Happy 2026, everyone! With the new year, the January LSAT is right around the corner, so here are some predictions and tips for LSAT test day.
What Will Be on the 2026 January LSAT?
Logical Reasoning
You will get two scored Logical Reasoning sections, and potentially a third experimental (unscored) Logical Reasoning. Unfortunately, the experimental section can show up anywhere on the test, so you should treat each section as if it was scored. Try to avoid the guessing game of which section is unscored, as it takes your focus away from the task at hand and could lead to you not giving it your all. These experimental sections are used by LSAC to test future LSAT sections.
Within each LSAT Logical Reasoning Section, you can expect a somewhat even distribution of difficulty, with easier to medium questions at the beginning and harder questions in the back half of the test. That said, difficulty isn’t necessarily linear. I would expect at least one particularly difficult LSAT question during the first ten questions and some easier ones near the end.
The vast majority of the questions you encounter will be based on analyzing arguments, particularly flawed arguments. So, make sure you are doing the work up front on these questions to identify what the argument is trying to prove (the main conclusion) and how it’s trying to prove it (the premises and subsidiary conclusions). This step can help you more than you’d think in identifying what type of argument is being made and potential pitfalls, flaws, and assumptions the argument makes to bridge the gap from premises to conclusion.
More LSAT Help
🧠 An Introduction to the LSAT Logical Reasoning Section
📝 If You’re Studying for the LSAT, Memorize This List of Vocabulary Terms
Reading Comprehension
You will get one scored Reading Comprehension Section (and potentially one unscored section), consisting of four passages. Unlike other standardized tests, the LSAT is much more concerned about the underlying logic and distinguishing between viewpoints than memorizing details. So, make sure to focus on the overall viewpoints being made as you read and where the author stands on the issues.
While you probably will not get more than one or two questions testing background information prior to viewpoints, you do want to make sure you have a good enough handle on any potential key terms, problems or issues the passage focuses on, and the overall subject and scope of the passage, as these can give you a more precise sense both of where the passage is going and what the viewpoints are centered on.
Even for detail-oriented questions, the right answer will be directly in line with the overall viewpoints they are supporting, so start there and only go back to the passage as needed. Keep in mind that you need direct textual support from the passage for pretty much any answer you choose (apart from a couple of Strengthen or Weaken questions). Be skeptical and fussy with your breakdown of answers and don’t let the LSAT lull you into a false sense of security with how it words the beginning of a given answer choice. The whole answer needs support. If you find phrases like “most scientists agree” or “something will likely happen in the near future,” ask yourself if you really have enough support to choose an answer about what most scientists think or what will happen in the future. A good rule of thumb is that if an answer doesn’t seem directly related to your tags of the main points of each paragraph, it’s likely outside the scope of the passage.
More LSAT Help
📖 How To Approach Reading Comp on the LSAT
🎨 Getting Through Brutally Difficult Reading Comp Passages About the Arts
⚖️ Getting Through Brutally Difficult Reading Comp Passages About the Law
🧬 Getting Through Brutally Difficult Reading Comp Passages About Science
Narrowing Down Answer Choices
While the LSAT can be tough and require a high degree of precision on tougher questions, it is important to keep in mind that it is fundamentally a fair test. The last thing the LSAT wants is for there to be any bias or subjectivity as to which answer is right, as they could get sued or have to throw a question out (both of which would hurt their reputation and bottom line).
Accordingly, the LSAT puts elements in wrong answers that are indisputably wrong based on the question type. If you’re on the fence about a certain element of an answer, see if you can find a different part of the answer (or other answers) that is more obviously wrong. The LSAT isn’t really a test of “good answer” versus “better answer” versus “best answer.” It’s a test of “one of these answers is good enough and doesn’t have any elements in there that make it a wrong answer.” Other answers could have certain elements that you like better but also have a fatal flaw. It is always better to go with the “meh” answer that does nothing wrong than the otherwise “perfect” answer that gets something wrong. Make sure the entire answer works before picking an answer and moving on.
Final Thoughts
If a certain question doesn’t go your way, just note that each question is only worth one point! There are plenty of other questions on the test, so seek out your next point and roll with the punches. Even 180 scorers aren’t going to be 100% confident in every question and every answer. They give themselves the best shot at the most points by doing the work up front and being methodical in their approach by seeking out elements they can rely on to confidently eliminate wrong answers and choose answers that match their anticipations. If you are stuck on a question on the January LSAT, it’s perfectly fine to take an educated guess and come back. That way, you’ll give yourself a chance at getting all those easier points and know how much time you have left to tackle the ones you guessed on or skipped.
Most importantly, trust your instincts and analysis! We tend to remember particularly tricky questions that burn us, but the majority of the questions are going to be relatively straightforward if you anticipate and know what you are looking for as you analyze answers.
P.S. Decided to reschedule your January LSAT? Or simply getting familiar with the test before your test date later this year? We can help maximize your prep time!
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