Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

General

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is designed to help predict performance in the first year of law school.

The test has five multiple choice sections, as well as a brief writing sample on a given (broad) topic. One section is reading comprehension, one section is analytical reasoning, and two sections are logical reasoning. The fifth section covers one of those three topics, but is not scored as a way to test new questions.

Only correct answers are counted, which means: if you can’t answer something, go on; and it’s okay to guess.

The score range is from 120 to 180, with an average score being in the lower 150s.

The LSAT is offered four times a year: February, June, October and December; at approved testing sites throughout the country. The closest ones for most MSU students are in the Student Services Building on campus, or at Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Much, much more information on the LSAT can be found at LSAC Online.

Studying

The LSAT is not a content test—meaning that you cannot memorize information, and that knowing more about a certain topic will not necessarily help you perform better on the test. The LSAT tests your critical thinking, comprehension, analytical and logical skills.

The best way to study for the LSAT is to take as many practice tests as possible. You can find books that contain previously administered tests, explanations, and other helpful study topics.

Some students choose to enroll in a study course, such as Kaplan or Princeton Review. These can be effective for certain types of learners, but also tend to be fairly expensive. You should choose a study method that best meets your needs as a learner, and that you can reasonably afford. Here are some options to investigate if you’re considering taking a prep class (please note that MSU does not endorse any of these courses):

If you have more questions, please feel free to make an appointment to speak with an advisor.