The LSAT and COVID-19

  • Reviewed by: Matt Riley
  • Remember when you said, “2020 is going to be my year!” Yeah, us too. This year has been a wild ride, and it’s only March. This was the week we should have been talking about last-minute tips to prepare for the March LSAT, like logic game strategies or how to get through sufficient and necessary assumption questions. Instead, we need to face our new reality. COVID-19 has put a pin in our LSAT schedule (and possibly even the 2020 law school application cycle). The March 2020 LSAT is canceled and the April 2020 LSAT is in limbo. Here’s what we know so far:

    Everyone who was scheduled to take the March 2020 LSAT was automatically transferred to the April 2020 LSAT. Initially, it sounded like a good compromise. However…
    LSAC will decide whether it will cancel the April 2020 LSAT by April 10th. That means everyone scheduled to take April might be moved to June or a later test date. It is also possible that the April LSAT will be canceled in some locations, but not others in compliance with local rules and restrictions related to public gatherings, etc. #SocialDistancing
    If you don’t want to wait until April 10th or let LSAC decide your fate, you can reschedule your April LSAT yourself without paying a test date change fee. This only applies if you’re registered for the April exam.
    March and April registrants will be able to add a canceled score back into their score report. This news came out just this morning. If you took the LSAT previously, canceled your score, and registered for either the March or April 2020 LSAT, you will now be able to review your canceled score and decide if you want to uncancel de-cancel revive it. If you have multiple canceled scores, LSAC will show you only the highest score. This addition is permanent change; if you don’t want to add a canceled score, you don’t have to. So, if you’ve canceled in the past, look out for an email from LSAC soon.

    And now for what’s still uncertain:
    LSAT is exploring different options for future LSAT administrations, including a test-at-home option and additional dates. We imagine a remote LSAT will be as intense as the take-home Writing Section. We’ll know more about how to “take the LSAT Safely” by April 10th.
    Law schools will take the impact of COVID-19 into account when evaluating applicants. LSAC will include a letter in every candidate’s CAS Report, reminding law schools of the impact of COVID-19 on the spring 2020 semester. Thanks, guys!
    Admissions and seat deposit deadlines are subject to change. Some schools are pushing back admissions deadlines (to accommodate late LSAT scores) and pushing back seat deposits for admitted students. These decisions will be made on a school-by-school basis.
    COVID-19 may slow the process of admitting students off waitlists. Some students may choose to defer law school to a later year due to the impact of COVID-19.

    These are definitely interesting times, but if you’re still on the path to law school, it’s important to remember to keep up with your LSAT prep (or start, if you haven’t). As it stands right now, it doesn’t seem like we’re walking into an LSAC-optional cycle. That means, at some point, you’re going to have to take the LSAT—and that’s ok!

    Check out the video below to see what the LSAT changes might mean for you, and tips on prepping for the LSAT during the COVID-19 pandemic—actually, these tips can apply to any LSAT that gets canceled or rescheduled.

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