What is the LSAT? Why do we have to take it?Mar 02 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line The LSAT is the entrance exam to law schools in the United States, and covers acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills.
The LSAT is defined as the Law School Admissions Test, that everyone is required to take to gain admittance into a law school. All 202 law schools in the United States that are members of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), require this test of their students. It is intended to be used as one factor to determine if a student is capable of succeeding within a law school environment. It tests the acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills, which students have learned through their education, and serves as a marker for where they are in their development. The test is normally offered 3 or 4 times per year, with the majority being offered in October, December, and June. Taking the test earlier gives you the ability to take it again if you are not pleased with your school, and it is important to find out what your potential schools deadlines are prior to testing, so that you can make sure to adhere to their rules. The test is broken up in four distinct sections that test your abilities to do each of the skills. It is categorized by Logical Reasoning, Logic Games, Reading Comprehension,and a Writing Sample. Each of the sections tests a different part of your skill-set, and makes sure that you are a well-rounded individual when you are submitting your application for acceptance. Here is a quick summary of what each of the sections will look like on he exam: Logical Reasoning Section I --You are given 35 minutes to finish 24-26 questions that test your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments that are made. Example questions would revolve around a statement, and then a question asking something like "What does this study conclude." You are then given a list of answers and are asked to select the most correct. Logical Reasoning Section II --Same as the first reasoning section, just 24-26 more questions. Logic Game Section --Another section that is given 35 minutes to answer about 24 questions that revolve around logic games. You have heard of them before: Person A, B, and C like to do these things, but only if X,Y, and Z happen. But B can only do Z if Y is offered and A is with B. This tests how well you can deduce a conclusion from the question. Reading Comprehension Section --Designed to just give you several paragraphs that you must read, and identify the purpose, the structure, and figure out the main idea of the readings. It is tough if you don't read quickly, and is designed to see how well that you understand what you are reading. Writing Sample --You are given 30 minutes to complete a case based on two scenarios that you are given. This is a chance to show off your ability to argue a specific position, and demonstrate your writing ability. The worst time in the world to get writer's block, but the easiest to prepare for. For additional information about the writing sample, here is a stress-free guide to understanding it : LSAT Writing Sample Further Details of the Test To take the test, it is required that you pre-register for it, and pay a fee of $112 (as of 3-2-05). Late fees for registration add an additional $56 to that total. Once registered, you begin the process of preparing for what will be an intense exam. Purchase previously administered tests, is an option used by many people, because it gives you the opportunity to go over questions, and the format with which they might be asked of you on your specific LSAT. Often, Universities with Pre-Law options, will offer what is called a "Pre-LSAT test." This is where you will be able to attend a test session, where they simulate the conditions that will occur during your real test. It will get you accustomed to the time available for each section, the setting of the test, and could make you very comfortable for when the official test day rolls around. The LSAT may seem very similar to the SAT that is required to gain admittance to college in the first place. The similarities are not just random, because it is indeed a way to weed out the people who are more serious about attending Law School. You will be tested on law questions, and methods with which you deduct answers, based on what you have learned on a college level thus far. This means that you may want to go back and review materials that you have learned in law classes, ethics classes, and even business principles classes. For those students with great note-taking abilities, it will be to their advantage to go back through notes from prior classes, and review what important material was covered. Regardless of the studying method though, there is no specific answer to the question, "How much should I study?" It will vary from person to person, and the truth is that some people can go into this test without studying and do just as well, because of their understanding of the material. The LSAT is not something to fear, but rather a stepping-stone that will get you into the law school you have been hoping for. The scoring scale of the test is based on 120 being the minimum attainable and 180 being the maximum. The scores are weighted by percentages, and adjusted based on what everyone scores, rather than your specific score being graded on an A to F scale. In easier terms, getting 90 percent of the questions correct, does not mean that you will necessarily get a 90 percent on the test, because if everyone else also scored 90, then you will be adjusted down based on that finishing score. Thus it is important to not walk away from the test thinking you finished in a certain percentile, but instead just being hopeful that you knew more than your "opponent." In this case, everyone taking the test is in direct competition with you, because the scale is determined by a composite score. This should not scare anyone though, because it simply means that the score is figured out more fairly, based on the likelihood of people doing well.  |
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