Picking your LSAT date is the first real strategic decision of your entire application — and most people get it wrong by treating it as an afterthought. The date you choose determines how much study runway you get, whether you have room to retake, and whether your score lands in time for the schools you're targeting. This guide walks you through the annual schedule, how the windows actually work, when registration closes, and — the part that matters most — how to choose a date that serves your application timeline rather than just the next open slot.

One note up front: LSAC releases specific dates up to two years in advance, but the exact days and windows shift every cycle. Treat everything below as the reliable shape of the calendar. For the live, authoritative list of dates and deadlines, always confirm on LSAC's official website before you register.

When Is the LSAT Offered?

The LSAT is administered approximately nine times per calendar year. The administrations typically fall in these months:

• January
• February
• April
• June
• August
• September
• October
• November

Some cycles add or shift an administration, which is how the count lands around nine rather than eight. The practical takeaway: there is almost always a test date within a couple of months of whenever you're ready. You are not locked into a single narrow window each year.

How the Test Windows Actually Work

Here's a detail that trips people up: an "LSAT administration" is not a single day. Each administration is spread across a multi-day window, and when you register you select a specific date and start time within that window. The LSAT is currently offered both remotely (proctored online from your home) and at in-person testing centers, depending on the administration and your choice.

Why this matters for you:

• You have some scheduling flexibility. If a particular day doesn't work, there may be another slot within the same window.
• Popular slots fill. Prime times (weekend mornings) go first. Register early to get the slot you want, not the one that's left.
• Your prep timeline anchors to the window, not one fixed date. Build your study plan to peak during that window.

What the Current LSAT Looks Like

Before you pick a date, know what you're actually sitting for. As of August 2024, the LSAT is:

• Two scored Logical Reasoning sections
• One scored Reading Comprehension section
• One unscored section (used to test future questions; you won't know which section it is)

The test is scored on the familiar 120–180 scale. The old Analytical Reasoning section — the "Logic Games" — was removed and is no longer part of any current administration. If a prep resource is still telling you to master Logic Games, it's out of date. This is worth flagging as you choose your prep materials alongside your test date.

Registration Deadlines: The Number You Can't Miss

The single most important deadline in this whole process is the regular registration deadline, which falls roughly five to six weeks before the test date. Miss it and your options narrow fast. Here's the general structure LSAC uses:

• Regular registration deadline — roughly 5–6 weeks out. Register by this date at the standard fee.
• Late/limited registration — a short additional window may exist, sometimes with restrictions or added cost.
• Change/withdrawal deadlines — separate dates govern when you can move to a different administration or withdraw for a partial refund. These are earlier than you'd expect, so read them carefully.

Practical rule: Don't back yourself against the deadline. Register early. Early registration locks your preferred date and time, and it removes the temptation to bail because you "missed the window."

Score Release Timing

Choosing a date isn't just about test day — it's about when your score posts. LSAC typically releases scores about three weeks after the test window closes (timing varies by administration). Work backward from this: if you need a score in hand by a certain application deadline, your test date has to be early enough that the score posts and gives you a cushion.

How to Choose the Right Test Date

This is where most of the value lives. Three factors should drive your choice, in order of importance.

1. Work backward from your application deadline

Law schools largely admit on a rolling basis, which means applying earlier in the cycle (fall) is generally an advantage. For most applicants targeting a fall-of-next-year start, that means:

• Aim to have a final score by roughly October or November of the application year.
• Back the test date up so your score posts in time — a June, August, or September test is a common sweet spot for applying early in the cycle.
• Build in a retake cushion: pick a date early enough that if you need to test again, there's another administration before your deadline.

The single biggest scheduling mistake is picking a date with no retake room. Assume you might want to take it again.

2. Give yourself real prep runway

Don't reverse-engineer your date only from the deadline — also honor how much prep you actually need. Most serious test-takers need 2–4 months of consistent study. Pick a date that lets you peak, not one that forces you to cram. If the math says you can't be ready for the next administration and still hit your deadline, it's usually better to test one administration later and apply slightly later than to submit a rushed score.

3. Consider your life logistics

Look at the specific window against your calendar: work crunches, school finals, family events, travel. Test day should land during a period you can protect. A remote administration also means you need a quiet, compliant testing space and reliable internet on your chosen day.

Should You Take an Early or Late Date?

A quick framework:

• Take an earlier date if you're already scoring near your target on timed practice tests, you want maximum retake room, and you want to apply early in a rolling cycle.
• Take a later date if your practice scores are still climbing, you need more prep runway, or you'd rather submit one strong application slightly later than a weak one on time.

Applying earlier in the cycle helps — but a stronger score usually helps more. When those two goals conflict, weight the score.

What About Rescheduling or Withdrawing?

Plans change. LSAC allows you to move to a different administration or withdraw, but the deadlines and refund amounts are strict and administration-specific. If you think there's any chance you'll need to shift, know those dates the moment you register — don't discover them the week you need them. As always, the current change and refund rules live on LSAC's site.

Your Move

Pull up the official LSAC schedule, identify the administration that gives you both adequate prep time and a retake cushion before your target application deadline, and register early enough to secure a good slot. Then build a study plan that peaks during that window. The date is a strategic choice — treat it like one, and the rest of your timeline falls into place.