Is January a good time to take the LSAT?

Asked by: Celine Blanda  |  Last update: November 15, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (58 votes)

First, it's administered in the dead of winter and it's nondisclosed. This means that you won't see the test content until after the fact. But consider this: the January test may be your best—and last—chance to get the score you need and still apply for admission in the Fall.

Is it OK to take January LSAT?

For most selective law schools, the January LSAT is the last test accepted.

Is January too late for LSAT?

Many of the top law schools are still requiring a January LSAT deadline. But, as you'll see in the chart below, the February and April LSATs are definitely viable options for test-takers.

Which month is best for LSAT?

If you are still in college and plan to go to law school right after graduation, you should take the LSAT in the summer after your junior year or the fall of your senior year. For the balance of 2023, the test will be offered in June, August, September, October, and November—the full list of dates for 2023-24 is here.

Is it worth applying to law school in January?

Any application submitted between the beginning of December and the end of January is generally considered “on time.” For some schools, especially schools with a lower median GPA or LSAT scores, applying in February is also considered on time. Applying after February is definitively late in the application cycle.

Should You Take the January LSAT?

17 related questions found

Should I take the LSAT in November or January?

1. You can still apply to law school with January LSAT scores. Some law schools consider the January LSAT as the final LSAT you can take and still submit an application for admission in the fall because their application deadlines fall in early February.

What is the best month to apply to law school?

The best time to apply.

Most law schools start to accept applications by early October and evaluate them on a rolling basis. There are more open spots at the beginning of the season, so early applicants have an advantage. That said, you shouldn't rush.

What month is the easiest LSAT?

Since the difficulty of the LSAT is carefully calibrated and curved, no test date is easier than another. Popular times like June and September may fill up early, but that is merely a reflection of the academic calendar since many test-takers are in school and have the most time to focus on the test during the summer.

Is 12 weeks enough time to study for the LSAT?

For most students, a three-month period of preparation (of approximately 20 hours per week) is a great goal. This is, of course, an estimate; most students are not all students. To find out how much LSAT prep time you're likely to need, we recommend taking a practice LSAT to get a baseline score.

Can you improve LSAT score in 2 months?

Two months is the optimal LSAT prep schedule for many students. While you can make great score improvements with one intense month of study, practice, and review, most expert LSAT faculty will recommend a longer schedule if one is possible for you.

What months are the hardest for the LSAT?

Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

Are LSAT scores decreasing?

Scores for the LSAT test also have declined. For the top band (175 to 180 range), there was an 11.7% decrease between the 2021 and 2022 school years. For the 170 to 174 range, there was a 14.4% decrease.

Is the LSAT being phased out?

Beginning in the fall of 2025, law school applicants may be able to skip the formidable task of studying for and taking the LSAT. That is when the American Bar Association will no longer obligate applicants to their accredited law schools to take this or any other standardized admissions test.

Is the February LSAT harder?

Let's be perfectly clear about this: the February LSAT IS NOT HARDER than any other LSAT given. Certainly the fact that it is undisclosed makes it less appealing; however, there is absolutely no data to suggest that it is in any way more difficult than any other LSAT test.

Is the LSAT harder now than it used to be?

Short answer: No. The only difference across practice tests over time is that early Logic Games are harder, so if anything, the LSAT has gotten easier. Don't worry about subtle changes based on a few data points. Focus on understanding the test, one question at a time.

Does taking the LSAT more than once look bad?

So, law schools may find an applicant's overall LSAT record useful in making an admissions decision. Obsessively retaking the LSAT without a change in results can look a little unprofessional, but score improvement can show positive qualities like perseverance and good study habits.

How hard is a 175 LSAT?

A 175+LSAT test taker will be able to identify specifically what word, idea, or phrase makes an answer choice incorrect. For most questions, there will be multiple problems with each answer choice.

How hard is it to get 173 on the LSAT?

So let's all stop day-dreaming and get into the 173-180 review! First off, if you're in this score range, congratulations: you're officially above the mean, median, and mode (you're welcome, stats fans). In fact, you're besting 99.4 to 99.9 percent of your peers – not bad at all.

How long do most students study for the LSAT?

Determining how many hours you need for LSAT prep

We recommend that most students look to spend 150–300 hours on LSAT prep; that's a healthy range over a two or three-month period at around 20–25 hours per week, which is a standard amount for most students.

What is the average LSAT first time?

Data Summary. The average LSAT score for first-time takers was 151, according to scores tracked from 2006-2013. During this period, second-time test takers had the highest LSAT average score of about 152. The average national LSAT score for full-time, first-year JD enrollees for fall 2022 was about 159.

Which section of LSAT is hardest?

How Hard is the LSAT Analytical Reasoning? Perhaps the most notorious section of the LSAT, the Analytical Reasoning section contains four logic games, each having 5-7 associated questions. Students must juggle complex, and sometimes competing, concepts to make it through this section with a high score.

What is the lowest LSAT score for law school?

This shows that the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 139. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that you want to at least break 140 to make taking on the cost of law school economically feasible. You can get into a law school with a 140 LSAT score.

What is the busiest month for lawyers?

The Holidays

Between November and December, clients often seek attorneys for injury claims. For this reason, the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the busiest seasons for law firms.

What is the toughest year of law school?

Most students consider the first year of law school to be the most difficult. The material is more complex than they're used to and it must be learned rapidly. What's more, the way students are taught and tested is very different from high school or undergrad.

Is it worth applying to law school in February?

For some of you, you can apply in February and be okay. For some of you, applying in February is not setting you up for a very successful cycle and you should consider waiting until the next cycle.