arguments. These questions test skills like spotting assumptions, drawing inferences, and identifying flaws in reasoning.
- Writing Sample (“Argumentative Writing”): A 50-minute unscored essay (15 minutes of planning and 35 minutes of writing) done separately online before the test. You will get a debatable prompt and write a persuasive essay. Schools see your essay to gauge your writing clarity and organization.
You’ll take the test either in person at a test center or remotely at home. LSAC lets most test takers choose the option that works best. (Remote LSATs are live-proctored with strict rules about your testing environment.) Regardless of how you take it, there’s no guessing penalty: you get 1 point for each correct answer and 0 for incorrect, then your raw score is converted to the LSAT scale.
LSAT Scoring and Percentiles
Your raw score (the number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score between 120 and 180. For example, answering about half the questions right usually lands around the 150s on this scale. The LSAT score report also shows your percentile rank (the percentage of test takers who scored below you over the last three years). Law schools often publish their median LSAT for admitted students. The median is simply the score splitting the class in half (50% above, 50% below). Being at or above a school’s median LSAT generally puts you in a strong position; if your score is below the median, you’ll want other parts of your application (like GPA or experience) to be very strong. For example, UBC’s median incoming LSAT in recent years has been 166 (about the 93rd percentile), meaning half of admitted students scored above 166 and half below.
Do I need to take the LSAT?
In Canada, almost all common-law Canadian law schools require the LSAT as part of admissions. The main exceptions are many civil-law schools in Québec (e.g. Université de Montréal’s law program), which often use their own admission process or alternate tests. But if you’re applying to English-language law schools in BC, Ontario, Alberta, etc. (UBC, UVic, Alberta, UofT, Queen’s, McMaster, Western, etc.), you should plan on taking the LSAT. Each school will indicate its LSAT policy on its website. Often, even if a school says LSAT is “optional,” submitting a high LSAT score can only help your chances.
Law schools also publish their median LSAT scores for admitted classes. This number helps you gauge competitiveness. For instance, if a school’s median LSAT is 166, that means about half of its new students scored 166 or above. So if you scored 170, you’d be well above median; if you scored 160, you’d be below. Remember, the median is not a target you “need to hit exactly” – it just shows where the middle of that class is. Use medians as a guideline. If your score is near or above a school’s median, your LSAT is a strength. If it’s below, focus on building up the rest of your application (GPA, personal statement, references, etc.).
How do I study for the LSAT?
People prepare for the LSAT in many ways, and the “best” approach varies by person. Some students self- study using official practice materials, while others enroll in prep courses or hire tutors. Here are common elements of LSAT study:
- Practice tests (full timed exams): Many students take full, timed practice exams to get used to pacing and test stamina and to measure progress. Official practice tests are available through LSAC’s LawHub (the authentic test interface and official PrepTests). Blind review is a review technique used by some students: after taking a practice test, they revisit each question without the timer and attempt to reconstruct their reasoning (or re-solve the problem) before checking the official explanation. Other students use detailed error logs or spreadsheets to track recurring mistakes.
- Video lessons & guided curricula: Some learners use structured video courses or guided curricula to learn fundamentals and question strategies. Examples include free official lessons on Khan Academy as well as paid video/course options from companies like Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Manhattan Prep.
- Drilling by question/passage type: A common approach is to work through many questions of the same type (e.g., all main-conclusion LR problems, or many comparative passage RC sets) to recognize patterns and common traps. Several prep platforms and books provide large banks of categorized questions for drilling. They also usually provide detailed explanations for every official LSAT question (written and/or video explanations) so learners can see multiple ways to approach the same problem.
- Targeted resources and strategy books: Some students use specialized prep books or for particular sections (for example, PowerScore’s Logical Reasoning & RC materials, or Mike Kim’s The LSAT Trainer), which break down question families and step-by-step approaches.
- One-on-one tutoring or coaching: Some students work with private tutors or coaches for individualized feedback and pacing help. Tutors may be independent or affiliated with companies that also run group courses.
- Community study (peer groups & forums): Some people study with friends, join organized study groups, or use online communities and forums (e.g., r/LSAT on Reddit or other student-run Discords) for discussion, question swaps, and accountability.
- Mixed/hybrid approaches: Many students combine several of the above methods — for example, official PrepTests for full practice, focused drilling on weak question types, a strategy book for conceptual frameworks, and occasional tutoring or a prep course for structure.
In short, mix and match approaches (timed practice tests, review, question drilling), and give yourself time to build your skills and figure out what strategy works for you!
How do I take the LSAT?
To register, you must create a JD account at LSAC.org and enter your information (including any required photo ID). LSAC charges a registration fee ($248 USD, with fee waivers available for eligible applicants). On the LSAC site you’ll see a list of upcoming test dates (LSATs are offered multiple times a year – e.g. January, February, April, June, etc. in Canada). Choose your region (Canada) and select a date before the registration deadline (typically 1–2 months beforehand). After registering, you’ll be given the option to schedule your test session on the chosen date. (For remote testing, LSAC uses a “staggered” scheduling system where you pick a time slot.) There are different deadlines for scheduling, changing dates, or withdrawing—check LSAC’s schedule for details.
If you register for an in-person test, you will go to a Prometric test center on your test day. If you choose the remote option, you will take the test live online with a proctor via webcam. Many students prefer remote testing because it’s convenient to stay at home, but it requires you to have a private, quiet room that meets LSAC’s requirements (no interruptions, no unauthorized materials, camera on, etc.). In-person testing provides a standard environment with an on-site proctor, but you must travel to the center and follow their check-in rules. LSAC’s site notes that most test takers can choose the modality that works best for them.
Remember also to complete the LSAT Writing essay: this is done online up to 8 days before your multiple- choice test date. First-time LSAT takers especially must finish the writing sample (and have it processed by LSAC) before their score will be released. In practice, once you register for a test, LSAC will remind you to schedule the writing sample on their site.
What now?
Your LSAT score will be released about 3 weeks after your test date. LSAC will post your scaled score on your JD account and email you when it’s available. Your writing sample must be approved and there can be no registration holds for your score to release on time. By default, the score is sent to the law schools you have designated. You also have up to 6 calendar days after your test to cancel your score if you’re unhappy with it. If you don’t cancel within 6 days, your score will automatically report to schools on your LSAC file.
With a score in hand, you’ll move on to law school applications. In Canada the application process varies by province and by school—there isn’t a single, nationwide portal that covers every law program. If you’re applying to Ontario law schools, you use the Ontario Law School Application Service (OLSAS) through the OUAC. Outside Ontario, most Canadian law schools ask you to apply directly through the school’s own application portal (for example, UBC Allard’s JD application page and Western’s admissions guide explain how to apply on each school’s site). Many of those school forms request your LSAT file number or LSAT details so the school can match your score to your application. LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is a separate LSAC product used by many applicants—but it is not the default way to apply to most Canadian law schools (some Canadian applicants use CAS when applying to U.S. schools or when a specific school asks for it). Always check each law school’s admissions page for the exact application route and required materials. The University of Toronto, for example, explicitly instructs applicants to apply via OLSAS and says CAS cannot be used in place of OLSAS.
If your LSAT score isn’t what you hoped, you can retake the LSAT. LSAC rules currently allow a test taker to take the LSAT up to five times in a five-year period, and up to seven times total in a lifetime. Also, once you hit a perfect 180, you can’t take any more tests in that period. Importantly, LSAT scores remain valid for law school admission for several years. LSAC reports to schools any of your LSAT scores earned in the current testing year or the prior five testing years. Practically, that means most law schools will accept any LSAT you took within the last five years.
Final Remarks
In summary: register for the LSAT on the LSAC site well before deadlines, choose in-person or remote testing, and prepare using official practice materials. Remember, the LSAT is just one part of the law school journey — and while it matters, it doesn’t define you or your future career. Everyone’s path to law school looks a little different, so try to approach the process with patience and perspective. If you ever feel stuck, know that you’re not alone: there are lots of resources, peers, and mentors who’ve been through it and are happy to share advice.
Most importantly, give yourself credit for taking this step toward your goals. Writing the LSAT is challenging, but it’s also a chance to show off the skills you’ve built. Whatever your score, it’s only one piece of the bigger picture that law schools will see when you apply.