As part of our commitment to ensuring that the LSAT is the most reliable, valid, and fair assessment for admission to law school, we evaluate every scored and unscored question under real test conditions to ensure that the questions work as intended and are free from ambiguity or bias. The unscored questions that are approved through that process become scored items in future administrations. Starting with the 2027-2028 LSAT testing cycle, we will change the way we incorporate these unscored questions into the LSAT. Beginning with the August 2027 LSAT, the unscored questions will be integrated into each of the three scored sections, making them part of the overall section experience rather than a standalone section.

What it means for test takers

This approach to unscored questions, known in the assessment field as “embedded pretesting,” will bring uniformity to the section types and section order on test day. Beginning with the August 2027 test, all test takers will start with the Reading Comprehension section followed by two Logical Reasoning sections. 

• For the Reading Comprehension section, test takers will have 52 minutes for six passages with a total of 40 questions. Four passages with 27 questions will be scored and two passages with 13 questions will be unscored. 

• For each Logical Reasoning section, test takers will have 45 minutes for 32 questions. In each Logical Reasoning section, 25 questions will be scored and seven questions will be unscored. 

• There will be a 10-minute break after the first section and another 10-minute break after the second section.

IMPORTANT: There will be no changes to the types of questions or the number of questions that contribute to test takers’ scores. The amount of time provided per question will remain the same. LSAT scores of 120-180 will continue to represent the same skill levels, and scores will continue to be comparable across testing cycles. Embedded pretesting of unscored questions is the same method as is used on the SAT, ACT, bar exam, and many other tests, and is considered a best practice in the assessment field. LSAC undertook significant due diligence in this process and is confident that this change in format will help us maintain and enhance the security and reliability of the LSAT going forward.

What it means for test prep

To help candidates prepare, we will be providing practice tests in both the current format and the new format, so candidates can select the version based on their planned test date. We will provide the practice tests in the new format in February 2027, enabling test takers to familiarize themselves with the new testing experience.

• People planning to test between now and June 2027 can use practice tests in the current four-section format, with one section containing unscored pretest questions.

• People planning to test in August 2027 or later will be able to use practice tests in the new three-section format starting in February 2027, with unscored pretest questions embedded among the scored questions.