Changes to the LSAT Exam: The Digital LSAT

The Law School Admission Council released two statements about 2019 LSAT exam changes in October 2018, with the stated purpose of streamlining law school admissions and making the application process easier for students taking the LSAT in summer 2019 and beyond.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LSAT IN 2019?

First, the LSAC announced the transition from paper-and-pencil testing to digital tablet-based testing. Digital testing offers for a more consistent test-taking experience and speedier delivery of results to pupils.

Law schools support the transition away from paper and pencil. According to Kaplan's 2018 survey of law school admissions officers, approximately 80% of the JD programs we spoke with believe this move is a good idea. In truth, the LSAT is a little behind the times in this regard; other important graduate level admissions exams, such as the GRE, GMAT, and MCAT, have been digital for years.

HOW DID THE LSAT DIGITAL TRANSITION HAPPEN?

The LSAT is now administered digitally. Here’s how the transition went down:

• The June 2019 LSAT was the final exam that was paper-and-pencil for everyone.
• The July 2019 LSAT was a “transition” exam, with half of test-takers being assigned a paper-and-pencil exam, and half of test-takers being assigned a digital exam.
• The September 2019 LSAT was the first fully digitally-administered exam.

According to the LSAC, “The structure of the test sections and test questions will not be any different than the paper-and-pencil LSAT, and we’ll be providing free online tutorials, so we don’t think test takers will have any problems moving to the digital version.” In other words, the content of the LSAT and the skills tested remain exactly the same.

HOW DOES THE DIGITAL LSAT WORK?

• Test-takers are given a tablet, blank test booklet, and stylus/pen for test-taking.
• The test booklet is scratch paper that test-takers will use for diagramming Logic Games, etc.
• The interface does not include stylus drawing on the tablet itself.
• The tablet includes new highlighting, underlining, and annotation tools for the Reading Comprehension section.

WHAT DOES THE DIGITAL LSAT LOOK LIKE?

The LSAC has released Digital LSAT tutorial videos to help you become familiar with what taking the digital LSAT will be like. While you’ll be able to practice highlighting passages, undoing answers, making the font bigger, and more, you won’t be able to score these practice passages or use them to practice your other LSAT skills.

You’ll want to use a tablet with a touch screen when using the Practice and Try Out sections since that’s what you’ll be using on test day. If you don’t have access to a tablet, the videos are also a great resource for more information about what to expect.
The LSAC has published three full practice tests to the Digital LSAT familiarization site. You can visit the LSAC’s official Familiarization Site for the digital LSAT.

HOW HAS THE LSAT WRITING SAMPLE CHANGED?

LSAT Writing is now a proctored, on-demand writing exam that you will take online using a secure proctoring software installed on your own computer. There is an additional fee of $15 for LSAT Writing. You can find out more information in the LSAC site’s FAQ section.  
The LSAC has produced a familiarization tool for LSAT Writing so you can get to know the section and web format before taking the exam as part of your LSAT. In addition to this, “Get Acquainted with LSAT Writing” (including demo software) has been added to student LSAC accounts.

WHAT IS STAYING THE SAME ON THE LSAT WRITING SECTION?

You will still see the same decision-prompt structure that the LSAT has used in previous administrations. You’ll still have 35 minutes to write an essay in response to the prompt. The writing sample remains as an unscored portion of the LSAT. This means that while law schools will continue to receive a copy of your writing sample, it will not be scored and law schools use your writing sample in various ways.

HOW DOES THE ON-DEMAND LSAT WRITING SECTION WORK?

After installing the secure proctoring software on your computer, you will access the LSAT Writing prompt directly from your LSAC account. You will be recorded, have to present government ID to the camera, and audio and video from every testing session will be reviewed by trained proctors. Candidates now register for LSAT Writing at the same time they register for the LSAT, and will be eligible to take LSAT Writing beginning on the day of their LSAT administration and for up to a year after that date. Candidates are not required to pay for LSAT Writing until they are ready to take the writing test.

WHY DID THIS DIGITAL CHANGE HAPPEN TO THE LSAT?

The LSAC responded to test-taker and law school feedback by making LSAT test day shorter, making testing more flexible, providing typed writing samples (so law school admissions officers don’t have to try and decipher handwritten responses), and simulating conditions under which you might take law school exams in the future.

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