The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a multiple-choice test used by law schools to help them select candidates. The test is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) four times a year -- generally February, June, October, and December. It's divided into five multiple-choice sections and one writing sample.

LSAT Structure

Each test has 101 questions, and neither the experimental section, nor the writing sample counts toward your score. The multiple-choice sections may be given in any order, but the writing sample is always administered last. The experimental section can be any of the three types of multiple-choice sections, and is used by the test writers to test out new questions on your time and at your expense.

The LSAC has announced that in June 2007 it will make two significant changes to the test -- the most changes to the exam in more than 15 years. The first change will be to the reading comprehension section, which currently consists of four passages; in the updated version, one of the passages will be replaced with a new comparative reading section that will ask test-takers to compare two shorter passages.

The updated exam will also change the writing sample section. Currently, students are randomly given an argument or decision prompt. Under the updated format, the LSAC has decided to drop the argument prompt. Although significant, this change is little cause for concern because not only is the writing sample not scored, but it is also unlikely that anyone other than you will ever read it. However, the law schools to which you apply will receive a copy of your writing sample, so you should definitely do it. A blank page would stand out like a sore thumb and you wouldn't want the folks in the admissions office to think you were some kind of rebel.

How Is the LSAT Scored?

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120-180. The average score is 151, but most competitive law schools look for candidates with scores that are significantly higher. Each score you receive is valid for five years after you take the test. The median LSAT score for a sample of top law schools is provided below:

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER PREPARATION

A student who scores a 154 is in the 63rd percentile of all LSAT-takers. If that student's score were 161, however, that same student would jump to the 86th percentile. Depending upon your score, a 7-point improvement can increase your percentile ranking by over 30 percentile points.

Because so much is riding on your LSAT score, it is important to spend time preparing for the LSAT and practicing with old tests. Preparing for the LSAT requires significant discipline and focus, and a review course can be very helpful. Law Preview recommends The Princeton Review Hyperlearning LSAT prep course. No other method of LSAT preparation can compete with their unique combination of intensive classroom lessons and comprehensive print and online LSAT materials, where you'll get all the practice you need to get your highest LSAT score.

2007 LSAT TEST DATES & REGISTRATION DEADLINES

* Alternative test date available for Saturday Sabbath observers.
** Monday test date.

For the most up-to-date test registration information visit LSAC.org.