Hawley Center

LSAT Preparation

Test Overview

  • Test provides a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of the several factors in assessing applicants.
  • The LSAT is a half-day standardized test that consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions.
  • A 30-minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test.  The writing sample is not scored by LSAC, but copies are sent to all law schools to which you apply.

Description and Preparing for the LSAT Sections

Reading Comprehension

  • Designed to measure your ability to read, with understanding and insight, examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those commonly encountered in law school.
  • Contains four passages, each approximately 450 words long, followed by five or eight questions.
  • Passages are drawn from a variety of subjects—including the humanities, the social sciences, the physical sciences, ethics, philosophy, and the law.
  • It is important to remember that questions are to be answered on the basis of the information provided in the passage and there is no particular knowledge that you are expected to bring to the test.
  • Give the passage one careful reading before answering the questions.
  • Separate the main ideas from supporting ideas.
  • Note transitions from one idea to the next and examine the relationships among the different ideas or parts of the passage.
  • Note descriptive words that will help identify the author’s attitude toward an idea.
  • Always read all the answer choices before selecting the best answer.
  • Respond to the specific question being asked.  Do not pick an answer choice simply because it is a true statement.
  • Answer the questions only on the basis of the information provided in the passage.  You should not expect to agree with everything you encounter in reading comprehension passages.

Analytical Reasoning

  • Designed to measure your ability to understand a structure of relationships and to draw conclusions about the structure.
  • Careful reading and analysis are necessary to determine the exact nature of the relationships involved.
  • Some people may prefer to answer first those questions about a passage that seem less difficult then those that seem more difficult.
  • In general, it is best not to start another passage before finishing one begun earlier because it will take time to reestablish familiarity with its relationships.
  • Do not introduce unwarranted assumptions.   All the information needed to answer each question is provided in the passage and the question itself.
  • The conditions are designed to be as clear as possible; do not interpret them as being “trick” questions.
  • The language in the conditions is intended to be read for precise meaning.
  • Each question should be considered separately from the other questions in its group; no information, except what is given in the original conditions, should be carried over from one question to another.
  • Many people find it useful to underline key points in the passage and in each question.  It may prove very helpful to draw a diagram to assist you.

Logical Reasoning

  • Evaluate your ability to understand, analyze, criticize, and complete arguments.
  • The questions test a variety of logical skills, including:

Recognizing the point or issue of an argument; 
Detecting the assumptions involved; 
Drawing reasonable conclusions from given evidence; 
Identifying and applying principles; 
Identifying the method or structure of an argument.

  • You will be expected to understand and critique the reasoning contained in arguments.
  • Read each question carefully and make sure you understand the meaning of each part of the question.
  • Read each answer choice carefully and make sure you understand the ways in which it may or may not relate to the question posed.
GRE | GMAT | LSAT | MCAT
Last Updated: 4/22/09