If you’re reading this blog, congratulations on deciding to take the official LSAT exam! Say goodbye to your peace of mind and social life, and prepare to spend a few months gaming the LSAT format to squeeze every available second out of your actual LSAT test questions. For the uninitiated, here’s a complete breakdown of what is on the LSAT, the LSAT sections, and the LSAT question types.
An Overview of What Is on the LSAT?
How Many Questions Are on the LSAT?
On test day, you can expect to answer about 100 graded questions on the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). The actual number of multiple-choice questions is about 125, when you take the unscored experimental section into account. However, for your LSAT score, let’s stick with 100.
These LSAT questions are broken down into four multiple-choice sections of 24 to 28 questions each. Each LSAT multiple-choice section must be completed in 35 minutes or less, barring special accommodation. There is a 10-minute break between the second and third sections.
LSAT Sections (Starting August 2024):
- Two Logical Reasoning Sections: 50% of your score
- One Reading Comprehension Section: 50% of your score
- The LSAT Writing Section is administered separately at a time of your choosing and is currently unscored
Note: See a missing section? You’re not wrong. Prior to the August 2024 LSAT, there used to be an Analytical Reasoning (i.e. Logic Games) Section. However, the last LSAT exam with Logic Games is the June 2024 exam. Learn more here.
How Is the LSAT Scored?
Great question! Here’s how the LSAT is scored:
Raw Score: The number of questions that you answered correctly in all of the scored LSAT sections.
Scaled Score: Your raw score converted into your scaled score, ranging from 120 to 180. 120 is the lowest LSAT score possible and 180 is the highest. The scaled score is based on a conversion system run and updated by LSAC.
LSAT Percentile: The percentile your scaled score corresponds to. For reference, a 151 scaled score would put you in the 50th percentile of test takers, and a 170 would place you in the 98th percentile rank of test takers.
LSAT Question Types
Each of the LSAT sections has its own types of questions. Understanding these different question families and classifications is critical to developing your LSAT strategy.
So, let’s look at what is tested on the LSAT and LSAT exam questions section by section.
LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Types
The Logical Reasoning Section is the most important section of the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) simply because there are two graded sections, compared to just one for the other section, Reading Comprehension.
Each question type in the LSAT Logical Reasoning Section contains a brief paragraph that usually is an argument. Logical Reasoning questions will ask you to identify the conclusion, find the supporting assumptions, and locate logical flaws that weaken the argument.
Read our blogs on Logical Reasoning to learn methods of identifying common logic flaws faster and diagramming your way to success on your test date.
Further Reading
📖 An Introduction to the LSAT Logical Reasoning Section
🧠 A Few Common Logical Fallacies That You Just Gotta Know
🔍 What I Wish I Knew About Logical Reasoning Before Taking the LSAT
Logical Reasoning question types include:
- Assumption Questions
- Strengthen/Weaken Questions
- Flaw Questions
- Inference Questions
- Argument Method Questions
- Paradox Questions
- Parallel Reasoning Questions
- Point-at-Issue Questions
- Principle Questions
- Role questions
LSAT Reading Comprehension Question Types
The Reading Comprehension Section is similar to reading comprehension sections on college entrance exams like the ACT and SAT. Only, it’s a bit more difficult. Each Reading Comprehension Section contains four reading passages of 400 to 500 words followed by five to eight questions per passage.
There will be one reading passage for each of the following categories: Law, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and the Arts.
The most important factor to improve your LSAT Reading Comprehension score is efficiency. Being able to read a standardized test passage quickly and identify the hypothesis or main point, author’s attitude, and the purpose of the passage will help you answer questions in a timely manner.
Further Reading
Reading Comprehension Questions include:
- Main Idea/Primary Purpose Questions
- Method and Structure Questions
- Specific Passage Recall/Detail Questions
- Function Questions
- Inference Questions
We read an Economist article as a Reading Comprehension passage because we are obsessed with LSAT preparation. LSAT nerds and all that jazz.
LSAT Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) Question Types
Note: If you’re taking the LSAT after June 2024, skip this part. None of this will be on the LSAT for you.
Learning how the LSAT exam works will help boost your score tremendously. The LSAT Logic Games section presents the greatest opportunity for you to increase your LSAT score because all the logic game question types follow a specific structure.
Each LSAT Analytical Reasoning section contains four logic games with five to seven questions per logic game. This means you should spend five to eight minutes per logic game.
Each logic game presents a scenario along with a list of rules to follow. You might have to determine the order that runners finish a race or the kennels in which various dogs are kept.
Scoring well on the LSAT logic games necessitates learning the main types of logic games and perfecting your diagramming abilities to make the best use of your time.
Try a practice logic game question to get a handle on what this LSAT section entails.
LSAT Writing Section
Finally, we get to the infamous LSAT Writing Section. The Writing Section remains unscored (for now), but you should still take it seriously. Fortunately, you only need to complete it once.
The Writing Section is 35 minutes long, and For this section, it is important to have a clear structure and strong arguments supported by evidence. You will need to analyze the given information, identify flaws or gaps in the argument, and provide a well-reasoned counterargument. Additionally, your writing should be concise and free of grammatical errors.
There are two versions of the LSAT Writing Section:
If you’re testing in April or June 2024
You’ll be given 35 minutes to write a response to a prompt in the form of an argumentative essay. Your job is to argue for one side over the other.
If you’re testing after June 2024
The essay prompt will ask you to construct an argument that answers the key question. You’ll get a brief synopsis of the issue, the key question in the debate, and four different perspectives. You have 15 minutes of prewriting and 35 minutes to write your response.
In order to prepare for this section, it is important to work on developing strong writing skills, such as clear organization, logical reasoning, and persuasive argumentation. Practice writing sample essays within the time limit to build up speed and accuracy.
Remember, it may not be scored but it will be sent to law schools.
🚨 Take an LSAT Practice Test
To get a full understanding of the test format, you need to take the LSAT! Take our real, full-length, free practice LSAT formatted exactly like the official LSAT and customizable for accommodated test-takers. Get started!
Accommodated LSAT for Test Takers with Disabilities
LSAC (the Law School Admission Council) provides LSAT accommodations for qualifying students. Accommodations differ depending on the unique needs of the test-taker.
The accommodations include:
- Extended time
- Additional Breaks Between Sections
- Stop/Start Breaks
- Ability to Sit or Stand
- Ability to Read or Speak Aloud
- Use of Magnification Tools
- Use of Tactile Tools
- Use of Braille
- Paper-and-Pencil-Based Testing
- Use of a Test Reader
- Use of a Scribe
LSAC does not release definitive lists of the circumstances that warrant accommodations or of what accommodations will be approved for which circumstances. They take an “each situation is different” approach. You must apply for test accommodations at least six weeks before a given LSAT date.
The Spanish-Language LSAT Test
Once a year, LSAC administers a Spanish-language adaptation called LSAT—Puerto Rico. Unfortunately for most Spanish-speaking ESL preppers, this LSAT is only available for Spanish-speaking test takers who will attend law school in Puerto Rico.
The reason is fairly straightforward: only three ABA-accredited law schools accept LSAT—Puerto Rico for entrance purposes and they are all in Puerto Rico.
LSAT—Puerto Rico is delivered yearly. Students can take the test in person or remotely.
Rather than a 120-180 scoring scale, the Spanish LSAT is scored on a 320-380 scale. This is not due to distinct differences in the testing format. LSAT—Puerto Rico consists of 35-minute sections and approximately 100 questions — just like its English-language cousin. The alternate scoring is used primarily to dissuade a one-to-one comparison of English-language test scores to Spanish-language test scores. LSAC advises that the scoring is similar but, much like the material housed in the test, does not translate exactly.
Thus, if you are interested in taking the Spanish-language LSAT in Puerto Rico but are also considering applying to any other ABA-accredited law schools outside of Puerto Rico, we strongly encourage you to take the English-language LSAT instead.
Unfortunately, for English-as-a-foreign-language test-takers, only the English-language LSAT is accepted in the nearly 200 ABA-accredited law schools housed outside of Puerto Rico.
For LSAT—Puerto Rico test-takers, LSAC is the primary source of practice material. If you plan to take this Puerto Rico-specific LSAT adaptation, visit LSAC’s website for more information.
Blueprint Prep Is As Unique As Your Test
Whether you’re planning to take the accommodated or non-accommodated English-language LSAT or the Spanish-language LSAT adaptation, the LSAT question types are the same.
Still, the best way to prepare for what is on the LSAT is with realistic test-day practice and guidance from veteran LSAT experts.
Blueprint Prep understands that every LSAT test-taker is unique. Whether you have the discipline to study on your own with a Self-Paced Course, want to navigate the LSAT with instructors in a Live Course, or prefer one-on-one attention through tutoring, we have the study method that fits your learning style.
Now that you know what to expect on the official LSAT, it’s time to get some practice in to help you reach your goal LSAT score. Get started for free today by creating a free Blueprint LSAT account!
