How Hard is the LSAT? The Honest Truth
/Is the LSAT really that hard? Learn why the LSAT is so challenging and what strategies you can use to earn a top score
use this guide to ace the lsat
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Part 1: Introduction
If you want to become a lawyer, you’ve probably heard horror stories about people studying for and taking the LSAT. Historically, the LSAT has represented one of the biggest obstacles in the paths of those hoping to pursue a legal education at the law school of their dreams. And while the American Bar Association has proposed moving away from the LSAT, most law schools still require applicants to take the exam to gain admission.
With the knowledge that there might not be a way around taking the LSAT if you want to go to law school, you may be asking yourself questions like:
Is the LSAT really that hard?
How difficult is it to get a good LSAT score?
How much do I need to study for the LSAT if I want to go to a top law school?
To be perfectly honest, the LSAT is likely to be one of the hardest exams that you’ll ever take. The proof of this can be found in the numbers.
How is the LSAT scored?
(Note: In this section, we’ll go over the LSAT in its standard format. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, LSAC was previously offering a shortened, online version of the exam. We’ll discuss this further in the red box below.)
A typical LSAT exam is made up of five sections and includes 100 scored questions. Because of the exam’s difficulty, the raw score (i.e., the number of questions you get right out of the 100 scored questions) is converted into a scaled score using an exam-specific conversion chart.
The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120–180. In the last couple of years, only 0.1 percent of test takers have scored a 180 on the exam. For reference, a 180 usually equates to getting at least 98 of the 100 scored questions correct. This extremely low percentage of perfect scores highlights the difficulty of the LSAT.
Though getting a 180 is highly unlikely, you’re probably wondering what LSAT score you need to gain admission to the nation’s most elite law schools—and how hard it is to earn that score.
In recent years, the score seen by many as a key component of getting into T-14 law schools (i.e., schools ranked in the top 14 by U.S. News & World Report) has been the highly coveted 170. In 2018–2019, only 2.4 percent of test takers scored a 170 or better, and in 2019–2020, only 2.9 percent of test takers bested that mark.
For perspective, a 170 usually requires getting about 87 of the scored questions right. In most settings, getting 87 out of 100 equates to a B+, which is a solid grade but also indicates that we have room for improvement. However, on the LSAT, that same grade means that we did better than more than 97 percent of the people who took the test. The fact that a B+ equates to an elite LSAT score highlights the exam’s difficulty.
Now you may be asking yourself, “What makes the LSAT so difficult?” In the next section, we will drill down on some of the exam’s key challenges.
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Part 2: Why is the LSAT so challenging?
The LSAT is time-pressured exam that will challenge your logic-based and analytical thinking skills. This exam is by no means a cakewalk, but by understanding what you are up against, you can tailor your preparation to ensure you are ready for whatever it throws at you. To give you a sense of what you will face on the LSAT, we will now dive into three of the exam’s biggest challenges.
Challenge #1: The LSAT tests unfamiliar skills in unfamiliar ways.
Standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT assess skills and subjects that most test takers have experience with. While you obviously still have to study, it can be comforting to just refresh or build on content that you have already learned in school.
The LSAT takes a different approach. Instead of testing content, the LSAT is an analytical exam that tests critical thinking skills across three subjects: logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. What makes the LSAT so challenging is that it approaches these subjects in a manner that is best described as counterintuitive.
The vast majority of test takers will not be able to lean on what they have learned in school to help them answer most LSAT questions. This confounding nature of the exam presents itself in several ways:
First, LSAT questions often include an overload of information. This makes keeping track of what is happening in the questions very difficult.
Second, LSAT questions are often subtly and confusingly worded to throw you off. This makes questions even harder to follow and diverts mental energy away from solving the problem to just staying focused on the questions’ many moving pieces.
Lastly, each section of the LSAT has its own approach to subtlety and information overload. This means that you have to have a develop a broad skillset in order to master the entire exam.
Challenge #2: Learning skills required to master the LSAT takes a lot of time and practice.
Since the LSAT is so counterintuitive, and you likely have not spent much time up to this point in your educational career developing the skills required to master this exam, you are going to have to spend a lot of time studying and taking practice tests. It really is the only way to learn the unique set of skills required to do well on this exam.
We suggest you spend somewhere in the range between 250 and 300 hours studying before actually sitting for the exam. This is a huge commitment and can come at a high personal cost to other things you want to do with your time. Staying committed to your LSAT studies will not be fun or easy.
Challenge #3: The LSAT produces a lot of stress.
Simply put, your LSAT score is an extremely important factor in whether or not you get admitted to the law school of your dreams. While you can certainly make up for a lower LSAT score with other parts of your application, such as an excellent GPA or standout law school personal statement, reaching or exceeding a competitive score for the schools you want to attend makes a huge difference in your chances of admission and how you will feel throughout the admissions process.
While you can take the LSAT more than once, you will want to take it as few times as possible, since some schools may average all of your reported scores when reviewing your application.
The difficulty of the test combined with the knowledge of its importance to your admissions chances and the awareness of how much time and energy it took to prepare yourself for the exam could make the three and a half hours you spend taking the LSAT extremely stressful. If you cannot overcome the added obstacles the stress will produce, it will be tough for you to reach your LSAT goals.
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Part 3: How to ace the LSAT
While the LSAT is certainly challenging, it is definitely possible to reach your goals. By dissecting the challenges we discussed above, you will see that each has similar threads running through them. This means that, with a targeted approach, you can address all of these challenges at the same time.
We will now lay out three steps that we believe will best help you overcome the difficulties you will face when taking the LSAT.
Step 1: Study smart.
While this may seem clichéd or obvious, the importance of following a targeted study plan cannot be overstated. While the LSAT is counterintuitive, the questions often follow specific formulas.
The best performers on the LSAT rarely brute force their way through the exam on the strength of their intellectual prowess. Instead, they have a very intricate understanding of the exam’s mechanics. They understand the underlying formulas being tested in the questions, can spot when a particular formula is being tested, and are able to apply the specific formula to the question quickly and effectively. If you can get to this point, the exam becomes less intimidating and more manageable.
Step 2: Have a plan.
As we said earlier, you should plan to study between 250 and 300 hours, and you should space out your study over at least two months. Since the LSAT is likely to be a totally new experience for most test takers, studying will be the best way for you to learn the strategies you need to succeed on test day.
When developing your plan, first take a diagnostic exam to see where you are starting from and to figure out your LSAT strengths and weaknesses. Then, build a plan that helps you maximize your overall performance so that you can achieve your desired score.
The good thing about the LSAT is that many people have unlocked its secrets, so there are a lot of resources out there, from prep courses to study books, that you can utilize to your advantage. The key is to make the study materials your own so that you become completely comfortable with what the LSAT requires of you.
Step 3: Practice a lot, and practice under exam conditions.
Having confidence in yourself is key to managing the stress of test day, and the best way to build confidence going into the LSAT is to practice. If you have already hit your target score on several practice exams, it becomes a lot easier to envision yourself hitting that score on test day.
You should practice with official materials. LSAC offers two official practice tests for free, and you can purchase 70 exams for $99. Many LSAT prep programs also offer official exams through their materials.
When taking these practice exams, you should try to mimic exam conditions as much as possible. This will give you even more confidence in your preparation and help to ensure there are no surprises on test day.
(Suggested reading: How to Get a Perfect LSAT Score: Strategies From a 180 Scorer)
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Part 4: Should you take the LSAT online or in person?
Historically speaking, you didn’t have much choice; the LSAT was only offered in person in a pencil-and-paper format. In 2019, however, this changed with the introduction of the computer-based version of the LSAT.
In both cases, the LSAT was administered at testing centers, and test-takers would commute to such places to sit for the exam.
With the pandemic in 2020, there became a need for yet another option: remote testing. With the release of what was known as LSAT Flex, test-takers were able to take the test online from the comfort of their own homes. While the LSAT Flex was proctored remotely, test-takers were required to take each section (of which there were three, unlike the traditional four-part LSAT) back-to-back with no breaks in between.
This continues to be an option for the foreseeable future. According to LSAC, since August 2023, test-takers have had the option to take the test from home (remotely proctored) or at a testing center.
But what are the pros and cons of both options? Is one going to put you at an advantage?
Pros of taking the LSAT remotely
Taking the LSAT from the comfort of your own home is likely to reduce anxiety since you’re in the same place you’ve probably been practicing and studying all along.
You eliminate the need to commute to a testing center, which gives you more time to prepare and handle last-minute details.
No worries about the room being too cold/hot; it’ll be just right!
You won’t have to worry about feeding off of others’ energies and negative thoughts.
Cons of taking the LSAT remotely
Depending on your setup, you may encounter technical issues if your home internet or power goes down during your exam.
If you can’t have the house to yourself for the exam, other household members could disrupt your focus.
Pros of taking the LSAT at a testing center
Testing centers are designed to accommodate students taking high-stakes exams, so the building will always provide stable connectivity and a calm, quiet environment.
Being at home would be too distracting for some students. If this describes you, you may find that your whole mindset and focus shift gears in a testing center.
Cons of taking the LSAT at a testing center
Getting to the testing center could be tricky if you run into things outside your control, such as traffic or accidents that slow you down.
You’ll be around other test-takers, which could result in increased anxiety levels as you discuss your worries before the exam and during breaks.
In the end, you need to make the decision that you think will result in less anxiety and a better score. Your choice may differ from those you know, and that’s okay! The goal isn’t to fit in with those you know; the goal is to do your absolute best on the LSAT, so whether that means taking it remotely or in person, you must make the best choice for you.
Final thoughts
The LSAT will likely be one of the most challenging exams that you ever take. While it won’t be easy, the LSAT is manageable with the proper approach.
A smart study plan combined with a deep commitment to sticking to that plan will help you reach your target score. Practicing the LSAT under exam conditions is the best way to master the techniques required to get a high score. Furthermore, you will become so accustomed to answering the exam questions that you won’t be fazed by pressure on test day. These strategies will allow you to perform at your best and move you closer to an acceptance from your dream law school.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on law school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into law school using his exclusive approach.
