Is the LSAT hard?

Asked by: Ms. Maia Pouros DVM  |  Last update: June 2, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (46 votes)

Yes, the LSAT is hard, but it's important to remember that it's designed that way because a legal career can be even more challenging. The LSAT not only ensures you have the appropriate legal knowledge but assesses if you have the abilities to take on the legal profession.

How difficult is the LSAT exam?

The exam itself is less about understanding facts and more about intelligence. It has even been said that the LSAT is closer to an IQ test than a professional exam. It's radically different from any other test you've taken, especially typical standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. So yes, it's difficult to do well.

How long should you study for the LSAT?

We recommend that most students look to spend 150–300 hours on LSAT prep; that's a healthy range over a two- to three-month period at around 20–25 hours per week, which is a standard amount for most students. Keep in mind that those hours include any classes or private tutoring sessions you might be using.

Is the LSAT harder than law school?

So to answer your question, law school is easier than LSAT because it's different than LSAT. In law school you can fully express your critical thinking abilities, in LSAT you can't. Compared to three years of law school, the LSAT is a cakewalk.

How hard is it to get a good LSAT score?

Across exams in 2018–2020, only 0.1% of test-takers received a perfect LSAT score of 180. Getting a perfect LSAT score is rare, but not impossible.

Comparing the LSAT to Law School

29 related questions found

Does the LSAT have math?

Does the LSAT have math? The LSAT is not a subject-based text and does not have traditional mathematics sections. There are, however, numerals present and mathematical concepts may arise in one or more of logic, reasoning, and even comprehension sections.

Is the LSAT or MCAT harder?

Both are difficult exams and both require diligent study from most students. Both require proficiency, if not mastery, of reading comprehension and understanding dense reading materials. The biggest difference between the two tests is that the LSAT is more of a “thinking” test and the MCAT is more of a “content” test.

Is the LSAT a IQ test?

What does the LSAT measure? The LSAT is not an IQ test. It does not measure intelligence the way IQ tests are designed to measure innate ability.

Is it hard to get a 165 on the LSAT?

A 165 is about a 90th percentile score, so, trivially speaking, you have about a 1 in 10 chance of getting such a score. However, that pool of test takers includes a number of people who don't bother to study for the exam or who don't put in much effort.

What's harder GRE or LSAT?

Your choice is easy—the GRE is your test! The LSAT doesn't have math questions at all, whereas they make up 1/3 of the overall GRE. No question about it: the GRE is harder than the LSAT for math.

Can I pass the LSAT without studying?

Yes, you can because every exam needs hard work. It isn't easy to pass any exam without preparation. Can you achieve a high enough score on the LSAT to make you attractive to law school admissions without studying, sure, its possible but not probable (by the way a legal concept one learns in law school).

How much should I study a day for the LSAT?

If take 5 months to study for the LSAT, you'd need to spend between 12 to 18 hours every week, on average. This means you'd need to spend between 2.5 and 3.5 hours a day studying, 5 days a week. If you are on an extended 6-month schedule, you only need to study a manageable 10 to 15 hours per week.

What year of college should I take the LSAT?

You must register to take the LSAT in advance. It is advisable to take the test in June (after your junior year) so you can apply early in the fall, when there are fewer applications for more spaces. This allows you to take advantage of most law schools' rolling admissions.

How hard is it to get 170 on LSAT?

On the September 2018 LSAT, you would have to answer at least 89 of 101 questions to receive a 170. In other words, you can miss 12 questions, and still be above 97.4% of testers. Alternately, you can miss 11.88% of the questions but still be in the top 2.5% of scores.

Does the LSAT get harder every year?

It is actually quite remarkable that LSAC is able to keep these scores relatively consistent while administering the test 4 times each year. So, the LSAT tends to be of comparable difficulty, according to results, from administration to administration.

Why the LSAT is so hard?

The LSAT is considered an infamously difficult test for three key reasons: ... Test takers only have 35 minutes for each section of the test. The LSAT is also designed to stress this time pressure with complicated questions. You will have to solve logical issues at a faster pace than a usual test.

What did Obama get on the LSAT?

Barack Obama LSAT Score

Though not conclusive, we can predict that President Barack Obama scored somewhere between the 94th – 98th percentile on his LSAT. Converting his approximated LSAT percentile to today's grading system would give him about a 170 LSAT score.

What's the average LSAT score at Harvard?

At Harvard Law, the median LSAT is a 173, with LSAT scores in the 25th to 75th percentile ranging from 170-175. Odds are, without a truly compelling backstory, you'll get waitlisted or rejected. Now, look at this 166 LSAT from the vantage point of another private Ivy League program – Cornell Law.

Is there writing on the LSAT?

Candidates are only required to have one writing sample on file for their LSAT to be considered complete. Writing samples may be from either a previous LSAT administration or from an administration of LSAT Writing.

How much does LSAT matter?

Just how important the LSAT relative to other elements of your overall application package varies a little from school to school. However, generally, your LSAT score alone is thought to be anywhere from twice as important as your GPA to four to five times as important!

Is the bar exam like the LSAT?

If you're considering law school, two terms that you will soon hear are the “LSAT,” the test that you have to take before admission to law school, and the “bar exam,” which you have to take before you can become licensed to practice law.

What month is the easiest LSAT?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

Is it harder to get into med school or law school?

No, law school is tougher than medical school. Which is tougher than the other? If you're thinking about your future and which route you want to go, you probably have a lot of questions when it comes to which route you really want to take.