Digital LSAT offers more testing options, features

Southeast students receiving pre-law advising are preparing for the Law School Admission Test popularly known as the LSAT. Traditionally, this skills-based entrance exam is taken by paper and pencil but as of July 2019, it has become available in a digital format.

“This year, for the first time, the test will be administered on a tablet,” said Glen Stohr, senior manager of instructional design for Kaplan Inc., a company that offers professional exam preparation.

The newly digitized test will be taken on Microsoft Surface Pros and have the same test sections and questions as the print version. They will be administered during check-in at all testing centers, Stohr said.

The switch will provide additional features such as flagging questions, an answer eliminator tool, that allows the user to grey out incorrect multiple choice answers and text size adjustment to provide flexibility and customization for test-takers.

Stohr shared, that proprietary software, designed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), will be installed on the devices to ensure test security and collect data that makes it easier to score tests.

“In the past, tests were administered four times a year. Now, with digital availability, it will increase to nine,” Stohr said.

Stohr, an LSAT prep-instructor for more than 20 years, stressed students should practice taking the test in a digital setting, especially if they struggle taking tests in a digital format.

“The LSAC website is a great resource with an info page that has tips and digital practice tools,” said Laura Hatcher, a pre-law coordinator and associate professor of political science.

Graphic by Ally Bruemmer

Additional tutorial services such as Kaplan and Princeton offer prep courses and booklets.

“What is really good about the LSAT is that you absolutely can study for it and improve your score,” Hatcher said. “But you really have to make time to study for it.”

Although scores range from 120-180, acquiring a 168 sets a student in the 90th percentile.

“It’s a very difficult exam, I’m not going to sugar-coat it for anyone,” Stohr said.

Considering the scale of competition, there were 140,000 test-takers as of last year. By growing in just 10% a student can surpass around 14,000 other competitors.

“This is your audition for law school,” Stohr said.”Students should take this as an opportunity to grow and show schools what you got.”

Of Southeast students who apply for law school, 90-95% are accepted, Hatcher said.

Registration for the LSAT, test tips and test locations can be found at www.lsac.org.