To law schools, the LSAT is more than any other standardized test that stands in the way of your goals; it’s actually an important part of determining whether or not a candidate is qualified for rigor of instruction associated with their desired career path. The test provides admissions committees with an evaluation of your analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension skills– crucial skills for succeeding in law school and beyond.
However, as you may or may not have heard, the LSAT has a new format, and test takers across the country are experiencing mixed emotions. While we know it’s nothing that you can’t handle, we still wanted to write this blog to discuss some of the changes to the LSAT and highlight ways you can modify your study plans to accommodate them.
Still have questions by the end of this article? Contact a Marks Education tutor to discuss ways we can help you prepare for and excel on the new LSAT exam.
The Different Sections of the LSAT
As you may already know, the LSAT consists of several sections, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a legal candidate’s abilities:
The Logical Reasoning sections assess your ability to critically evaluate, analyze, and complete arguments. In this section, you’ll have to read short passages and answer questions that require you to identify assumptions, draw logical inferences, and evaluate arguments’ strengths and weaknesses.
The Analytical Reasoning, or Logic Games, section provides complex scenarios and rules, challenging you to make deductions and draw conclusions based on the given information. This section assesses your ability to think logically, manage information, and solve problems under time constraints.
The Reading Comprehension section evaluates your ability to understand and analyze complex texts, similar to those encountered in law school. Test-takers must read passages on various topics and answer questions that assess their comprehension, analysis, and synthesis skills.
The Writing Sample, though unscored, provides a sample of your writing abilities. You receive a prompt and are given 35 minutes to construct a persuasive essay supporting one of two positions.
But with the LSAT Exam Changes, what does it mean for these sections?
The June test marked the end of an era, being the last administration in its current format. Beginning in August, test-takers will encounter a revamped version of the LSAT, signaling an end of the familiar structure that has defined the exam for the past two decades.
One of the most significant changes in the new LSAT format is the elimination of the logic games section. For years, this section has challenged test-takers with difficult puzzles and scenarios that require precise analytical reasoning to solve. While daunting for many, we’ve always told test takers that the logic games section is the easiest section to learn. However, with its removal, test-takers will need to adapt their prep strategies to meet the needs of the test.
In place of the logic games section, the LSAT now features an expanded logical reasoning section. Prior to the pandemic, the LSAT included both logic games and reading sections within the logical reasoning portion. However, when the pandemic struck, one of two logical reasoning sections were eliminated. Now, with the logic games section being phased out, the LSAT is returning, at least in one way, to its original format, albeit with a slight increase in the number of questions.
LSAT Essay Scoring
Another change pertains to the LSAT essay, which has traditionally been unscored. Law schools typically don’t assign much weight to the essay. However, most applicants still complete it as part of the exam. However, the format of the essay is undergoing a transformation. Moving forward, the essay prompt will resemble that of the mostly phased out ACT® essay, requiring test-takers to engage with presented opinions on a particular topic and construct an argument accordingly.
Despite speculation within the LSAT community, the essay portion being scored in the future is still unlikely. However, there are indications from LSAT officials that scoring may be implemented down the line. Potentially as soon as August of 2025.
