There is no single way to tell someone how to write a great personal statement, since everyone has a different writing style and story to tell. However, there are a few rules essay editors and law school applicants can follow that will ensure that they are at least keeping within what makes the Admissions Committee happy:

It’s not what you write, but how you write it.

Virtually any topic can be exciting if written about in the right manner. Conversely, any topic can be dull if written about poorly. The way in which the story is framed is critical to a successful essay, and many of the tips below focus on this crucial element.

In this same vein, try to work out the general essay structure before working on details such as the exact words and phrasings. Have applicants get the general ideas on paper without initial regard for perfect diction, etc. It’s like building a house—which do you do first: pick out the wallpaper, or select the basic floor plan? The essay’s outline, its blueprint, is essential to a good writing foundation.

Show, don’t tell.

In personal statements we tend to use the short story format, which means that we try to engage the reader through a narrative featuring anecdotes, story tension, et cetera. If a writer simply states everything in a matter-of-fact manner, there is no mystery or excitement, and the essay will lack vibrancy. For example, applicants shouldn’t tell their readers that they are courageous; instead, they should show them that they are courageous by relating the story of how they saved someone from a burning building.

Hook ’em up front.

Almost all essays should feature an action opening—that is, one that immediately involves the reader in a story and engages their interest.

Wrong: As a marathon runner, I show perseverance and determination on a monthly basis. I am a fierce competitor, and I always fight to the end.

Right: As I passed the twenty five mile mark, I could feel my legs begin to give out and my vision begin to blur. I had run many marathons before, but this was the first one where I lead this far into the race. Yet, right behind me I could hear the steps of another runner slowly getting closer. I took a deep breath, clenched my fists, and prayed I could summon the will to complete the last mile and win the race.

Although the above are two very rough examples, ask yourself: which essay do you want to continue reading?

Also, steer clear of giving an overview of the whole essay in the first paragraph. Instead, use the flow of the story to draw the reader through the essay and then summarize at the end (and then only if needed).

Don’t generalize—be specific.

Details are the spice of life, and they are what draw us to other people (for example, which is more interesting: “She has a job” or “She is an aerospace engineer”?). General statements typically do not convey enough information to be interesting (for example, “I will work very hard in law school” is obvious and conveys no new or useful information).

Put the “person” in the personal statement.

It is called a Personal Statement (and not the Impersonal Statement) for a reason! Applicants should use the essay to talk about themselves. Make sure to include anecdotes, examples, and details that both convey what sets the applicant apart, and truly explore who they are.

Think about the wild popularity of tabloids. Tabloids sell because they include the juicy details about people. Essays that contain personal details are inherently more interesting. Just don’t make any of the details up!

Do not make the reader ask questions or pause while reading.

Anything that stops or slows down a reader is a problem. Make sure the narrative is linear, makes sense, and does not leave the reader waiting or asking for an integral piece of information.

Don’t try to cover every base.

Some writers try to use the personal statement to address every aspect of their application or person. This is both an impossible task and makes the essay seem unfocused and disorganized. Some things must be left out, so use the statement to focus on the most important and compelling aspects of the applicant and their story.

Don’t focus on negatives.

In most cases, the personal statement should focus on positives. Any negatives should be addressed in an addendum. If a negative must be addressed, it should speak to how the applicant overcame the problem or difficulty, how they have grown as a person because of it, and how they will apply the knowledge they gleaned from the experience to better themselves and their situation.

Bring elements in from off the page.

The essay is there to fill in the picture and connect the dots. Simply repeating the applicant’s résumé, recommendation(s), or address something already discussed in another part of the application is a waste of valuable application real estate.

You do not have to tell people why you are going to law school unless you have a good reason.

Not everyone has a compelling reasoning for going to law school, so don’t fake it if the candidate falls into that category. Instead, try to reveal the characteristics the applicant possesses that would make them a desirable applicant.

Build a bridge to the reader.

Can the reader picture what the applicant is doing and what they are thinking? If so, they are more likely to be swayed by the story presented in the personal statement. If not, how can they understand who the applicant is? This point is much easier to achieve if the writer uses anecdotes as a storytelling device.

Do not make statements that lack support early in the essay.

For example, do not say, “I love analyzing the constitution,” in the first paragraph because it does not sound believable (yes, one of our applicants actually said that exact thing). Wait until the middle or end to bring up the fact that the applicant worked for a congressman known as the “lover of the constitution.” Avoiding unsupportable statements early on in the essay will also allow the writer to hook their readers from the start.

It’s more about what they want to hear and less about what you want to say.

Never forget who the target audience is, and who will be reading the essay. Focus on telling them what they need to know, rather than what you are desperate to tell them. Let them see a part of you that can’t be found anywhere else in the essay; resist the urge to tout your achievements (particularly if they are already discussed elsewhere, like your résumé).

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Treat your essay like the most important piece of writing in your application, and it will go a long way towards ensuring your acceptance.

Students can no longer do that.

As per LSAC:

We have a change in the policy related to applicants who wish to take the LSAT more than three times in two years. Applicants may not take the LSAT more than three times in any two-year period. This policy applies even if the applicant cancels their score or if the score is not otherwise reported. LSAC reserves the right to cancel the applicant’s registration, rescind their admission ticket, or take any other steps necessary to enforce this policy.  Previously, candidates could request a waiver of this policy from law schools.  That no longer will be possible.  Instead, in exceptional circumstances only, candidates can ask LSAC directly for a waiver of this policy.

If you would like to request an exception to this rule, you can do so by submitting a signed, detailed explanation addressing the circumstances that you feel make you eligible to retake the LSAT, and specifying the date that you wish to take the test. Your request must be in writing, submitted either via email (LSACinfo@LSAC.org) or fax (215.968.1277). As with accommodated testing requests, LSAC recommends that you submit your request well in advance of the date you wish to take the test on, in order to give them time to evaluate your request and render a decision. And, of course, LSAC’s decisions are final.

More information about the limitations on test taking is available on the LSAC website.

The regular registration deadline for the October 2011 LSAT is August 30, 2011. This is the last day you can sign up for the test and not get charged a late fee. The registration for fee for the LSAT is currently US$139 or $144 Canadian.

The late registration deadline for the October 2011 LSAT is September 9, 2011. This is the absolute last day you can sign up for this test. In addition to the regular registration fee, you will also have to pay a late fee of US$68 or $71 Canadian.

The deadline for changing your test center or test date for the October 2011 LSAT is September 11, 2011. After this date, you cannot change your test date or test center. The fee for changing the test center is US$35 (or $36 Canadian); the fee for changing the test date is US$68 (or $71 Canadian).

The deadline for withdrawing your LSAT registration (no refund available) is September 30, 2011 at midnight EST. If you are taking the Sabbath-observer administration, it is Monday, October 3, 2011 at midnight EST. In order to withdraw, you must do so through your online LSAC account.

The October 2011 LSAT is taking place on Saturday, October 1, 2011. If you are taking the Sabbath-observer administration, it will take place on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

It is always advisable to register for the test online, rather then via snail-mail. Registering online not only allows you to create an LSAC account (which you will use later to apply to law schools through LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service), but will also give you extended deadlines in which to register and/or change your registration details, as well as let you receive your scores online. To register for the October 2011 LSAT online through the LSAC website, click here.

To see the different fees associated with taking the LSAT, click here.

The following lists what you must (and should, and can’t) bring to the testing center.

THE MUSTS

• LSAT Admission Ticket. Print it the night before to make sure you have the most recent test center information on it. Sometimes testing centers are changed at the last minute, and you need to make sure you have the most recent address so that you go to the right place on Test Day.
• Identification. You will need to types of ID on test day. You must have one current, valid (not expired) government-issued ID containing a recent and recognizable photo and your signature. Your first and last name on your ID must match exactly the name on your LSAT Admission Ticket or you will be denied admission. Acceptable forms of ID include passport book and government issued driver’s license. US military personnel may present their US military ID card with name, photo, and signature.
• A clear photo that shows you as you will look on test day (e.g., if you have a beard, the picture must show you with a beard; if you have colored your hair red, the picture must show you with red hair). For students taking the test within the U.S. or the Caribbean, this is a new requirement. The picture must be in color, showing your face, neck and shoulders, no bigger than 5cm x 5cm, and no smaller than 3cm x 3cm.

NOTE: The following IDs are NOT accepted by LSAC as valid forms of identification – Social Security card, Social Insurance card, birth certificate, credit card (including those with photo), cards used in Canada for health care benefits, expired IDs, photocopied IDs, employee IDs, or student IDs.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FORMS OF ID AND THE PICTURE WITH YOU! If you do not have acceptable forms of ID or the picture at the time you are being checked in, you will not be allowed to take the LSAT!

THE SHOULDS

In addition to your ID, picture, and admissions ticket, you can also bring the following to the test center (as per LSAC): A clear plastic ziplock bag, maximum size one gallon (3.79 liter), which must be stored under the chair and may be accessed only during the break.

The ziplock bag may contain only the following items: LSAT Admission Ticket stub; valid ID; wallet; keys; analog (nondigital) wristwatch; medical or hygiene products; #2 or HB wooden pencils, highlighter, erasers, pencil sharpener (no mechanical pencils); tissues; and beverage in plastic container or juice box (20 oz./591 ml maximum size) and snack for break only.

YOU CANNOT BRING ANYTHING ELSE TO THE TEST CENTER. All other items will not be allowed, and you can be dismissed from the test center from bringing in any prohibited items (see below).

THE PROHIBITED ITEMS

LSAC specifically states that you cannot bring any of the following into the test center: Electronic timers of any kind, beeping watches, alarm watches, calculator watches, cellular phones, beepers, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), hats/hoods (except items of religious apparel), books, dictionaries, papers of any kind, calculators, rulers, slide rules, compasses, mechanical pencils, briefcases, handbags, backpacks, earplugs, headsets, photographic or recording devices, listening devices, electronic devices of any kind, weapons, or firearms.

The prohibited items that seem to trip up students the most are the following:

1. Electronic timers: Yes, that includes silent timers. The only way you will have of telling the time during your test is an analog watch (i.e., a watch with hands, not digital numbers), the clock in the testing room (if there is one), and your test proctor (who will tell you when to start, when there are five minutes left, and when to stop).
2. Cell phones: No, you can’t bring your cell phone into the testing center. Leave it in the car.
3. Hats/hoods: Particularly important to remember during the winter, when everyone wears hats. Brave the cold on the walk from your car to the testing room, and leave the hat in the car.
4. Mechanical pencils: That’s right, you have to use a good ol’ #2 for the test. Remember to bring a sharpener and multiple pre-sharpened pencils.
5. Purses/backpacks/briefcases: The only bag you’re allowed is the clear plastic one listed under “The Shoulds” above. Leave everything else in the car.
6. Earplugs: A surprising number of students take practice tests with them. You won’t be allowed to have them in the testing center, so don’t get in the habit of using them when you practice.
7. Electronic devices of ANY kind: This includes iPhones, iPods, cell phones, beepers, pagers, and pretty much anything with a battery (except for an analog watch). Leave it all in the car.

You can get kicked out of the testing center for having any prohibited item. Pack what you need the night before and double check with the list of approved and prohibited items on LSAC.org (http://lsac.org/JD/LSAT/day-of-test.asp) to make sure you have all of what you need (and none of what you don’t).

Good luck!

If LSAC score-release trends hold, then October LSAT scores will start appear in people’s inboxes at some point tomorrow (10/29/10) afternoon (typically around 5pm EST, or thereabouts). Although LSAC typically states score release dates to be on Mondays, they have historically started releasing them the Friday prior to the “official” date, thus ending the gut-wrenching agony for many an LSAT test-taker.

A few things to keep in mind, though:

1. Scores are sent out in batches, which means that some test-takers will get theirs before others. The scores don’t go all out at once.

2. Although some will receive their scores on Friday, others may have to wait until Saturday, Sunday, or even the official Monday date. This is due to the order in which the LSAC servers send out the scores.

3. The scores are not released in any order, be it alphabetic (by either first or last name), geographic, or by score. It’s just luck of the draw.

4. Only those test-takers who have an LSAC.org account will receive their scores via email. Those who do not need to wait for snail-mail. (See more on that by clicking here.)

Good luck to all October LSAT takers! You could have your score in approximately 36 hours!

First off, let us start by saying that it is very common for LSAT-takers to second-guess themselves and fret–almost from the moment they exit the testing center–about how they did on the test, what their score might be, which questions they got right and wrong, and if they should cancel their score.

In the days immediately following each LSAT, we get many phone calls from distraught (and, sometimes, near-hysterical) students, all of them asking the same thing: “Should I cancel?” Their stress and anxiety is very understandable: They have just spent months studying for a test, the test is over, they have to wait three weeks for a score, and they know that the score they get can either help them or hinder them considerably in their law school plans. Being distraught about the results of the LSAT is par for the course.

Deciding whether to cancel can be very stressful. However, there are several situations under which which cancellation might be a good option for you:

• You suffered from extreme test anxiety (sometimes manifested by extreme distraction, panic, cold sweats, nausea) during the test
• You took the exam “cold” or didn’t prepare for it very well
• You were ill during the exam, or became seriously ill during it
• You know for certain you mis-bubbled a section
• You were unable to complete the test, or had to leave during it
• You are convinced that something just went very, very wrong during the test

The situations that can lead you to consider cancellation are various and varied. One of the first things we tell students to do is evaluate their performance. Many think this is not possible; however, with just a little bit of time and some careful analysis, it is definitely possible to put together relatively accurate best- and worst-case scenarios about an LSAT performance.  Go through the following steps:

• Analyze the LSAT you just took very carefully.
  This can be hard to do, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the test, but it can prove to be very useful when attempting to determine your overall performance. Start by writing down the sections you had, and the order you had them in. Once you’ve written down the sections in order, try to recall how many questions you were able to intelligently analyze and answer, and how many you just hazarded a guess on. Determine which sections where the hardest for you, and which specific parts of the hardest sections gave you the most trouble. Was there a specific logic game that you really struggled with? Was there a reading comprehension passage that stumped you? Don’t let your feelings about a type of question or the LSAT as a whole cloud your judgment.  Instead, consider each section in a manner than is as analytical and question-specific as possible. This kind of almost-impartial breakdown of the test will be invaluable when you are trying to determine your overall performance.
• Try to determine the experimental section.
  Again, this is something that many think is not possible, but it can definitely be doable in many cases. The PowerScore website has a great breakdown and explanation of what the experimental section is, how it is used, and how you can figure out which section in your LSAT was the experimental one. Click on this link to read the article: PowerScore Free LSAT Help Area: The Experimental Section Explained.
• Create a best-case and worst-case scenario of your performance.
  Once you have determined how you feel you did on each of the four scored sections of the test, it is time to translate that into a numerical score range. We say “range” because it will be impossible for you to determine exactly how many questions you answered right or wrong in a section, but you can definitely establish a general scoring range by figuring our your best-case and worst-case scenarios. 

  ► To create a best-case score scenario, think back to each section. As objectively as you can, determine two numbers for each section: (1) The approximate number of questions you felt very confident about, and (2) The approximate number of questions you felt okay with, but weren’t 100% sure of the answer.  Add the first number and 75% of the second number together. Do this for each section. That will give you  a raw “best-case” number.

  ► To create a worst-case scenario, determine the same numbers for each section, but only add 75% of the first number and 50% of the second number. Do this for each section and then add all the numbers together. This will give you a  raw “worst-case” number.

  ► Once you have your best-case and worst-case raw numbers, you need to determine what your score range is when converted to the LSAT 120-180. Although you will not have the range for the actual range you took, you can use past LSATs’ scoring ranges to help you, since raw scores usually fall around the same numbers. Take your raw numbers and plug them in to a historical LSAT range. You can find one on the PowerScore website by clicking here: PowerScore’s Historical Range of Correct Answers for Targeted Scores.

• Think about how you did on your practice tests.
  Use your knowledge of how you felt and performed on the practice tests leading up to the test, and compare them to how you feel you did on the LSAT you just took. Don’t forget to be objective–of course you likely felt more nervous, more anxious, less secure about the “real” LSAT you just sat for. That’s only natural. Don’t consider your feelings–be objective and consider your performance. Did you feel the questions were harder? Easier? This can also help you see if the best- and worst-case scenarios are accurate. If, for example, in your final practice LSATs you were scoring between 160 and 163, you felt that the “real” LSAT you just took was easier, and your best- and worst-case numbers put you at a 162-166 range, then you’re probably right on target. The same goes if you feel it was harder than your practice tests, or about the same. Combine all this information to ensure your analysis and range are in the right area.
• Consider which scores you would feel comfortable with.
  Are you applying to schools where you need to score above a 155 to really feel comfortable? Do you feel you need at least a 160? A 165? A 150? If you don’t know what ranges your schools are looking for, a great resource is LSAC’s Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools. They provide the 25th and 75th percentile LSAT scores for the prior year’s incoming class for all ABA-approved schools, and you can use that information to determine where your score should be. Once you have those percentiles in hand, determine which LSAT scores you would feel most comfortable with, and which LSAT scores you think would best improve your chances of getting into the school(s) of your choice.
• Don’t forget to think about your past official LSAT performances.
  If you have multiple cancellations or absences on your LSAT Score Report already, then you need to think long and hard about having yet another cancellation on your record. Multiple score cancellations or absences may signal to AdComs that you are unable to handle the stress of a lengthy timed test (which, when you consider how intense and long law school finals are, doesn’t bode well), or that you don’t take your test-taking seriously or don’t prepare adequately (which also doesn’t bode well). Also, if you already have one or more other scores on your LSAT Score Report, take a moment to carefully consider what the effect of this additional score may be: Is it higher than what you’re got already? Lower? The same? Although schools are not required to take the average of all scores in an LSAT Score Report, the average is still reported, and schools can see both the average as well as the scores for every single LSAT you’ve taken in the last 5 years. Consider how this new LSAT will affect your overall report, and whether it will have a positive or negative effect.
• Make a final decision.
  Once you’ve followed all the above steps, it is time to make a final decision. You have six calendar days from the day you took the LSAT to let LSAC know if you want to cancel your score.  Consider your best- and worst-case scenarios, your past performances (and how you feel the “real” LSAT stacks up to them), the score that you feel you must have, and how your current Score Report looks, and decide. Don’t feel that you must do this immediately upon taking the test. As mentioned above, you have six calendar days to cancel your score, so you have some time. However, don’t put off doing your analysis until the last minute, and make sure that, should you decide to cancel your score, you follow the steps detailed by LSAC to cancel your score.

So, what happens if you’ve decided to cancel your score? The first thing you need to do is notify LSAC. You can do this by completing an LSAT Score Cancellation Form (available here), or by sending a signed fax, or overnighted letter. BE CAREFUL: LSAC does not accept emails or phone calls as “official” cancelation requests, because the request must include your signature.  Valid score cancellation requests must include:

• A statement that you wish to cancel your LSAT score
• Your name, LSAC account number, and last four digits of your Social Security Number
• Your test date, test center number, and test center name
• Your signature

Make sure you carefully read the specific procedures that need to be followed to cancel your score. You can find these on the LSAC.org About Your Score page. If you have any–any–questions about the process or what you need to do, contact LSAC at 215-968-1001. Do not email them and wait for a response–call them.

Commonly-asked questions:

• Will schools be able to see that I cancelled my LSAT score? Yes. Your Law School Report will reflect that the score was cancelled at your request.
• Can I get a refund if I cancel my score? No. LSAC gives no refunds for cancelled scores.
• If I cancel my score, will I still know what I got? No. You will never know how you actually scored on the test.
• Will I still get a copy of the test questions if I cancel my score? It depends. If you took a non-disclosed test (i.e., any February administration, a Sabbath Day Observer administration, or an LSAT administered at a non-published test center), then you will not get a copy of the test questions. However, if you took a disclosed test (i.e., all standard administrations of the June, September/October and December test), then you will get a copy of test questions. However, you will not receive a copy of your answer sheet.
• What happens if LSAC doesn’t cancel my score after I asked them to (in writing, with a signature, on the appropriate form, etc.)? LSAC is very good about notifying students once cancellation requests are processed. They will mail out a confirmation to you once they do so. If you do not receive one within four calendar days after you submit the request, contact LSAC immediately. You will need to submit proof that you sent the request in on time–this is why keeping fax transmittal sheets, USPS/FedEx/UPS delivery confirmations, etc. is very important. If you can’t produce proof that you sent your request at or before the six-calendar-day deadline, LSAC won’t cancel your score.

Score Cancelation resources:

• LSAC.org About Your LSAT Score page
• LSAT Score Cancelation Form
• PowerScore Historical Range of LSAT Scores
• PowerScore LSAT Experimental Section Breakdown

List Of 2011 LSAT Dates

Saturday, February 12, 2011 8:30 AM
Monday, February 14, 2011 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM

Monday, June 6, 2011 12:30 PM
Sunday, June 26, 2011 (Asia/Australia/New Zealand) 8:30 AM

Saturday, October 1, 2011 8:30 AM
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM

Saturday, December 3, 2011 8:30 AM
Monday, December 5, 2011 (Saturday Sabbath Observers) 8:30 AM

How many times are you allowed to take the LSAT?

Generally, the LSAC allows you to take the LSAT no more than three times in any two year period (even if your scores are cancelled or otherwise unreported). There are select exceptions to this rule: “You may retake the LSAT if a law school to which you are applying requires a more recent score than any you have on record, or approves your retaking the test, and the school provides LSAC with written proof of its requirement no later than the last day of registration for the test.”

How LSAT scores are reported:

LSAC policy is as follows: “LSAC will automatically report the results of all LSATs in your file, including cancellations and absences, since June 1, 2002. The scores are averaged and also appear separately.” (Note: LSAC rounds up when calculating the average score).

Recent change to ABA policy

In 2006, the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar changed its policies, now requiring schools to report the highest LSAT scores of those students who took the test twice or more: “…beginning with the October 2006 Annual Questionnaire, which collects LSAT data on the Fall 2006 entering class, the Questionnaire will seek 75th percentile, median, and 25th percentile LSAT data based on the high score rather than the average score for matriculants who took the test more than once.”

Since schools now report their students’ highest scores to the ABA, the majority of law schools now consider only an applicant’s highest LSAT, although a small number of schools still consider the average of all scores.

Is a significant score increase possible?

We routinely hear this sort of question regarding potential score increases. It is important to understand that the LSAT is not an I.Q. test! Dramatic score increases are possible with proper preparation and the right approach. We routinely see students achieve double-digit score increases after studying the cutting-edge techniques taught in our courses, using real LSAT questions, relayed by an instructor who has scored in the 99th percentile on an actual LSAT (this is the minimum requirement for all of our LSAT instructors).

• Make sure you have received your LSAT admission ticket from Law Services. Double-check the information on the admission ticket for accuracy.
• Since backpacks are not allowed in the testing center, put together a plastic Zip-Lock bag with everything you plan to bring (see the list below).
• On the day before the LSAT we recommend that you study very little, if at all. Typically the best approach for most students is to simply relax as much as possible. Read a book, go see a movie, or play a round of golf. If you feel you must study, we recommend that you only briefly review each of the concepts covered in the course.
• If you are not familiar with your test center, drive by the test center and examine the testing room and parking situation. This will alleviate any anxiety or confusion on the day of the test.
• If your testing room contains only seats with flip-up desktops (usually found in large auditoriums) you have the option of bringing a flat board to the test center. The board can be placed on top of the flip-up desktop in order to provide you with more space. We know you might feel a bit ridiculous carrying a board into the LSAT, but the advantage you get from the extra room will more than compensate. The board should be approximately 18 inches by 24 inches. Please note that Law Services policy allows you to bring the board; however, the test supervisors may not allow you to use the board if they feel it will cause a disturbance to another test taker. We think it’s better to bring the board and not be able to use it than it is to need the board and not have it.
• Eat only bland or neutral foods (such as lightly sauced pasta) the night before the test and try to get the best sleep possible (at least 8 hours is ideal). Do not drink alcohol.
• Try not to worry about the next day’s test! You’ve learned the techniques, and you’re ready to attack the LSAT!

The Morning of the Test

• Follow your normal routine when you wake up. For example, if you do not regularly drink coffee, do not start on the morning of the LSAT. Constancy in your routine will allow you to focus on your primary objective: performing well on the test.
• Do a few Logical Reasoning questions if time allows. This will essentially provide an opportunity for you to “warm up” before beginning the exam. Three or four questions should be enough to get you mentally prepared for the test taking experience.
• Eat breakfast (see our discussion of Brain Food for more information on what to eat).
• Dress in layers, so you will be warm if the test center is cold, but also be able to shed clothes if the test center is hot. Note: effective June 2007 no hats or hoods are allowed (except items of religious apparel).
• Leave early for the testing center—even if you arrive an hour ahead of time, you can sit in your car and read or relax. It’s better than getting caught in traffic and having to rush to arrive on time!
• We strongly believe that performing well on the LSAT requires you to believe that you can perform well. As you prepare to leave for the test center, run through the test in your head, visualizing an exceptional performance. Imagine how you will react to each logic game, reading passage, and logical reasoning question. Many athletes use this same technique to achieve optimal performance in sporting events.

The Law School Admission Test. This standardized test is required for admission to any American Bar Association approved law school. According to Law Services, the producers of the test, the LSAT is designed “to measure skills that are considered essential for success in law school: the reading and comprehension of complete texts with accuracy and insight; the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to reason critically; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and argument of others.” The LSAT consists of the following five sections:

• 2 Sections of Logical Reasoning (short arguments, 24-26 total questions)
• 1 Section of Reading Comprehension (3 long reading passages, plus one set of short Comparative Reading passages)
• 1 Section of Analytical Reasoning (4 logic games, 22-24 total questions)
• 1 Experimental Section of one of the above three section types

You are given 35 minutes to complete each section. The experimental section is unscored and is not returned to the test taker. A break of 10 to 15 minutes is given between the 3rd and 4th sections.

The five-section test is followed by a 35 minute writing sample. Students are assigned a Decision Prompt Writing Sample Topic, which follows the following scenario: a choice between two options is introduced, two criteria to be considered in making the decision are stated, and then the two possible courses of action are detailed. The writing sample is not scored, but a copy is sent to all the law schools to which a student applies.

How is the LSAT scored?

On a scale of 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest score and 180 the highest score. The median score is approximately 151. Only about 2% of all test takers receive a score in the 170’s, and almost 70% of all test takers fall into the 140 to 160 score range.

What does it cost to take the LSAT and what is the registration deadline?

The current fee to register for the LSAT is $123. Typically, mailed registration forms must be received about one month prior to a given LSAT test date. The same deadline is given for telephone and on-line registration. Late registration usually closes about three weeks prior to the LSAT. The late registration fee is an additional $62.

What is LSDAS?

The Law School Data Assembly Service. LSDAS prepares and provides a standardized report that is given to each law school to which you apply. The report contains some of the information law schools will need to make a decision on your application, such as the school you attended for your undergraduate degree, your transcript, your LSAT scores, and copies of letters of recommendation processed by Law Services. To apply to an ABA-approved law school you must sign up for LSDAS, which costs $113. Each LSDAS subscription lasts for 12 months. There is a $10 fee for each law school report you request with your initial subscription, and a $12 fee for each law school report you request at a later date.

How do I sign up for the LSAT and LSDAS?

All registration must be done through Law Services. The most efficient way to register is online at www.lsac.org. By registering online, you will be able to print out your LSAT ticket instead of waiting for it to be mailed. You will also be able to get your LSAT score early via email and can keep track of your entire file in your online account. If you are not able to apply online, you may also register via the telephone at 215-968-1001, or by mail. Either way, we recommend that you order or download the “LSAT and LSDAS Registration and Information Book,” which is provided free of charge. The handbook can be ordered by phone at (215) 968-1001 or on the web at www.lsac.org. The handbook contains general information on both the LSAT and LSDAS, lists all available test centers, and outlines relevant Law Services testing policies and fees. The handbook also contains a complete copy of a previous LSAT.