LSAT Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the LSAT, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$215
Provider
LSAC
Validity
5 years
Available
USA/Canada
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no education prerequisites. LSAC does not require a completed bachelor's degree, a particular major, or any coursework to register for the LSAT.
- You need an LSAC account, and the legal first and last name on it has to match the identification you will present.
- You need physical, valid identification: an international passport, or a government-issued photo identification from the United States, its territories, or Canada, current or expired within three months of the test date.
- You must sign the LSAC Candidate Agreement each time you take the test, which governs permitted items, prohibited behaviour, and what you may say about the test afterwards.
- You must have an approved writing sample on file, from LSAT Writing or LSAT Argumentative Writing, before any score is released.
- You must be within the testing limits: five sittings within the current reportable score period and seven over a lifetime, with an appeal route by email for extenuating circumstances.
- You may not retake the test if you have already scored 180 within the current reportable score period.
- Testing accommodations require a request submitted by the accommodation request deadline for your administration, and previously approved candidates automatically receive the same or equivalent accommodations on later registrations.
- Law schools additionally require the Credential Assembly Service at $219, plus a $45 law school report for each school you apply to, but neither is needed to sit the test.
Number of Questions
LSAC does not publish a fixed total. Three scored sections plus one unscored variable section. The Reading Comprehension section contains four sets, each with five to eight questions. Official LSAT PrepTests released by LSAC in this format carry roughly 75 scored questions.
Duration
Four 35-minute sections, so 140 minutes of testing, plus a 10-minute intermission between the second and third sections. LSAC states the test takes approximately 3 hours for standard test takers. LSAT Argumentative Writing is a separate 15-minute prewriting period followed by 35 minutes of writing.
Question Format
Logical Reasoning: a short argument followed by one question, rarely two, Reading Comprehension: four sets built on a long passage or a comparative reading pair, One unscored variable section of either Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension, unidentified during the test, LSAT Argumentative Writing: an unscored argumentative essay on a debatable issue with competing perspectives
Passing Requirement
No pass mark exists. The functional cut score is the median LSAT of the schools you are applying to, published by every ABA-accredited school in its Standard 509 disclosure. For reference, LSAC's percentile table for the 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 testing years puts the 50th percentile at 154.
How It Is Delivered
Delivered on computer through the LawHub interface. Starting with the August 2026 LSAT, LSAC requires in-person testing at Prometric digital test centres for the multiple-choice portion. Remote testing is now an exception: candidates who document that they live more than 180 miles or three hours travel time from a test centre with available capacity may request one, as may candidates with approved medical or disability accommodations. LSAT Argumentative Writing stays remote and on demand for everyone.
Languages Offered
English only
Visit the official LSAC certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
120 to 180 scaled score, in whole-point increments, reported with a percentile rank and a score band
Score You Need
No pass mark exists. The functional cut score is the median LSAT of the schools you are applying to, published by every ABA-accredited school in its Standard 509 disclosure. For reference, LSAC's percentile table for the 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 testing years puts the 50th percentile at 154.
How It Is Calculated
The raw score is the count of correct answers. Every question is weighted the same and nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so guessing carries no penalty. That raw total is equated onto the 120 to 180 scale so scores earned on different forms mean the same thing, which is why the raw total needed for a given scaled score shifts slightly between administrations. The report adds a percentile rank drawn from the previous three testing years and a score band reflecting measurement error.
When You Get Results
There is no unofficial score at the end of the session. Scores post at 9 a.m. Eastern on the published release date for your administration, on the LSAT Status page in JD Services, with an email alert. Release requires an approved writing sample and no account holds. Score Preview purchasers see the score at the same time as everyone else and then have six calendar days to keep or cancel it.
In raw terms: LSAC does not publish a fixed raw-to-scaled conversion, because each form is equated separately. Official LSAT PrepTests released by LSAC in the current three-scored-section format carry roughly 75 scored questions, and each one ships with its own conversion table.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the LSAT?
There are no education prerequisites. LSAC does not require a completed bachelor's degree, a particular major, or any coursework to register for the LSAT.. You need an LSAC account, and the legal first and last name on it has to match the identification you will present.. You need physical, valid identification: an international passport, or a government-issued photo identification from the United States, its territories, or Canada, current or expired within three months of the test date.. You must sign the LSAC Candidate Agreement each time you take the test, which governs permitted items, prohibited behaviour, and what you may say about the test afterwards.. You must have an approved writing sample on file, from LSAT Writing or LSAT Argumentative Writing, before any score is released.. You must be within the testing limits: five sittings within the current reportable score period and seven over a lifetime, with an appeal route by email for extenuating circumstances.. You may not retake the test if you have already scored 180 within the current reportable score period.. Testing accommodations require a request submitted by the accommodation request deadline for your administration, and previously approved candidates automatically receive the same or equivalent accommodations on later registrations.. Law schools additionally require the Credential Assembly Service at $219, plus a $45 law school report for each school you apply to, but neither is needed to sit the test..
How much does the LSAT cost?
The LSAT exam costs $215. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the LSAT?
Visit the official LSAC certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the LSAT?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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