LSAC has just made a major announcement covering everything from the next 16-months’ worth of test dates to the future format of the LSAT. What follows is a rundown of everything we’ve learned so far, as well as PowerScore’s take on these developments!
The Next Nine Test Dates
First, we now know the official test dates for every LSAT through June 2022. These dates represent the first day of each test week, with exams offered over several days (anywhere from 2-5) depending on total enrollment.
| First Day of Testing | Format | Regions | Registration Opens | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2021 | LSAT-Flex | US/Canada/International | Feb 22 @ 9am EST | Apr 29 @ 11:59pm EST |
| Aug 14, 2021 | LSAT | US/Canada | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Oct 9, 2021 | LSAT | US/Canada/International | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Nov 13, 2021 | LSAT | US/Canada | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Jan 15, 2022 | LSAT | US/Canada/International | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Feb 12, 2022 | LSAT | US/Canada | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Mar 12, 2022 | LSAT | US/Canada | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Apr 30, 2022 | LSAT | US/Canada/International | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
| Jun 11, 2022 | LSAT | US/Canada/International | Mid-May | TBD, about 45 days before first day of testing. |
Obviously this is excellent news, as there’s now zero mystery to the test schedule for the next nine exams, allowing people plenty of time to establish target test dates and organize their prep accordingly!
June 2021 is the Last LSAT-Flex
We have also received information concerning the planned administration types and formats of future LSATs! Happily, remote (at-home) testing will remain in place as a permanent feature even if in-person testing is able to be safely resumed and offered at some point. However, the structure of the LSAT will soon receive a notable overhaul:
- Say goodbye to Flex: June 2021 will be the last test administered in the traditional, 3-section Flex format. So if you’re a fan of the LSAT-Flex as it’s been given since May 2020, June is your final opportunity to take advantage of this abbreviated exam!
August 2021 is the Start of a 4-Section LSAT
- Say hello (again) to an Experimental! Starting in August 2021, the LSAT will add a fourth section to the test. This section will be an Experimental (or unscored) section of one of the usual three types of section: Logic Games, Logical Reasoning, or Reading Comprehension. This will be the new, standard LSAT form for the foreseeable future, consisting of four total sections: three scored sections plus one Experimental section.
- At least there’s no change in content: The three scored sections will still be one-each of Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Logic Games (Analytical Reasoning). The Experimental will be an additional, unscored section of one of those three types, indistinguishable from the scored section it replicates: it can be any of the three section types, and can appear anywhere within sections 1-4. For those new to Experimentals, they’re a necessary evil of sorts: they allow the test makers to pre-test future, scored exam content and certify its validity…they also mean that roughly a quarter of your efforts on test day contribute absolutely nothing to your score.
Starting in August 2021, Breaks Are Back!
- You do get a well-deserved break, though! With the addition of a fourth section, there will now be an optional, 10-minute break during the exam between sections 2 and 3. You will be allowed to leave the room during this break (finally people will be able to use the restroom mid-test!). However if you move off-camera during the break you will have to complete a brief security check in before you can resume testing.
- This new format will revert to the conventional “the LSAT” title, meaning no more “Flex”-type modifiers. Thus ends a brief, awkwardly-hyphenated era.
June 2021 LSAT Registration
Registration for the June 2021 LSAT will open next Monday (2/22) and run through 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, April 29th. This end date is intentional: 4/29 is the score release date for the April test, so anyone waiting on April results before making June plans will have the rest of that day to decide. Registration for subsequent tests—August 2021 and beyond—will begin in mid-May of this year (exact date TBD).
While this is undeniably a lot to process, the big-ticket items of long-term test dates and familiar formats appear to be extremely positive! If you’re testing in February, April, or June, it’s business as usual. For those eyeing August and beyond, some adjustments will need to be made to prepare for the new, four-section LSAT you’ll face, but it’s nothing we haven’t beaten before: we’ve got you covered so you’ll be ready to crush it!
Get in touch with any questions or comments below or at lsat@powerscore.com, and stay tuned for more updates as we receive them!
KP says
Hello! If we are taking the test in August 2021, do we get a chance to practice tests where there isn’t an experimental section that’s just Logical reasoning? Thanks!
Dave Killoran says
Our courses/analytics have multiple tests that use RC or LG as the Experimental in the “3+1” format you’ll see in August 🙂
Thanks!