What You Need to Know About LSAT Dates

The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is administered at testing centers throughout the world, including the United States and Canada. Designed to test a student's ability to succeed in law school (based on their reading and verbal reasoning skills), this standardized test consists of five sections, including multiple-choice questions and a writing test. Students have approximately 175 minutes to complete the test; however, each section must be completed in the allotted time.


The LSAT is administered four times each year, and students must register before taking the test. Registration is available online (click here) or by calling (215) 968-1001. The body that administers the LSAT permits the rescheduling of LSAT dates, but prohibits students already registered for a test during the regular registration period from withdrawing from an existing registration and reregistering for that same test during the late registration period.


Students are allowed to take the test again if they believe illness or some other extenuating circumstance has impaired their natural ability to score well; however, it is not necessary to "prove" or substantiate such a claim. Before taking the test for a second time, it is important to note, "Law schools must have access to your complete test record, not just the highest score," according to the Law School Admission Council Inc. Students are therefore encouraged to consider whether taking the test for a second time will actually result in a significantly higher test score.


The cost to take the 2014 LSAT test is $165. However, the following auxiliary fees might apply:

• Late registration: $70
  
• Test center change: $36
  
• Test date change: $83
  
• Handscoring: $44
  
• Former registrant score report: $44
  
• Law school reports: $25
  
• Returned check charges: $36
  

Fee waivers are available and will be good for two years from the date of conditional approval of the waiver by LSAC, according to the Law School Admission Council Inc.


Students can take the 2014 LSAT starting in September/October 2014. Registration opens in late May 2014. Click here for a complete list of LSAT dates and registration deadlines for the United States and Canada—LSAT dates in other regions are also available online. This link also contains a companion list of 2015 LSAT dates for those students wanting to take the exam then.


Some students taking the LSAT receive help through test preparatory companies, which you can find online or in your community. Fees vary considerably and, in most cases, are based largely on the structure of the LSAT prep course. LSAT dates are firm, so plan in advance when is the best time for you to take the test. Generally speaking, students require about 3 to 6 months of dedicated time to effectively prepare for the test.

Two of the most common ways to prepare for the LSAT is through completing sample tests online or by studying with LSAT test preparation books. Private tutoring is also available. You can find a list of frequently asked questions about the LSAT on LSAC.org here.