As the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) approaches its 70th birthday, the entrance exam is getting a face-lift.
On May 20, 2017, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) will administer the LSAT on tablets. Nearly 1000 students in more than 20 locations across the United States are set to take the Law School Admissions Test on a Samsung Tablet this month as part of a pilot program for the future implementation of the exam in a computerized format.
Currently, the LSAT is the only admissions test at the graduate level that is administered in a paper and pencil format.
Though the LSAT may seem dated compared to its competitors in the graduate admissions space, the Law School Admissions Council has actually been researching this concept for over 20 years now. In fact, the first round of LSAT testing on tablets was administered in 2012. Despite this fact though, the LSAC has remained cautious as far as formal implementation goes for security purposes.
Since this is a pilot program, the scores of these test-takers are not official. Therefore, the scores will not be submitted to any of the law schools for admissions purposes. Rather, the LSAT test-takers will use the exam as a practice test, as the LSAC continues research on the project. Those taking the exam will still receive a diagnostic report of their results, as well as a $100 gift card.
If the Law School Admissions Council decides to adopt this digital format of test-taking, LSAT results will likely come much faster than the current 3-4 week waiting period. The LSAT may also be offered much more frequently throughout the calendar year.
Prospective students are certainly in favor of the shift. According the Law School Admissions Council, only 3% of students preferred the current method of examination. However only time will tell if the LSAT format will change.
Do you think the Law School Admissions Council should make the switch? Should prospective law students have the option to take the LSAT on a tablet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.