Every scored multiple-choice section on the LSAT is 35 minutes long. The test has four of these timed sections, plus a separately administered writing portion that gives you 50 minutes total. Here’s how the timing breaks down across each part of the exam.
The Four Multiple-Choice Sections
The first part of the LSAT consists of four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions. Three of these sections are scored, and one is an unscored experimental section used by LSAC to test new questions for future exams. The unscored section can be either Reading Comprehension or Logical Reasoning and can appear at any point during the test, so you won’t know which one it is while you’re taking it. You need to treat every section as if it counts.
The scored sections cover two question types:
- Logical Reasoning: 35 minutes per section. You’ll see short passages followed by questions that ask you to identify assumptions, strengthen or weaken arguments, draw conclusions, or spot reasoning flaws.
- Reading Comprehension: 35 minutes per section. You’ll read longer passages on topics from law, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, then answer questions about the author’s argument, the passage’s structure, and specific details.
Because each section is the same length regardless of type, your total seat time for the multiple-choice portion is 140 minutes (four sections at 35 minutes each), not counting any breaks offered between sections.
LSAT Argumentative Writing
The writing section is a required part of the LSAT, but you don’t take it on the same day as the multiple-choice sections. It’s administered online through LawHub and proctored remotely by Meazure Learning (ProctorU). LSAC makes it available eight days before your scheduled LSAT date, and you can complete it on your own time.
You get 50 minutes total, split into two phases: 15 minutes for prewriting analysis and 35 minutes for essay writing. You’ll be given a prompt that asks you to build an argument, and you’ll need to plan and draft your response within those time limits. The writing sample isn’t scored numerically, but law schools receive a copy of it along with your application, and you must have a completed and approved writing sample in your file before LSAC will release your score.
How Pacing Works in Practice
With 35 minutes per multiple-choice section, your per-question pace depends on how many questions appear. Logical Reasoning sections typically contain around 25 to 26 questions, giving you roughly 80 to 85 seconds per question. Reading Comprehension sections usually have around 26 to 28 questions spread across four passages, which works out to a similar pace but with the added time needed to read each passage before answering.
That per-question budget is tight. Many test-takers find that the challenge isn’t the difficulty of individual questions but running out of time before reaching the last few. Practicing under strict 35-minute conditions is one of the most effective ways to build the speed you’ll need on test day. If you consistently finish with time to spare during practice, you’re in good shape. If you’re regularly leaving three or four questions unanswered, focusing on faster passage reading or learning to skip and return to time-consuming questions can help close the gap.
Total Time on Test Day
Your total testing time for the multiple-choice portion is about two hours and 20 minutes of actual section time. Factor in check-in procedures, instructions between sections, and any scheduled breaks, and you should expect to spend roughly three hours at your testing session. The writing portion adds another 50 minutes on a separate day. All told, the LSAT demands close to three hours and 50 minutes of active test-taking time across both parts.