Three scored sections.
One unscored. All four at 35 minutes.
The post-2024 LSAT has two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one experimental section. This guide explains what each section tests, the question counts, and timing.
On this page
The post-2024 LSAT has a fixed set of section types. Knowing what each section tests and how much it contributes to your score is the first step in allocating preparation time correctly.
The three scored section types
The post-2024 LSAT has three distinct section types. Two appear as scored sections for LR (Logical Reasoning), one appears as a scored section for RC (Reading Comprehension), and one unscored experimental section tests new content before it enters the scored pool. Test-takers see four sections in total. They cannot identify which section is the experimental one during the test.
Logical Reasoning (LR)
Each LR section presents approximately 24 to 26 short passages called stimuli. Each stimulus is an argument or a set of facts, followed by a question that asks the test-taker to analyze that argument. Questions range from identifying the conclusion (Main Point) to evaluating the argument's structure (Method of Reasoning) to strengthening or weakening a causal or evidential claim.
The 35-minute time limit for each LR section allows approximately 1.3 to 1.4 minutes per question. Test-takers who spend more than two minutes on a single question fall behind the pace required for full completion. Skipping and returning is a viable strategy for managing time on questions where a quick reading does not yield a strong candidate answer.
LR accounts for approximately two-thirds of the scored questions on the LSAT. Improvement in LR has a proportionally larger effect on the final scaled score than improvement in RC, because LR contributes more questions.
Reading Comprehension (RC)
The RC section presents four passage sets. Each set consists of a passage or a pair of passages followed by five to eight questions. Passages are drawn from law, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. One passage set is a comparative reading set, presenting two shorter passages on a related topic.
RC questions test a narrow set of skills: identifying the main point of a passage, inferring what the author implies but does not state, understanding the function of specific paragraphs, and identifying details explicitly stated. Question types in RC parallel several LR question types in underlying cognitive demand, though the format differs.
The 35-minute time limit for RC requires approximately eight minutes per passage set, including reading time. Readers who spend more than 10 minutes on a passage set face time pressure on the remaining sets. Active reading strategies that track the author's structure and main point reduce re-reading and improve passage comprehension under time pressure.
The removal of Logic Games
Analytical Reasoning, commonly called Logic Games, appeared in LSAT administrations before August 2024. LSAC removed it after a federal court ruling that the section disadvantaged test-takers with certain disabilities, specifically those involving spatial reasoning. The section was replaced by an additional Logical Reasoning section. LSAT prep materials published before 2024 include Logic Games content that is no longer tested. Test-takers using pre-2024 study materials should verify the section composition for the current LSAT format.
The experimental section
Every LSAT includes one experimental section that does not count toward the score. It may be an additional LR section or an additional RC section. Test-takers who encounter what appears to be a third section of one type during a test administration should not assume it is experimental; LSAC does not mark the experimental section. Treating every section as scored is the correct approach.
Section order
LSAC does not publish a fixed section order for each administration. Different test-takers at the same administration may see sections in different sequences. The experimental section can appear in any position. This variability is intentional and prevents any advantage from knowing which section is unscored.
Common questions
How many sections does the LSAT have?
The current LSAT (post-August 2024) has four sections: two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored experimental section. Each section is 35 minutes.
Is Logic Games still on the LSAT?
No. LSAC removed Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) from the LSAT effective August 2024. The section was replaced by an additional Logical Reasoning section. Test-takers who have studied Logic Games using pre-2024 materials are studying for a section that is no longer on the test.
How long is the LSAT?
The four timed sections total 140 minutes of testing time. Including a break, check-in procedures, and the LSAT writing sample (administered separately), the total experience is longer. The writing sample has a 50-minute window (15-minute prewriting, 35-minute essay) per LSAC's July 2024 format change.
Which section is harder, LR or RC?
Difficulty is relative to the individual test-taker. Many students find LR more amenable to improvement through systematic study because the question types are finite and well-defined. RC improvement tends to be slower because it depends in part on reading fluency and familiarity with dense academic prose. Pinaka diagnoses both LR and RC at the skill-node level to identify where each student specifically loses points.
Can I skip sections on the LSAT?
No. LSAC does not allow test-takers to skip entire sections. Within a section, test-takers may skip questions and return to them within the section time limit. Answers cannot be changed after the section ends.
Does the LSAT have a break?
Yes. A 10-minute break is provided between the second and third sections of the LSAT. No other breaks are scheduled.
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