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LSAT Test Dates 2020 and 2021
Scheduling your LSAT test date is a major step toward getting into a top law school. However, there’s a lot more to consider than just choosing the LSAT test dates that are open on your calendar. So to be ready for the LSAT, you have to meet several deadlines, especially if you might need assistance. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a change in LSAT test date schedules and methods, including the LSAT-Flex.
This article will help you pass the LSAT on the next test date. You’ll find information about deadlines, how LSAT dates are responding to the pandemic, and the online LSAT-Flex.
LSAC LSAT Test Dates
The LSAT test dates and locations are determined by LSAC, or the Law School Admission Council. The exam is given several times a year. But, the dates don’t follow a predictable pattern. As you can see in the chart below, the dates are spread out so that you have a chance to take the LSAT every month or two.
Normally, the LSAT is given on several different weekends, mostly Saturdays but sometimes Sundays, too. Furthermore, exams are administered at testing centers around the globe. So, you have plenty of options. If possible, you should pick a date that is several months before your chosen law school’s admission deadlines.
However, you have several dates to mark on your calendar. For example, you also need to learn about the registration deadline and the deadline for requesting accommodations. In addition, you even need to know the deadline to upload a personal photo to the registration platform. Likewise, note that the timeframes are a little different for the traditional “in=person” LSAT vs. those for the new LSAT-Flex.
LSAT Dates to Remember
- First, pick your test date that gives you enough time to meet your law school’s admission deadline.
- Next, make sure you register in time. The registration date is roughly 5-6 weeks before the exam date, but check with LSAC to verify your registration deadline.
- If you require certain accommodations, LSAC might grant a request. Depending on your unique situation, LSAC might give you extra exam time, breaks in the exam, software to make the exam screen easier to read, and LSAT versions in Braille. However, you need to request those accommodations well in advance of your LSAT date, so make a note of those deadlines.
- Once you’ve registered, you must upload a recent photo of yourself if you’ll be taking an in-person test. It will be used for verification purposes on the day of your exam. Therefore, your photo upload deadline is about 3 weeks before your LSAT date. However, you can skip this step if you’re taking the LSAT-Flex.
- If needed, you can change your exam date. But you have to do so by certain deadlines, which are usually 1 month (sometimes less) before your test date.
- Additionally, you can also withdraw your LSAT registration. However, you’ll have to do it at least 1 day before your scheduled exam.
- And finally, consider the LSAT test score release dates. Hopefully, that will be a day of celebration! But remember that you must complete both parts the of the LSAT (including the LSAT Writing portion) before you can see your scores.
To make matters even more complicated, I suggest checking the LSAC website on a regular basis for updates. Dates might be adjusted to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Special 2020 LSAT Dates
LSAC understands how important it is to take the LSAT for law school candidates. Therefore, considering the emergency nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, LSAC is making certain accommodations.
At least for a while, candidates will not have to travel to a testing center to take the LSAT. Instead, they will take the LSAT-Flex and use a secure online platform to test on their own computers. Plus, the exam will be proctored remotely. But, don’t worry about the online safety. LSAC has measures in place to make sure that remote, online LSAT exams are testing law school candidates at the same high level as before.
So in the chart below, you’ll notice that some testing takes place over a whole week. Candidates will be able to choose from days and times during those weeks to take the LSAT-Flex. Beware of the deadlines as listed in the chart.
You’ll notice that the chart includes dates for “assistance request.” If you have to take the LSAT-Flex but you don’t have the needed computer hardware, access to a safe and reliable internet connection, or even a quiet place to take the exam, LSAC might be able to help. However, you’ll have to make a request before the listed deadline.
When Should I Take the LSAT?
You should take the LSAT as soon as you feel you have adequately studied and are ready for this rigorous 2-part exam. But usually, law schools prefer that candidates who want to start school in the fall should take the exam before the following December. So if you want to enter law school in August 2021, for example, you should plan to take the LSAT before December 2020.
However, you can still sit for the exam in the January or February dates if you aren’t happy with your score. But keep in mind that you might be up against a tight deadline if your law school choices have early spring admission deadlines. And other candidates who sat for the exam earlier might fill up the top schools, leaving you with your second choice school.
So take my advice: Study and take the LSAT early. You’ll have more opportunities if you need to re-take it for a higher score and still make your school’s admissions deadlines.
Which LSAT Test Date is the Easiest?
My readers often ask me about which test date is the easiest.
I’m going to be frank. The LSAT is the LSAT. Therefore, it doesn’t matter when you take the exam. Every test-taker must follow the same exam format and answer the same types of questions. Plus, they all have the same amount of time to take the test.
So what’s the difference? Well, since test-takers on different dates do get different questions, it’s possible that one test is slightly more or less difficult than the others. But that level of subjectivity depends on who is taking the test that day.
However, the people sitting in the test center with you might be different depending on the time of year. So, dates in December through February are more likely to have candidates who are repeat test-takers. Typically, they are trying to improve their scores before law school admission dates.
But in the end, it’s more important to worry about law school admissions cycles. Therefore, pick the LSAT date that best allows you to meet your school’s deadlines. However, still give yourself a little wiggle room in case you want to re-test for a higher score.
LSAT Test Dates 2020
For candidates in the United States (including Puerto Rice and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada, the following are the remaining LSAT test dates for 2020.
- Week of October 3, 2020: LSAT-Flex only
- Week of November 7, 2020: LSAT-Flex only
Originally, LSAC planned to return to in-person testing by the November 2020 exam that was scheduled for Saturday, November 14. However, the organization is working on plans to keep all test-takers as safe as possible during the pandemic. In short, LSAC would like to resume in-person exams. But still, in late August, LSAC made the decision to switch the November 2020 dates to LSAT-Flex only. In the future, LSAC could decide to rely more on the LSAT-Flex depending on the direction the pandemic might take.
If in-person dates change, or more dates will use the LSAT-Flex, I will keep you updated.
LSAT Test Dates 2021
LSAC has announced the following LSAT test dates for 2021. When they release more dates, I will share them with you.
- January 16 and 17, 2021
- February 20 and 21, 2021
- April 10 and 11, 2021
To clarify, LSAC is planning to give the LSAT-Flex in January, February, and April, 2021. However, LSAC could update those plans in the future.
LSAT Test Dates 2020-2021: United States and Canada
| LSAT Date | Registration | Assistance Request | Accommodation Request | Photo Upload | Test Date Change | Withdrawal | Scores Released | Disclosed Form Available? |
| Week of August 29, 2020 (LSAT-Flex only) | July 15, 2020 | August 9, 2020 | July 15, 2020 | N/A | August 21, 2020 | August 28, 2020 | September 18, 2020 | No |
| Week of October 3, 2020 (LSAT-Flex only) | August 21, 2020 | September 13, 2020 | August 21, 2020 | September 9, 2020 | September 25, 2020 | October 2, 2020 | October 23, 2020 | No |
| Week of November 7, 2020 (LSAT-Flex only) | September 23, 2020; Registration now open | October 18, 2020 | September 23, 2020 | N/A | October 30, 2020 | November 6, 2020 | November 24, 2020 | No |
| January 16 and 17, 2021 | December 2, 2020; Registration now open | December 20, 2020 | December 2, 2020 | N/A | January 2, 2021 | TBD | February 3, 2021 | No |
| February 20 and 21, 2021 | January 6, 2021; Registration now open | January 31, 2021 | January 6, 2021 | N/A | February 6, 2021 | TBD | March 10, 2021 | No |
| April 10 and 11, 2021 | February 24, 2021; Registration now open | March 21, 2021 | February 24, 2021 | N/A | March 27, 2021 | TBD | April 29, 2021 | No |
However, keep in mind that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s possible that LSAC could move a LSAT test date to LSAT-Flex only. In addition, as of August 2020, you can only get your scores if you’ve also completed the LSAT Writing portion.
Click here to learn about LSAT dates and test center locations outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Disclosed Form Dates
LSAT test dates are labeled as either “disclosed” or “non-disclosed.” For non-disclosed exams, candidates only receive their final scores, percentile, and a copy of their writing sample.
However, if you take a disclosed exam, you’ll have a more thorough breakdown. So, you will receive your scores and a copy of the test, your answers, a list of the correct answers, and a score conversion table. Therefore, disclosed exams are ones that the LSAC plans to retire and will not reuse.
Should I wait for a disclosed exam?
So what’s the benefit of taking a disclosed exam? Well, an undisclosed exam will give you the chance to learn a little about your numbers. Therefore, this type of data could be beneficial if you don’t like your score on your first try. Did you only miss questions in certain topic areas? If so, then focus your studies in those subjects and re-take the exam. Of course, if you don’t take a disclosed exam, you’ll still know your final score. But, you won’t have that level of granular detail to help you do better next time.
It’s possible, though, that an exam that was planned to be a disclosed exam could become an undisclosed one without a lot of warning. For example, LSAC originally planned to give a disclosed exam on November 14, 2020. However, in late August 2020, they switched it to an undisclosed LSAT-Flex exam given during the week of November 7 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
LSAT-Flex
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of our lives, including when and how to take the LSAT. For example, LSAC has recently announced a change in policy for the following in-person LSAT test dates in August, October, and November 2020. As a result, candidates with these LSAT testing dates will take the LSAT-Flex exam.
LSAT-Flex is an online version of the exam that is remotely proctored. Actually, LSAC first used all-digital tests for two of the LSAT test dates in 2019-2020 in January and March 2019. In fact, over 33,000 candidates have already taken the LSAT-Flex because of the halt of in-person testing due to the pandemic. For example, 2020 candidates with a June LSAT test date took the LSAT-Flex exam remotely and did not have to travel to testing centers.
How do I register for LSAT-Flex?
If you’ve already scheduled your LSAT exam, then your registration will automatically be updated for the LSAT-Flex instead of an in-person registration. Consequently, you should receive a notification from LSAC if this situation applies to you.
However, if you’ve already scheduled an October or November 2020 exam, you can choose to opt out of the LSAT-Flex option. Instead, you will be issued a coupon that you can use for any future in-person LSAT test date locations.
What’s the future of LSAT-Flex dates?
Will LSAT-Flex be offered for future candidates? Well, right now, we just don’t know. For now, LSAC is monitoring this new process. Depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, they might consequently announce additional remote LSAT-Flex dates. Or, they might go back to in-person testing.
FAQs
Where can I find LSAT test dates near me?
LSAC keeps a list of LSAT test dates and locations on its website. Click here to conduct a LSAT test dates locations search.
How to change a LSAT test date
If you need to make a LSAT test date change, you can do it as long. However, you must meet the test date change deadline as outlined in the chart in this article. You simply need to log into your LSAC account and submit your request. However, LSAC charges a $125 fee for this service.
If you need additional information, check out LSAC’s website about date changes.
Can you change your LSAT testing location?
In short, yes, you can change your scheduled testing location. But only if your test center change deadline hasn’t passed yet (see the chart above). Likewise, seats must be available in your desired test center. In addition, you’ll also have to pay a $125 fee.
To chance your test center, log into your LSAC account and submit your request. Or, call LSAC at 215-968-1001. You can find additional information here.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, picking your LSAT date is just one of many decisions ahead of you. If you’re still looking for an LSAT prep course, let me make that decision a little easier for you. I have reviews of the best LSAT review providers on my blog. Plus, you’ll find other valuable but totally free information like tips for studying for the LSAT. I also have articles about what to expect on your LSAT test day and law school admissions help.
