and do not perform your best on a section because you think it is experimental when it is actually a scored section. It’s best to approach each of the sections as if they are scored. The sections we just reviewed make up the five multiple-choice sections you will have on the exam: four scored sections and one unscored experimental section. As if it that were not exhausting enough, after you complete these five sections, you’ll be asked to complete a writing sample. The Writing Sample is administered at the end of the exam and is unscored. As with the other sections, you have thirty-five minutes to write a well-reasoned argument in response to the provided prompt. The writing sample is included to assess your ability to effectively communicate in writing. While the writing sample is unscored, each school you apply to will receive a copy. Each law school evaluates the writing sample differently. While some may not look at it too closely, other schools may factor it into their admission decision. As such, it is important that you approach the writing sample seriously, as you would any other section on the exam. Failure to complete the writing sample can result in your application not being considered or being rejected. So, though you may be thoroughly exhausted, dig down and get it done! Now that we have examined the format of the exam, let’s review how the exam is scored.
d. Exam Scoring The LSAT is scored on a scale of one-hundred-twenty to one-hundred-eighty. But, the scoring process is much more complex than a simple number. In fact, there are several components of your LSAT score that you should be aware of, and you will want to understand how law schools use each component when evaluating your application for admission. On your score report, you will see a raw score, a scaled score, and a percentile ranking. Let’s look at what each of these means.
10
