Advantage Testing LSAT Q&A

The LSAT is typically administered eight times per year—in August, September, October, November, January, February, April, and June. Many students take the test in the summer before or in the fall of their senior year of college. However, other students may choose to apply to law school a few years after completing their undergraduate degree.

Because the LSAT score carries so much weight in the admissions process, it is imperative that you take the test only when you are ready (as determined by practice test scores). Though most law school admissions are rolling, submitting a weaker score to a school earlier will usually result in a lower chance of admission than submitting a better score later. It is important to be confident in your abilities and in your preparation, but it is a mistake to take the LSAT before you are fully ready to perform at your highest possible level on the official test.

You should also be conservative in trying to project an official LSAT score from your practice test scores. It is unusual for students to match, much less exceed, their highest practice test score on an official test. It is much likelier that you will generate an official score that is somewhat lower than your highest practice test score. If a score in that range is not sufficient to accomplish your goals, consider delaying your test.

If you generate multiple official LSAT scores, LSAC will report an average of those scores to law schools, and a few schools will use the average score in their decision-making process. In addition, law schools will see a record of any score cancellation, and most will ask for a written explanation of two or more score cancellations.