LSAT Exam Structure, Question Types and Testing Procedures

Here you'll find answers to basic questions about the LSAT — specifically, about the exam's overall structure, about the format of each exam section, and about testing procedures and rules.

LSAT Exam Structure and Format

The LSAT consists of five 35-minute multiple-choice sections and a 35-minute Writing Sample section. Total testing time is 3 hours, 30 minutes. The Writing Sample is always administered last — after all multiple-choice sections. The Writing Sample is not scored, but a copy is provided to all schools to which you apply for admission.

Following is the LSAT test format in a nutshell. Note that the five multiple-choice sections can appear in any order, not just the order shown here.

Analytical Reasoning (23-24 questions, 35 min.)
Reading Comprehension (27-28 questions, 35 min.)
Logical Reasoning (25-26 questions, 35 min.)
Logical Reasoning (25-26 questions, 35 min.)
Unscored section (23-28 questions, 35 min.)
Writing Sample (1 essay, 35 min.)

Four of the multiple-choice sections contribute to your LSAT score. The fifth, unscored section (often called the variable section) is used to pretest (try out) new questions, which may or may not appear in subsequent forms of the exam. The unscored section is not identified as such, and its placement among the other sections can vary.

Overview of Each Type of LSAT Exam Section

The LSAT includes three types of multiple-choice sections — Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning — and a Writing Sample. Here's a brief description of each component (the links take you to more details about each one):

Analytical Reasoning questions gauge your ability to understand a system of relationships and to draw appropriate conclusions about those relationships. These questions are presented in four groups, 5-8 questions per group. All questions in a group are based on the same premises and series of conditions. LSAT Analytical Reasoning sets are often referred to as logic games. All questions are multiple choice.
Reading Comprehension questions gauge your ability to read carefully and accurately, to determine the relationships among the various parts of a passage, and to draw reasonable inferences from the material in the passage. The questions are presented in four groups, each group pertaining to the same passage of text. All questions are multiple choice.
Logical Reasoning questions gauge your ability to understand, criticize, and draw reasonable conclusions from brief (one- or two-paragraph) arguments. All questions are multiple choice.
The Writing Sample gauges your ability to formulate a reasoned, persuasive argument; your ability to compose an organized, coherent essay; and your facility with the English language and the conventions of standard written English. You'll be given a prompt that presents two alternatives and asks you to write an essay in which you argue for one alternative over the other.

LSAT Testing Procedures and Rules

Here are the basic rules all test takers must follow during the exam:

During each timed section, you may work only on that section. You are not permitted to work ahead or to return to any previous section.
You can mark in your test booklet, but you earn credit for a correct answer only by filling in the appropriate "bubble" on a separate answer sheet.
Scratch paper is provided only for the Writing Sample section.
You may bring pencils and highlighters for use during any section of the exam. Pens are not permitted for the multiple-choice sections.
Black-ink pens are provided for the Writing Sample section. You must use these pens to write your essay in the Writing Sample booklet.
Cell phones, PDAs, and timing devices that might make noises are all prohibited. (Silent timing devices such as standard wristwatches are permitted.)