The LSAT vs The Bar – What is the difference?

The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and the Bar exam are two of the most important tests that law students and aspiring lawyers must take in order to become licensed to practice law. While both tests are critical components of the law school admission and licensure process, they are designed to measure different skills and abilities.

In short the main difference between the LSAT and the bar is that the LSAT is the exam you take to get into law school while the Bar is the exam you take after law school to obtain your license in law. However, in this blog post, we’ll dig deep into the key differences between the LSAT and the Bar exam.

List of differences of the LSAT and the Bar

1. Purpose

The primary purpose of the LSAT is to measure a student’s critical thinking and reasoning skills and determine their suitability for law school. In contrast, the primary purpose of the Bar exam is to determine whether a law school graduate is competent and qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction.

2. Content

The LSAT is a standardized test that consists of five sections: Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, an unscored experimental section, and a writing sample. The content of the LSAT is designed to evaluate a student’s ability to analyze and evaluate arguments, understand complex reading passages, and identify patterns and relationships. Conversely, the Bar exam is a comprehensive examination that tests a law student’s knowledge of legal principles, rules, and procedures. The content of the Bar exam varies by state, but it typically includes multiple choice questions, essays, and performance tests

3. Frequency

The LSAT is offered eight times per year (it use to be four but they are continuously increasing the testing dates) at testing centers throughout the world. In contrast, the Bar exam is typically administered twice per year in most states. 

4. Timing

Law school applicants typically take the LSAT during their junior or senior year in undergraduate college in preparation of applying to law school. However, the Bar exam is taken directly after finishing your law school program. 

5. Scoring

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 to 180, with a median score of approximately 151. In contrast, the Bar exam is scored on a 400 point scale, in which each jurisdiction has it’s own pass/fail score. However, the minimum pass score is typically around 260 to 280.

6. Length

The length of the LSAT is approximately 3 hours, while the Bar is typically a 2 day exam that totals 12 hours of testing. However, the structure of the Bar does vary state-by-state.

In conclusion, the LSAT and the Bar exam are both critical components of the law school admission and licensure process, but they are designed to measure different skills and abilities. While the LSAT is designed to evaluate a student’s critical thinking and reasoning skills, the Bar exam is designed to determine whether a law graduate is competent and qualified to practice law. 
 
Whether you’re preparing for the LSAT or the Bar exam, it’s important to understand the key differences between these two tests and to choose the right resources and study strategies to help you prepare effectively. If you are studying for the LSAT, Prep For Success Tutors has a phenomenal team of tutors who can help you create a customized study plan and study most effectively for the exam by learning all the tips and tricks! 
 
Some of the best LSAT resources can be found on Prep For Success’ free resource page.

About the Author

Samantha is the co-founder and COO of Prep For Success Tutors! She has been tutoring in the LSAT essay section as well as assassinating students with Law School Applications for over 10 years and is passionate about helping her students. Never hesitate to reach out to her to get support in your LSAT studies or application process. She would love to teach you her tips and tricks!

About our LSAT Tutors

Prep For Success has a team of amazing LSAT tutors, who have all scored in the 99th percentile. Additionally, all of them have been rigorously trained on all of our tips, tricks, and strategies to obtain a high score! Each tutor takes the time to understand your specific strengths and weaknesses so you don’t waste time in your studies and have the most effective study plan! Feel free to reach out to get assistance on the LSAT or Law School Admissions.