What does LSAT stand for? LSAT stands for the Law School Admission Test, a standardized exam that many law schools in the United States and Canada use when they decide whom to admit. It measures reading and reasoning skills, not knowledge of the law.
The test is created and given by the Law School Admission Council, known as LSAC. Scores run from 120 to 180, and a law school looks at your score along with your college grades, essays and letters of recommendation.
Quick facts
Stands for
Law School Admission TestType
Acronym, usually said as a wordHow to say it
EL-satGiven by
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)Score range
120 to 180Leads to
The JD, the main law degreeNot to be confused with
SAT, MCAT, the bar exam
What does LSAT stand for? The four words
Each letter matches one word of the test name:
| Letter | Word |
|---|---|
| L | Law |
| S | School |
| A | Admission |
| T | Test |
Note the spelling: it is "Admission," singular, not "Admissions." The council that runs it uses the same word in its own name, Law School Admission Council. People often add an s by mistake in emails and essays.
What the LSAT measures
Law school asks students to read dense material quickly and argue carefully. The LSAT tries to measure exactly that. The main question types are:
- Logical reasoning: short passages with an argument. You find the flaw, the assumption or the conclusion.
- Reading comprehension: longer passages on topics from law, science and the humanities, followed by questions.
- An unscored section: used to try out new questions. You do not know which section it is.
- LSAT Writing: a separate essay that is not scored but is sent to the schools you apply to.
No legal knowledge is needed. A student with a history or biology major can do as well as one who studied political science.
How LSAT scores work
Your number of correct answers becomes a scaled score between 120 and 180. There is no penalty for guessing, so it pays to answer every question. Schools also see a percentile, which shows how you did compared with other test takers.
From an admissions page: "Applicants must submit an LSAT or another accepted test score through LSAC." This means the school wants an official score report, not a number you type in yourself.
Many schools accept more than one test, and some accept the GRE as well. Check the admissions page of each school, since the rules differ.
How to say and write LSAT
Most people say "EL-sat," as one word, so it works as an acronym. A smaller group reads the four letters separately, "L S A T," and nobody will be confused either way. On paper it is always uppercase, with no dots.
The article depends on how you say it. Spoken that way, the name begins with "el," and that opening calls for "an": "an LSAT score." Most writers follow that pattern. Avoid writing "LSAT test," since the T already means test, although you will hear it in speech.
LSAT in everyday sentences
- "She is taking the LSAT in the fall."
- "His LSAT score went up eight points on the retake."
- "I need three more months of LSAT prep."
- "The school's median LSAT is listed on its website."
- "Do you need the LSAT for a paralegal program?" (Usually no. It is for law school.)
LSAT, SAT, MCAT and the bar exam
These tests are easy to blur together, but they come at different stages.
| Test | Full form | When you take it |
|---|---|---|
| SAT | Once Scholastic Aptitude Test; now just the letters | Before college |
| LSAT | Law School Admission Test | Before law school |
| MCAT | Medical College Admission Test | Before medical school |
| Bar exam | Not an acronym | After law school, to get a license |
After law school, graduates earn a JD, or Juris Doctor, and then take a bar exam in the state where they want to practice. For more education letters, see our school acronyms.
Questions people ask
Is the LSAT hard?
Many test takers find it challenging because it rewards careful reading and steady timing. Most people study for several months before test day.
What is a good LSAT score?
Scores range from 120 to 180. A strong score for one applicant may be average for another, since it hinges on the schools on your list, and each school publishes the typical scores of its admitted students.
Is it LSAT or LSATs?
When you talk about one exam, say the LSAT. You may hear LSATs for more than one sitting, but it is informal.
Do you need a law background to take the LSAT?
No. The test measures reading and reasoning, so students from any major can take it.
What does the LSAT stand for in law school applications?
It stands for the Law School Admission Test. In an application, it refers to your official score, which the school receives from LSAC.