LSAT Demystified

I have always been a vagrant being when it came to my thoughts! Today morning when I sat looking at my computer screen, suddenly it hit me that by not covering other areas of graduate studies (law, medicine and so forth), I am definitely doing a great injustice to many of my friends! Therefore, I decided to pen down an article on the law school admission procedure in USA and some interesting data for prospective law students as well. Please be aware of the fact that I am no expert and am only presenting some facts that I have collected from various online sources.

LSAT primarily tests the candidates reading and verbal reasoning abilities through a standardized format to allow the law schools to compare candidates. Unlike GMAT or GRE, this test is offered only 4 times a year (usually October, December, February and June). In fact, the differences between these tests are not limited to the availability alone. LSAT scores are very important for admission decisions and jobs as well. A difference of a few points in the LSAT scores can lead to significant differences in the final salaries that the graduates will get!!! (See http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/help/salary.htmfor an example.)
Therefore it becomes very important for anybody to make sure he or she prepares well for the test. The actual test duration is 4 hours and has 5 sections taking approximately 35 minutes each!

• The sections are briefly explained below………
  Reading Comprehension – 1 section of 26 – 28 multiple-choice questions where you read passages and answer questions
• Logical Reasoning (Arguments) -2 sections of 24 – 26 multiple-choice questions where you analyze statements for logical errors
• Analytic Reasoning (Games) – 1 section of 24 multiple-choice questions where you solve complex logical deductive puzzles
• Experimental – 1 section of some type
• Essay – 35 minutes to complete 1 essay
• A few general thoughts on these different sections: Many people find the analytical section the most difficult as it involves thinking in a way that many people are not used to thinking. The experimental section varies according to test and is used to pre-test new test questions. The essay is not scored, but is sent to the law schools to which you apply. Taking into account the 4 sections of the test that are scored, the scale is 120 to 180.

Additional information regarding the test dates and registration can be obtained from the law school admission council’s website: http://www.lsac.org/

Since the LSAT has not changed significantly in the past few years, practice can really be of immense help in increasing the grades. I am told that there are lots of books available for LSAT preparation at the book stores. Additionally there are online sources of preparatory materials…some of which I would provide in a few days time!!! Moreover, professional help in the form of courses can be helpful to learn valuable test taking strategie.
LSAT scores are averaged by the schools before admission consideration (most schools) and there fore it is advisable to prepare well for the test! Also it is possible to cancel the scores after the test so that they are not reported!

Studies have supposedly revealed that those who do well in the test also perform above par during the bar exams after law school….
Just to provide a perspective for prospective law school students, I decided to compile information comparing the top law schools in US and here is some of the data for you!!!

Average LSAT scores and GPA required for the top 10 law schools in USA…….
Yale University: 170-176; 3.83-3.97
Harvard University: 169-175; 3.72-3.95
Stanford University: 167-172; 3.58-3.89
New York University: 168-172; 3.58-3.89
Columbia University: 169-174; 3.51-3.82
University of Chicago: 169-172; 3.51-3.77
University of Pennsylvania: 167-171; 3.47-3.84
University of California – Berkeley: 163-169; 3.65-3.89
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: 166-170; 3.53-3.80
Duke University: 165-169; 3.66-3.85

Source: http://www.usnews.com/, http://www.gradschools.com/