When should I plan to take the LSAT?

Asked by: Watson Zulauf Jr.  |  Last update: July 25, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (72 votes)

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.

When should you start preparing for the LSAT?

So, you should aim to start looking into the LSAT at least three months before your expected test date, with extra time added if you know you want to try and score very highly. Evaluate your progress after your first month of studying and then adjust your LSAT test date and application timeline accordingly.

What year of college should I take the LSAT?

Plan on taking the LSAT no later than the Summer of your Junior year or Fall of senior year, one year prior to your expected entry into law school. A Summer test is preferable because you will receive the results early enough to be in the first wave of applicants.

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 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.

When Should You Take the LSAT and Apply to Law School?

17 related questions found

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.

What is a good GPA at law school?

Among the 191 ranked law schools that submitted grade data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average median GPA of entering law school students in 2021 was 3.55. But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86.

Is 1 year enough to study for LSAT?

If you have other responsibilities and can only dedicate three to four hours a day to the LSAT, you should give yourself five to six months to study. In total, you should study around 300–400 hours for this exam. This amount of time is generally enough to gain a thorough understanding of how to ace the LSAT.

What is a good LSAT score without studying?

The average LSAT score without studying ranges from 135 to 145, well below the median at 151 in the 50th percentile. Preparing with practice tests and learning the skills you need for each exam section is the key to boosting your LSAT scores.

How much does it cost to take the LSAT?

LSAT registration: $200. CAS registration: $195. Domestic nonpublished test center (for those over 100 miles away from a testing site): $295. International nonpublished center: $390.

How many times can you take LSAT?

How many times may I take the LSAT? Three times in a single testing year (the next testing cycle begins with the August 2022 test). Five times within the current and five past testing years (the period in which LSAC reports scores to law schools). A total of seven times over a lifetime.

Are B's in law school good?

Bs are perfectly acceptable grades in law school. What does a B grade represent? That a student has adequate mastery of the subject. Not great mastery.

What is the easiest law school to get into with a low GPA?

15 Easiest Law Schools to Get Into Based on GPA
  • DePaul University College of Law – 3.20.
  • Howard University Law School – 3.24.
  • University of Baltimore – 3.25.
  • Vermont Law School – 3.25.
  • University of Idaho College of Law – 3.25.
  • Akron Law School – 3.28.
  • Creighton University Law School – 3.29.

What GPA is too low for law school?

So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.

Is the LSAT or MCAT harder?

If you're an experienced test-taker used to memorizing complex facts and information ahead of time, the MCAT may be a bit easier for you. Meanwhile, the LSAT could be the simpler option for proficient readers and writers with logical, analytical minds.

How many hours a day should you study for the LSAT?

If take 5 months to study for the LSAT, you'd need to spend between 12 to 18 hours every week, on average. This means you'd need to spend between 2.5 and 3.5 hours a day studying, 5 days a week. If you are on an extended 6-month schedule, you only need to study a manageable 10 to 15 hours per week.

What is the average LSAT for Harvard?

Harvard Law is tied for #1 in terms of the median LSAT score (173) among those applicants granted admission who enrolled as full-time students. The LSAT measures reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard?

Law schools generally require that you have specified minimum collegiate GPA and LSAT scores to qualify for admission. Harvard, Yale, and the other top five-ranked law schools require that you have a GPA of at least 3.50 and an LSAT score of 170.

How many law schools should I apply to?

How Many Law Schools Should I Apply To? Your best bet is to apply to a minimum of two reach schools, two match schools, and three safeties.

What is the lowest GPA for Harvard Law School?

While there is no minimum GPA required to apply to Harvard Law, you should aim for the median GPA of 3.92 or higher for a more competitive application.

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 med school harder than law?

One student may say that medical school is tougher while another says that law school is tougher. In reality, it really depends on you, how you learn, and your natural abilities and aptitude of being a student.

How to be #1 in law school?

  1. Memorize the law, even if you have an open-book exam. Some students approach an open-book exam totally differently than a closed-book exam. ...
  2. Make your own outline (and start early) ...
  3. Avoid low-yield, time-consuming study habits. ...
  4. Be okay with being different.

What is the most difficult part of the LSAT?

Analytical Reasoning Tips

This is considered one of the most difficult sections of the LSAT because of how abstract it is. Test-takers will be thrown curve balls left and right and have to find a way to keep up.

What happens if you fail the LSAT?

It Comes Down to Retaking the Test

Still, there is no other way to increase your score other than re-doing the test. Particularly if illness or anxiety prevented you from performing as well as you might have expected, you have everything to gain from doing it again.