LSAT test dates 2026.

Which 2026 LSAT date is right for you?

Choose your test date by working backward from your target application cycle. Law school admissions is rolling, so applying earlier in the cycle — when more seats and scholarship dollars remain — is worth roughly 2–3 LSAT points of admissions leverage. For a full breakdown of the timeline, see our law school admissions guide.

Applying in fall 2026 (matriculating fall 2027)

Ideal: June, August, or September 2026. These scores post before most admissions offices open review in October, letting you submit a complete application at the start of the cycle.

Workable: October 2026. Scores release October 28 — still early enough to submit before most Thanksgiving-week priority deadlines.

Late but usable: November 2026. Scores release December 2. You'll be applying after many peers, but most schools continue reviewing through February.

Applying in fall 2027 (matriculating fall 2028)

Take January or February 2027 to leave time for a retake in April or June if needed. If you're targeting T14 schools, budget for at least one retake window — see our 12-week 170+ study plan for how to structure that runway.

How registration and scheduling work

LSAT registration is a two-step process. First, you register for an administration by its registration deadline (typically six weeks before test day). Then, when the scheduling window opens roughly two weeks later, you pick a specific date, time slot, and — for in-center testing — a testing center location. Popular slots at popular centers fill within days of the scheduling window opening, so schedule as soon as the window opens.

Format: in-center vs. remote in 2026

LSAC is moving toward in-center testing for almost all test takersacross the 2026–2027 cycle. Remote proctored administrations remain available only for candidates with disability-related accommodations or those more than 180 miles / three hours' driving time from the nearest domestic center. Either way, the test itself runs on LSAC's LawHub tablet interface — see our digital LSAT format guide for what the interface looks like and how to practice on it.

The LSAT Argumentative Writing sample

Every administration has a separate LSAT Argumentative Writing window that opens a week or so before the multiple-choice test days (see the table above). You must submit at least one writing sample within a year of your first LSAT to have any score reported to law schools. Complete it in the writing window rather than procrastinating — schools cannot see your score until the writing sample is on file.

Costs and fee waivers

The 2026–2027 LSAT registration fee is $238. Add-on fees apply for changing test date, changing testing center, or late scheduling changes. LSAC's Fee Waiver Program covers the full registration fee plus a limited number of CAS reports for eligible applicants — apply for the waiver before you register.

Score release timing

Scores release approximately three weeks after the last test day of each administration, always on a weekday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET. Your score appears in your LSAC account first; law schools receive it within 24 hours. Use our LSAT score calculator to estimate your scaled score from raw practice results while you wait.

What to do between now and test day

Regardless of which 2026 LSAT date you pick, the highest-leverage prep is timed practice on the exact interface you'll see on test day. Start with our free diagnostic test to establish a baseline, then drill logical reasoning and reading comprehension by question type. In the final four weeks, layer in full-length timed simulations under real conditions.