Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is designed in a way to check the critical thinking skills of a candidate who is fascinated about pursuing law as their career. There are certain differences that one should know about LSAT-India and Standardized LSAT, let's check.
LSAT India vs LSAT Abroad: There are some key differences to keep in mind when you're planning to pursue the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in India. For one, LSAT and LSAT India are two different exams. In summary, LSAT is a digital test, and contains an unscored section called the Experimental Section, and a Writing Sample Section.
LSAT India, however, is an offline test that has neither of those sections.
- Featured Difference Between LSAT India and LSAT Abroad
- LSAT - India
- LSAT India Registration Process
- LSAT India Eligibility Criteria
- Question Pattern for LSAT - India Test
- Important Dates for LSAT - India Test
- Top Law Schools Accepting LSAT - India Scores
- LSAT Abroad
- LSAT Abroad Registration Process
- LSAT Abroad Eligibility Criteria
- Question Pattern for LSAT Abroad Test
- Top Law Schools Accepting LSAT Abroad Scores
- Fee: LSAT India vs LSAT Abroad
Featured Difference Between LSAT India and LSAT Abroad
LSAT India and LSAT have common syllabi and exam procedures, but some parts are key to telling the differences. Here are some of them:
| LSAT India | LSAT |
|---|---|
| It lacks an experimental section and writing samples | It has an experimental section (unscored) and a writing samples section. |
| Valid for Indian law schools only | Valid for all ABA-aggregated law schools globally. |
| It is 2 hours and 20 minutes long | It is 3 hours and 30 minutes long |
| Acceptance and availability is limited | Acceptance and availability is high, but not unlimited |
| The score is calculated as percentiles | The score is calculated based on ranges (120-180) |
| Written offline; pen-and-paper | Digital, as of 2023; formerly, pen-and-paper |
| Financial aid is better | Financial aid could be better |
| Scores are valid for a year | Scores are valid for 5 years |
LSAT India
LSAT India is the standardized test designed by the USA-based Law School Admission Council (LSAC) administered by Pearson VUE. Students who aspire to be a lawyer can take up this entrance exam to get into the top law colleges.
- The exam tests the critical ability of the students; abilities that make one to be an excellent lawyer.
- The downside to the LSAT India exam is that the exams for India and the exams abroad are not transferrable.
About LSAT India Test
LSAT India was designed for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Indian law schools alone, so as far as the original LSAT exam is concerned, it is unusable. Even so, there are 23 cities that have test centers for this particular exam in this country.
- If you plan to apply for the exam, then the mode of application is online, with the registration fee coming up to a total of INR 3,800.
- With respect to the exam itself, the scores you obtain from this test is valid only for a particular academic year. This offline test is also 2 hours and 20 minutes long, along with a 15-minute break.
- That break is useful since this is an offline / pen-and-paper test. Each multiple-choice question (MCQ) you answer correctly awards you 1 mark; no negative markings are provided in this exam.
LSAT India Registration Process
Below are the steps for LSAT India Registration Process:
- Online Application Form: Candidates who wish to take the LSAT India exam must complete the online form found on the LSAT India website.
- Payment of Fees: The LSAT India application cost is INR 3800. The candidate must pay the application costs before the application due date after completing the application form.
LSAT India Eligibility Criteria
There are no special requirements for taking the LSAT India examination. Before registering for the LSAT India exam, candidates should check the eligibility conditions of the linked law institutions to which they are applying.
Question Pattern for LSAT India Test
Unlike standard LSAT, there are no experimental sections or writing samples in LSAT India. This makes LSAT India a shorter exam compared to standard LSAT. We've listed the sections that you'd be writing for the LSAT India paper.
They may appear in any order, but the paper will mandatorily have these sections. The breakdown is as follows:
|
Sections |
Questions |
Timing |
|
Analytical Reasoning (Logical Games) |
Approximately 24 |
35 minutes |
|
1st Logical Reasoning |
Approximately 24 |
35 minutes |
|
2nd Logical Reasoning |
Approximately 24 |
35 minutes |
|
Reading Comprehension |
Approximately 24 |
35 minutes |
|
Total Sections: 4 |
92- 100 |
2 hours and 20 minutes |
Important Dates for LSAT India Test
Here are some dates to keep in mind if you're planning to write the LSAT India test:
|
Events |
Dates |
|---|---|
|
Commencement of LSAT India registration |
To be announced |
|
End of LSAT India Registration |
To be announced |
|
LSAT India exam |
26 May 2023 |
|
LSAT India results |
June-July 2023 |
|
LSAT India counseling |
TBA by Participating Institutes |
Top Law Schools Accepting LSAT India Scores
LSAT India scores are accepted exclusively by over 80 Indian institutions for undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLB, and LLM.
Indian students who are interested in American or Canadian law schools must take the standard LSAT exam, which is also available in India.
Here's a list of the top law colleges in India accepting LSAT India scores:
- Jindal Global Law School
- KLE Society’s Law College
- ICFAI Law School
- School of Laws, Universities of Petroleum and energy studies
- School of Law, GITAM University
- Alliance School of Law
- Northcap University
- JSS law college
LSAT Abroad
Now that we are finished with LSAT India, you should have a firmer grasp on it. With that said, we're going to talk about LSAT Abroad next. The LSAT is a standardized test designed by the US-based law school counsel LSAC.
- It was designed to assess one's aptitude for pursuing law as a career. This is an integral part of the admission process for law colleges in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other developed countries.
- All ABA-aggregated law colleges abroad have made it a mandate to get this done before you join them.
About the LSAT Abroad Test
Similar to the LSAT India exam, this exam was designed for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in ABA-aggregated law schools around the world. There are some slight differences to keep in mind:
- In retrospect, LSAT was conducted 4 times annually. Since September 2019, LSAT was allowed to be conducted a total of 6 times. This includes the months of January, March, June, July, September, and November.
- The test can be written by anyone; there is no age limit.
- LSAC tracks your score for 5 years after you take the test. If you take the test a few more times, then they will provide you with the list of the scores you've achieved as well as the average score you've achieved.
- Unlike LSAT India (which is 2 hours and 20 minutes long), LSAT is 3 hours and 30 minutes long.
- If you want to register for LSAT, then you'll need to do so online, and pay a registration fee of $200.
LSAT Abroad Registration Process
The registration process for LSAT abroad is as follows:
- Create an Account: Candidates who wish to take the LSAT exam in another country must first register an account on the LSAC website.
- Fill in the Details: To complete the online registration procedure, candidates must fill in all required information. They must go through the details and then complete the registration form.
- Pay the Application Fees: The LSAT abroad examination costs USD 180 to register for. To complete the registration procedure, candidates must pay the registration costs after completing the online application form.
LSAT Abroad Eligibility Criteria
There are no explicit qualifying requirements for taking LSAT exams. Before enrolling for the exam, candidates should double-check the university's qualifying requirements.
Question Pattern for LSAT Abroad Test
Since LSAT was designed to assess your mathematical and critical abilities, there were two more sections added to the exam; the Experimental Section, and the Writing Samples Section.
Although longer, it gives a more accurate reading of your capabilities as far as your skills as a lawyer are concerned. The following details show the exam's patterns:
| Sections | No.of questions | Time allotted |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Reasoning(Logical Games) | 24-26 | 35 minutes |
| Logical Reasoning- 1 | 24-26 | 35 minutes |
| Logical Reasoning- 2 | 22-24 | 35 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 26-28 | 35 minutes |
| Experimental Section | 22-28 | 35 minutes |
| Sample Writing | 1 essay | 35 minutes |
Top Law Schools Accepting LSAT Abroad Scores
Joining a law school abroad is crucial to building your career as a lawyer if you've taken the LSAT test. This is why we've listed the top law schools worth joining abroad.
The list is based on 3 countries: Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Top Law Schools in Australia
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Melbourne Law School | Melbourne |
| The University of Sydney Law School | Sydney |
| UNSW Law School | Sydney |
| The University of Western Australia (Crawley) | Perth |
| Monash University Law Chambers | Melbourne |
| UQ Law School | St Lucia |
Top Law Schools in Canada
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Toronto |
| McGill University | Quebec |
| University of British Columbia | British Columbia |
| Osgoode Hall Law School | Ontario |
| University of Windsor | Ontario |
Top Law Schools in the United States
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Yale Law School | Connecticut |
| Stanford University | California |
| Harvard Law School | Massachusetts |
| University of Chicago | Chicago |
| Columbia University | New York |
LSAT India Fees vs LSAT Abroad Fees
The fee structure for LSAT India is rather simple; it costs a total of INR 3,800.
With LSAT, things work a little differently. The exam provides a basic fee, followed by certain packages, which we've listed below:
| Package | Fee |
|---|---|
| LSAT (includes LSAT Writing) | $200 |
| Credential Assembly Service (CAS) | $195 |
| Law school report | $45 |
| Single-Report Package: LSAT (includes LSAT Writing), CAS, 1 Law School Report | $430 |
| Six-Report Package: LSAT (includes LSAT Writing), CAS, 6 Law School Reports | $650 |
| Standalone LSAT Writing | $15 |
Since currency values tend to fluctuate over time, we recommend using updated calculators to convert the currency prices to Indian Rupee if you are doing the calculations.
There are two things to pay attention to here: The LSAT Writing and the CAS.
- LSAT Writing: This is administered online using protected, invigilated software. This new approach helps candidates complete their writing samples anywhere and anytime.
- CAS: This is a law school application process involving the submission of your transcripts, recommendation letters (if requested), and any other document required at the time of applying. It's a one-time process done with the LSAC.
