LSAT Test Dates News: More Chances To Take In 2019!
The LSAT Test Dates News: More Chances To Take In 2019!
In early June, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) announced another big change to its LSAT test dates options starting in 2018. Read further to find out the details.
The LSAT Test Date News: More Chances To Take In 2019!
1. What are The LSAT test dates for 2018?
Starting in 2018, LSAC is going to adjust when the LSAT occurs each year. Currently, the test is offered in February, June, late September/early October, and December. In 2018, LSAC will still offer four LSATs. However, a tweak to the traditional schedule will occur to help start a complete shake up of test dates in 2019.
In 2018, the LSAT will occur on February 10, June 11, September 8, and November 17 for non-Sabbath Observers. The fall LSAT test date is now about 3-4 weeks earlier than it traditionally is, in early Sepember. The usual December 2017 LSAT is now in mid-November.
2. What is going to happen in 2019?
LSAC has committed to SIX LSAT test dates starting in 2019. As you might guess, the adjusted schedule in 2018 is to prepare for this increase in 2019. Right now, LSAC will offer the LSAT on January 26, March 30, June 3, and July 29. An additional 2 dates for the rest of 2019 are not set yet. Extrapolating from 2018, it looks like they will occur in early September and mid November. Here is LSAC announcement and the test dates that have been set already.
3. Why is LSAC making this change?
In their release, LSAC pointed to two reasons. The first was about student options. More LSAT test dates means takers have far more options to take the test. As of right now, if a college student cannot take the June LSAT, they have to wait until late September or early October. This means that they most likely will have to overlap LSAT and class studying, which is not ideal. By 2019, there will also be a late July LSAT, as well one, presumably, in early September. This gives college students more options during the traditional summer break.
The other reason LSAC pointed to was law school admissions cycle changes. For schools who admit via rolling admissions, the new dates might lower the amount of applications they receive at any one time. Furthermore, there is now a test date in March, meaning those who do not do well on the January test do not have to wait 4-5 months to retake. Right now, February takers have to wait until June. This will ease some of the pressure on law school admissions, especially toward the end of their application cycles. Instead of getting a slew of applications in June, they will now get some of them in March. This is a win for law schools and also applicants (see below).
4. What does this change mean for you?
For first time takers, this change means that you have more options to fit the LSAT around your schedule. The new LSAT test dates mean that you can take the LSAT every 1.5-2 months on average, during the time of year when most college students have more free time. For those who took the LSAT already, it is a mixed bag. On one hand, if you want to try for a higher score, you don’t have to wait for months on end for another shot, especially during downtime in the summer. However, this also means you will have much less time to analyze your result and study again once you get your score back.
Overall, I think the change is good. More LSAT test dates mean that students who want another crack at the test can do so more easily. It also takes some of the stress away from the application process. Previously, students who did not perform well enough on the test in February had to wait until June to retake. The result was delaying their admission to law school. Some schools cut off new applications in mid-April. If the February LSAT did not go well, students would have to wait until the next admissions cycle. This often resulted in a gap year or going to a less desirable law school. It also created terrible pressure on those taking the test in June for admission that same year. If they did not perform well, a gap year was almost assured.
Overall, LSAC has made the LSAT process more friendly. Additional test dates, combined with the ability to take the LSAT more than three times in two years, means takers now have more options than ever in setting their LSAT approach.
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