Center For Human Development -- LSAT information

252 Main Street
Farmington, ME 04938
Phone: (207) 778-7034
FAX: (207) 778-7069
TDD: (207) 778-7000
e-Mail: lorih@maine.edu

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Information for UMF Students

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a $127, half-day, standardized test administered four times each year at designated test centers throughout the world. Most law schools in the United States and Canada use LSAT results as part of their admission process. The test consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions. Four of the five sections contribute to the test taker's score. These sections include one reading comprehension section, one analytical reasoning section, and two logical reasoning sections. The unscored section is used to pretest new test questions. Also, a 35-minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test. The test-taker's written response is not scored by the Law School Admissions Council, but is sent to all law schools to which a candidate applies for evaluation by each law school's admissions office.

►In 2008-2009, the LSAT will be administered on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008; and Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008; and Saturday, Feb. 11, 2009. Online registration for the LSAT is most efficient. See the link in the drop-down menu above for direct access to online registration, which does require a credit card.

►In Maine, the LSAT is administered at Bowdoin College in Brunswick (on all dates listed above), Bates College in Lewiston (in October), Colby College in Waterville (in October, December, and February) the University of Maine in Orono (on all dates listed above), at the University of Southern Maine in Portland (in October, December, and February), and the University of Maine at Presque Isle (in December and February). Here are the test center codes you will need to indicate your test center preference when registering for the LSAT: Bowdoin College (4280), Bates College (4285), Colby College (4284), the University of Maine-Orono (4282), the University of Southern Maine (4290), and the University of Maine-Presque Isle (4283).

►Your LSAT score is based on the number of questions answered correctly (the raw score). There is no deduction for incorrect answers, nor are individual questions on the test weighted differently. Raw scores are converted to an LSAT scales that ranges 120 (lowest) to 180 (highest).

►Normally, you may not take the LSAT more than three times in any two-year period. (This policy applies even if you cancel your score.) According to the Law School Admissions Council, "Data show that scores for repeat test takers often rise slightly. However, if you think your score is a fairly accurate indicator of your ability, it is unlikely that taking the test again will result in a substantially different score."

►Study guides for the LSAT are available at the Center for Human Development, 252 Main Street, Farmington, Maine. See the test preparation links in the drop-down menu above for resources available directly from the Law School Admissions Council.