Prelaw students preparing for the LSAT should know that a significant format change is coming in August 2027. However, according to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the skills tested, question types, scoring scale and meaning of scores will remain unchanged.
The biggest takeaway for future law school applicants is that the LSAT will move from its current four-section format to a three-section format through a process known as embedded pretesting. Rather than placing all unscored questions in a separate section, unscored questions will be integrated into each scored section.
“This approach, known in the assessment field as ’embedded pretesting,’ is used in the SAT, ACT, bar exam and many other tests to evaluate new questions, and is considered a best practice,” said Susan Krinsky, executive vice president for operations and chief of staff at LSAC.
Under the new structure, every test taker will see the same section order: one Reading Comprehension section followed by two Logical Reasoning sections. The Reading Comprehension section will include both scored and unscored questions, while each Logical Reasoning section will also contain a mix of scored and unscored items.
For students concerned that the exam is becoming more difficult or testing different abilities, LSAC emphasized that nothing is changing about what the LSAT measures.
“It is important to note that we are not making any changes in the types of questions candidates will see on the LSAT,” Krinsky said. “Just like the current version of the test, scores will continue to be based on one section of 27 scored Reading Comprehension questions and two sections of 25 scored Logical Reasoning questions each, and the questions will look the same.”
LSAC also stressed that score comparability will remain intact. According to Krinsky, “LSAT scores of 120-180 will continue to represent the same skill levels, and scores will continue to be comparable across testing cycles.”
The announcement is particularly important for students mapping out their application timelines. Those planning to take the LSAT before June 2027 will not experience any changes at all.
“For anyone planning to take the LSAT between now and June 2027, there will be no change to the existing format,” Krinsky noted.
LSAC said it is announcing the change well in advance to give students sufficient time to prepare. New LawHub test preparation materials reflecting the three-section format will be available in February 2027, while current four-section preparation resources will continue through the June 2027 administration.
Krinsky underscored that despite the revised format, the fundamental testing experience remains the same.
“The experience for test takers in August 2027 or later will differ in format, but the skills tested and the types of questions and the number of questions that contribute to your score will be the same as they are now,” she said.
For prelaw students, the message is clear: while the LSAT’s structure will become more streamlined beginning in August 2027, applicants should continue preparing for the same Reading Comprehension and Logical Reasoning skills that law schools have long relied on in the admissions process.
