Published November 6, 2026. Facts checked against LSAC’s announcement of October 26, 2026.
Quick answer: starting with the August 2027 LSAT, the test drops from four sections to three. The separate unscored section goes away. Instead, unscored questions are mixed into every section. Everyone starts with Reading Comprehension, then takes two Logical Reasoning sections, with a 10 minute break after each of the first two sections. Your score still comes from the same 77 questions, and the 120 to 180 scale does not change. Any LSAT through June 2027 uses the current format.
Key facts about the 2027 LSAT format change
- LSAC announced the change on October 26, 2026. It starts with the August 2027 LSAT.
- Tests from now through June 2027 keep the current four section format.
- New order for everyone: Reading Comprehension (52 minutes, 40 questions), then two Logical Reasoning sections (45 minutes, 32 questions each).
- Still 77 scored questions: 27 Reading Comprehension and 50 Logical Reasoning. The other 27 questions are unscored.
- Two 10 minute breaks instead of one. The whole test day runs about 10 minutes longer.
- Time per question, question types and the 120 to 180 score scale stay the same.
- LSAC will add practice tests in the new format to LawHub in February 2027.
What Is Changing on the LSAT in August 2027?
Today, every LSAT has four 35 minute multiple choice sections. Three count toward your score. One is an extra “unscored” section that LSAC uses to try out new questions. You do not know which section is the unscored one, and the order of the sections changes from person to person.
From August 2027, LSAC will stop using a separate unscored section. The new questions it is testing will be placed inside the three scored sections. LSAC calls this embedded pretesting. The SAT, the ACT and the bar exam already test new questions this way.
Because there is no longer a random extra section, every test taker gets the same three sections in the same order.
Current LSAT vs the New LSAT Format
| Now through June 2027 | August 2027 and later | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice sections | 4 sections of 35 minutes | 3 sections (52, 45 and 45 minutes) |
| Section order | Changes from person to person | Reading Comprehension, then Logical Reasoning, then Logical Reasoning |
| Unscored questions | One full unscored section | Mixed into all three sections |
| Scored questions | 77 (27 RC, 50 LR) | 77 (27 RC, 50 LR) |
| Breaks | One 10 minute break, after section 2 | Two 10 minute breaks, after sections 1 and 2 |
| Score scale | 120 to 180 | 120 to 180 |
| LSAT Argumentative Writing | Separate, online | Separate, online (no change announced) |
Source: LSAC, “The LSAT Will Look a Little Different Starting August 2027”.
The New LSAT Sections, Section by Section
| Section | Time | Total questions | Scored | Unscored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reading Comprehension | 52 minutes | 40 (6 passages) | 27 (4 passages) | 13 (2 passages) |
| Break | 10 minutes | |||
| 2. Logical Reasoning | 45 minutes | 32 | 25 | 7 |
| Break | 10 minutes | |||
| 3. Logical Reasoning | 45 minutes | 32 | 25 | 7 |
| Total | 142 minutes of testing | 104 | 77 | 27 |
You will not be told which questions are unscored, now or after your score comes out. LSAC says the unscored questions in each section are balanced by type and difficulty, so no one gets an easier or harder mix.
Is the New LSAT Harder or Faster?
Not per question. We did the math on the time you get for each question:
| Section type | Now | From August 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 35 minutes for about 27 questions = about 1.3 minutes each | 52 minutes for 40 questions = 1.3 minutes each |
| Logical Reasoning | 35 minutes for about 25 to 26 questions = about 1.4 minutes each | 45 minutes for 32 questions = about 1.4 minutes each |
LSAC confirms the time per question stays the same. What changes is how the test is split up. Each section is longer. The new Reading Comprehension section runs 52 minutes with six passages, compared with 35 minutes and four passages now. But with two breaks, your longest stretch without a break is shorter: 52 minutes, compared with about 70 minutes now (two 35 minute sections back to back before the break).
LSAC says testing time goes up by 2 minutes and break time goes up by 8 minutes, so the full test day is about 10 minutes longer.
What Stays the Same
- Question types. Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions will look the same. There is no new section and Logic Games are not coming back.
- Scored questions. Still 27 Reading Comprehension and 50 Logical Reasoning, for 77 in all.
- Scores. Still 120 to 180, and LSAC says a score will mean the same skill level before and after the change. Law schools can compare a June 2027 score with an August 2027 score.
- Where you test. LSAC says there are no changes to proctoring or how the test is given. Most people now take the LSAT at a test center. See remote LSAT vs test center.
- Accommodations. The way you ask for accommodations stays the same. LSAC says it will share more details about accommodations in the new format later. See LSAT accommodations.
Which LSAT Will You Take? Use Your Test Date
| LSAT | Test dates | Register by | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | Jan 13 to 16, 2027 | Dec 1, 2026 | Current (4 sections) |
| February 2027 | Feb 12 to 13, 2027 | Dec 29, 2026 | Current (4 sections) |
| April 2027 | Apr 8 to 10, 2027 | Feb 25, 2027 | Current (4 sections) |
| June 2027 | Jun 9 to 12, 2027 | Apr 29, 2027 | Current (last one) |
| August 2027 and later | Not posted yet | Not posted yet | New (3 sections) |
Dates are U.S. and Canada dates from LSAC. See all LSAT test dates and registration deadlines.
What Should You Do Now?
If you are testing by June 2027
Nothing changes for you. Keep practicing with the current four section PrepTests in LawHub, and keep including an extra unscored section in your full practice tests so test day does not feel longer than practice. If you want a cushion, aim for April 2027 and keep June 2027 as your backup. That way both tries use the same format.
If you are testing in August 2027 or later
Start with the current practice tests. The question types are the same, so every Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension skill you build still counts. In February 2027, switch your full timed tests to LSAC’s new format tests. Practice six Reading Comprehension passages in a row so the long first section feels normal.
If you might take both formats
Say you test in June 2027 and plan a retake in August or September 2027. Your scores will be comparable, so a retake still makes sense. Just do a few full practice tests in the new format before the second test. The new order and the two breaks change your pacing more than you might expect. See should I retake the LSAT.
Does the LSAT Score Calculator Still Work?
Yes. Our raw score calculator and the LSAT score calculator by section use the 77 scored questions, and that count is not changing. When LSAC releases new format practice tests in February 2027, we will check our score conversion tables against them and post an update here.
Want to see what your score means for law school? Try the LSAT score calculator or the law school admissions chances calculator.
Why Is LSAC Making This Change?
LSAC tries out every new question under real test conditions before it counts. That way it can drop questions that are unclear or unfair. LSAC says putting the trial questions inside each section will make test day the same for everyone and help keep the LSAT secure and reliable. It also notes that embedded pretesting is a common method for big tests.
This is the latest of several LSAT changes. Logic Games were removed in August 2024, and most at-home testing ended in August 2026. Compared with those, this change is small. The skills tested and the scoring stay the same, while the layout of test day changes.
LSAT Format Change FAQ
When does the new LSAT format start?
With the August 2027 LSAT, the first test of the 2027-2028 testing year. The June 2027 LSAT is the last one in the current format.
How many sections will the new LSAT have?
Three multiple choice sections: one Reading Comprehension section of 52 minutes and two Logical Reasoning sections of 45 minutes each. LSAT Argumentative Writing stays separate.
Is the experimental section going away?
The separate unscored section goes away. Unscored questions are still on the test, but they are mixed into each scored section. Reading Comprehension has 13 unscored questions and each Logical Reasoning section has 7.
Will I know which questions are unscored?
No. You will not know during the test or after scores come out, so treat every question as if it counts.
Will the number of scored questions change?
No. You still get 27 scored Reading Comprehension questions and 50 scored Logical Reasoning questions, for 77 in total.
Is the new LSAT longer?
A little. LSAC says testing time is 2 minutes longer and break time is 8 minutes longer, so the whole test is about 10 minutes longer. Time per question stays the same.
Will my LSAT score mean the same thing after the change?
Yes. LSAC says scores of 120 to 180 will represent the same skill levels and stay comparable across testing years.
When can I practice the new LSAT format?
LSAC plans to post practice tests in the new format on LawHub in February 2027. It will keep offering current format practice tests through the June 2027 test.
Should I rush to take the LSAT before the change?
Not just because of the format. The skills and scoring are the same. Pick the date that gives you enough study time and room for a retake. If you want both tries in the same format, finish by June 2027 or start in August 2027.
Sources
- LSAC: The LSAT Will Look a Little Different Starting August 2027 (summary and FAQ)
- LSAC blog announcement, October 26, 2026
- U.S. News: The Format of the LSAT Is Changing (November 2, 2026)