What is on the LSAT? The Ultimate Breakdown

What is the on the LSAT?

The LSAT is composed of 4 sections – 3 sections that are scored, which are the logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension) and 1 section that is not scored (the writing sample). Here’s a quick review of each section before we dive in deeper:

Logical Reasoning (LR)

First up, you'll encounter the Logical Reasoning section, often referred to as LR. This section evaluates your ability to critically analyze and evaluate arguments. Here, you'll be presented with short passages followed by a series of questions. The catch? These aren't your everyday arguments; they're meticulously crafted to challenge your logical reasoning muscles.

Within the LR realm, there are a plethora of question types. For example:

As you dissect each passage, remember the objective: to understand the structure of the argument, the premises, the conclusion, and the links between them.

Analytical Reasoning (AR) ***AR will be discontinued starting August 2024

Even though this section of the LSAT is going to be discontinued, we have to mention it now for those who are preparing to take the test within a year or so. If this is you, this section will also impact your LSAT score, and therefore on your law school acceptance chances!

After LR, brace yourself for the Analytical Reasoning section, fondly dubbed the "Logic Games" by many. Here, you're assessed on your ability to understand structural relationships and draw conclusions about them. Each game in this section provides a scenario, sets up rules, and then asks you a series of questions based on that setup.

The games vary, but the most common types you'll find are:

Imagine it as a puzzle; use the rules to fill in the pieces and uncover the bigger picture.

Reading Comprehension (RC)

Your next challenge is the Reading Comprehension section. This part evaluates, you guessed it, your reading comprehension skills! You'll be given lengthy, complex passages (around 450-500 words each) from a variety of genres like humanities, sciences, legal, or arts. After reading, you'll answer questions related to the passage.

Key question types here include:

The RC section tests your ability to glean key details, understand the structure, and draw inferences from dense text. So, while navigating, make sure to keep your analytical cap on.

The Writing Sample

Lastly, there's the Writing Sample section. Although this section isn't scored, don't underestimate its importance. Law schools will have access to it. You'll be presented with a decision problem, and your task is to choose between two positions, providing valid reasons and examples for your choice. It's an opportunity for you to showcase your persuasive writing abilities.

The LSAT Writing Sample is separate from the main test. You're given 35 minutes to complete it, but it's administered online and can be taken up to eight days after your LSAT date, at your convenience.

So, how long is the LSAT? While the main LSAT is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, if you add the writing sample, it totals to 4 hours and 5 minutes of testing, but remember they're taken on potentially different days.

Now that we know what to expect generally, let's review each section in more detail to learn more about what's on the LSAT!

What’s on the LSAT: Logical Reasoning

The Logical Reasoning (LR) section is a defining component of the LSAT, requiring test-takers to dissect arguments, spot fallacies, and make deductions. Typically, there are two Logical Reasoning sections on the LSAT, each containing around 24 to 26 questions. This gives you a total of approximately 48 to 52 LR questions on the test.

Each LR section is 35 minutes long. Given that there are 24 to 26 questions per section, you should aim to spend about 1 to 1.5 minutes on each question. Time management is crucial; it's beneficial to answer easier questions swiftly, saving more time for challenging ones.

This section tests your ability to critically evaluate, analyze, and dissect arguments. You'll need to determine the strength of arguments, spot logical flaws, recognize underlying assumptions, and deduce conclusions. Your skills in drawing logical inferences, identifying principles, and applying them to new contexts will also be evaluated.

LR questions come in various formats, including:

These can be very intimidating! But with the right prep strategies, you will succeed on the test day! Let’s review some of the best ways to prepare for the LR section of the LSAT:

Know the format and the skills tested: Understanding the format of the exam and the skills you need is the first step to right preparations. Learn what Logical Reasoning is all about and review LSAT practice problems from the Logical Reasoning sections of past LSATs.

Identify Question Types: LR contains several types of questions, such as assumption, strengthen/weaken, flaw, inference, and parallel reasoning. By categorizing and recognizing these types, you can apply specific strategies for each.

Focus on the Argument Structure: Unlike Logic Games which tests diagramming and rule application, LR focuses on argument structure. Understand the premises, conclusions, and any gaps between them. This requires strong reading comprehension and analytical skills! Work to build those skills. Which leads us to…

Practice Active Reading: LR requires close reading. The more you read, the better! Start reading challenging texts months before your test and analyze them closely. As you review LR practice problems, underline or mentally note shifts in arguments, key terms, or any indicator words like "however", "thus", "but", etc. They can often signal important parts of the argument.

Learn to Eliminate Obviously Wrong Choices: Often, two or three answer choices can be easily dismissed, making it easier to select the correct one. Being able to identify the wrong answer options can increase the your chances of answering correctly! This approach is helpful on any of the LSAT sections!

Predict Answers Before Viewing Choices: As you start to practice with sample LSAT questions, after reading a question, try to formulate an answer in your own words before looking at the options. This pre-thinking helps you avoid getting swayed by attractive wrong choices.

Negation Technique for Assumption Questions: A unique strategy for assumption questions is to negate the answer choices. The right answer, when negated, should destroy the argument.

Be Skeptical of Extreme Language: Words like "all", "never", "only", and "always" can often (but not always) indicate incorrect answer choices, especially in inference questions.

Review Wrong Answers Thoroughly: After practicing, always review not only the questions you got wrong but also those you were unsure about. Understanding the reasoning behind the correct answer will help you think like the test-makers.

Stay Calm and Move On: Don't get bogged down by a tough question. If you've spent too much time on one question, it's often better to make your best guess and move on. Every question is worth the same number of points, so prioritize answering more questions rather than getting stuck on one.

Practice: Regularly work on LSAT practice questions from the Logical Reasoning section. Familiarizing yourself with question types and practicing under timed conditions will increase your accuracy and speed. Remember, there is no textbook to study from! There is no amount of content review that can help you with the LSAT. You need to train your brain to approach these questions!

Be patient: It can take time before you can crack the code to these questions. They are tricky and they are designed to be tricky! The pressure can make you second-guess yourself. Trust your preparation and don’t let tricky questions fluster you.

Time Management: While practice will make you faster over time, always be aware of the clock. It can be beneficial to skip particularly challenging questions and come back to them if time permits. However, before you start working on speed, we would strongly advise you to focus on getting the answers right first.

What’s on the LSAT: Analytical Reasoning *** Discontinued starting August 2024

The Analytical Reasoning section, commonly known as the "Logic Games" section, typically contains 22-24 questions. You have 35 minutes to complete the AR section. Considering there are usually 4 games with 5-7 questions each, you might aim to spend about 8-9 minutes per game. However, some games might be more challenging than others, so this is a rough estimate.

Analytical Reasoning tests your ability to understand a structure of relationships and to draw logical conclusions about that structure. You are asked to make deductions from a set of statements, rules, or conditions that describe relationships among entities like persons, places, things, or events. It gauges how well you can reason deductively.

You can expect a variety of games, including:

As with Logical Reasoning, we would strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with the AR format and the types of questions you can expect. This will start you on your road to successful preparations. However, we also strongly advise the following strategies:

Diagramming: This is pivotal for success in AR. Develop a consistent system for diagramming the game scenarios. This will help you visualize the relationships and rules.

Practice: Regularly practice logic games. Over time, you'll start recognizing patterns and become faster and more accurate.

Understand Rules: Before answering questions, ensure you understand all the rules of the game. Misinterpreting a rule can lead to multiple errors.

Use Previous Work: When working through a game, often your work from one question can assist with subsequent questions.

Timed Practice: Regularly practice games under timed conditions to get used to the time pressure. But as with LR problems, focus on getting them right first. Only once you get your strategies down, you can start working on the speed.

This is a basic example, but it underscores the importance of understanding conditions and using diagrams to visualize relationships.

What’s on the LSAT: Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension section typically contains around 26-28 questions spread across four passages. You have 35 minutes to complete this section. Given that there are usually four passages, you should aim to spend roughly 8-9 minutes on each passage and its associated questions.

The Reading Comprehension section assesses your ability to read dense, scholarly material (similar to what you'll encounter in law school) and understand its main points, structure, and various details. It also tests your capacity to make inferences based on the passage and understand the author's tone, perspective, and purpose.

You'll encounter several types of questions, including:

You might not realize it, but you have started preparing for the Reading Comprehension sections long ago by reading challenging material in your undergrad! But to make sure you ace this LSAT section, let’s review other prep strategies:

Active Reading: When you use practice LSAT Reading Comprehension passages and questions, engage with the text. Take brief notes in the margins, underline crucial points, or circle key terms.

Pace Yourself: Avoid spending too much time on one passage. If a question seems too challenging, move on and come back to it if time allows.

Practice with Dense Materials: As we already mentioned, you might have been doing this already. But if you have not, start now! Read scholarly articles or complex materials from sources like academic journals or publications to build stamina and comprehension skills.

Understand Question Types: Familiarize yourself with the different types of questions we outline above, so you know what to look for when answering.

What is on the LSAT: Writing Sample

The Writing Sample section of the LSAT consists of one essay prompt. You have 35 minutes to complete this section. Given that it's one essay, you'll use the entirety of that time to craft a thoughtful, organized response.

The LSAT Writing Sample doesn't have a specific word count requirement. The emphasis is on the quality of your argument, not the length. However, some considerations to keep in mind:

Space Limitation: If you're taking the LSAT on paper, you're confined to the space provided, which typically is about two pages. If you're taking the LSAT-Flex or the digital LSAT, you'll type your essay, but the software may have character limits.

Time Constraint: With only 35 minutes to craft your essay, it's crucial to strike a balance between depth and efficiency. A well-thought-out, concise essay can be more impactful than a lengthy but unfocused one.

Quality Over Quantity: While it's essential to provide a full response, don't write more just for the sake of length. Aim for a clear, concise, and organized argument. Address the given criteria, provide evidence, and showcase your ability to reason and communicate in writing.

The Writing Sample doesn't test specific knowledge. Instead, it assesses your ability to formulate a well-organized, coherent argument supported by evidence. Your critical thinking, reasoning, and written communication skills are under the spotlight here.

The Writing Sample will present you with a decision problem. You'll be given two criteria for making a decision and asked to choose between two options, defending your choice using the criteria provided. The key is not the choice you make but how you support it.

Your preparations for the LSAT’s Writing Sample section should include the following:

Practice Formulating Arguments: Regularly write practice essays to get a feel for constructing a logical argument within the time frame.

Plan Before Writing: Spend the first few minutes outlining your essay. Having a clear structure in mind helps in crafting a cohesive response. You have the opportunity to simply take a piece of paper and jot down an outline of your essay! Use this opportunity to craft a structure instead of writing down all your thoughts on paper right away.

Be Balanced: While you should argue for one side, acknowledging the merits of the other side (and refuting them) showcases depth in understanding.

Review Grammar and Punctuation: Ensure your writing is clear and free of basic errors.

The Writing Sample demands a different preparation approach from the other LSAT sections. It's more about structure, argumentation, and writing clarity than specific logical skills.

Sample LSAT Writing Sample

Prompt:

Two non-profit organizations are considering a joint partnership to tackle a significant societal challenge. Organization A focuses on direct community outreach and interventions, holding workshops, and awareness programs. Organization B is research-based, focusing on studying the root causes of the issue and proposing policy changes.

For the partnership to be successful, they must decide on a primary focus: either direct community intervention or policy change advocacy. As a board member, argue for one of these approaches.

Sample Response:

While both direct community intervention and policy change advocacy are commendable efforts in tackling societal challenges, a focus on policy change advocacy through the expertise of Organization B would provide a more widespread and long-lasting impact. Research has consistently shown that systemic changes can address the root causes of many societal issues, making policy advocacy a proactive rather than reactive solution.

Direct community outreach, as championed by Organization A, undoubtedly brings immediate relief and awareness to localized groups. However, the scale of impact is limited to those directly reached by the interventions. In contrast, successful policy changes can ripple through society, affecting large populations and even generations.

One might argue that community outreach provides tangible, immediate results, whereas policy change can be a long, uncertain battle. While this is a valid concern, it's also worth noting that a well-researched policy proposal, backed by empirical evidence, can persuade decision-makers more effectively. With the research expertise of Organization B, the partnership has a unique advantage in this arena.

Consider the societal challenge of tobacco use. While community interventions, like awareness programs, can deter a few from picking up the habit, it was policy changes—such as increased taxation, advertising bans, and public smoking bans—that led to widespread reductions in tobacco use.

In conclusion, while both community intervention and policy advocacy are vital, the latter promises broader, more enduring benefits. By leveraging Organization B's research strengths in a joint partnership, we can aim not just to treat symptoms but to effect systemic change.

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