The LSAT India

LSAT India Overview

The LSAT India is a standardized assessment designed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and administered by Pearson VUE. The LSAT India, which is distinct from the standard American version of the LSAT in several important ways, is taken exclusively by applicants to law schools in India. The need for a unique Indian version of the LSAT is at least partially due to the issue of applicant degree level: In the United States, law study is a privilege reserved for graduate students only, but in India, many students interested in the law are prospective undergraduates. The LSAT India is currently available in pencil-and-paper format only, and it is unknown if or when a digitized LSAT India will be created.

LSAT India Availability and Registration

Unlike the standard LSAT, the LSAT India is offered just once per year (in late May). LSAT India test centers are located in 23 cities all over the country, typically in or near major metro areas. The registration window is open from about seven months before to approximately 10 days before the date of the test. The only available method of registration is online, and the registration fee is Rs. 3800. Post-registration communications from Pearson are delivered via email.

LSAT India Content and Scoring

The LSAT India includes two Logical Reasoning sections, one Analytical Reasoning section, and one Reading Comprehension section. Each section has about 24 questions for a total of 92-100 questions, all of which are multiple choice. Unlike the standard LSAT, there are no experimental sections, and there is no Writing sample. The LSAT India is therefore a shorter exam than the regular LSAT; total testing time is two hours and 20 minutes. Scoring for the LSAT India is reported on a percentile basis only -- there is no 120-180 scale. Indian law schools use these percentiles to compare candidates for admission to their peers in the same group. Results are released about two weeks after the test.

LSAT India Acceptance

Over 80 Indian institutions accept LSAT India scores for degree programs such as the five-year BA LLB, five-year BBA LLB, three-year LLB, and one-year LLM. The LSAT India is not accepted by law schools in any other country. Indian students interested in American or Canadian law schools must take the standard version of the LSAT (which is available in India).

LSAT India Scores Needed for Law Program Admission

Knowledgeable individuals recommend that students aim for LSAT India scores in the 75th percentile or above. Tracking score data for previous academic years can give prospective students some idea of the minimum LSAT India score expectations for law degree programs, which tend to hover somewhere between the 50th and 60th percentiles. Students below the score cutoff level for a specific year were not offered admission during that year.

Scholarships Based on LSAT India Scores

The financial obligations associated with law study in India can be greatly reduced through strong LSAT India performance. Most Indian institutions offer scholarships to enrolled students based partially or entirely on LSAT India scores. Jindal Global Law School, for example, awards O.P. Jindal Outstanding Merit Scholarships of Rs. 1 lakh per year to each of the top five LSAT India scorers in three of its degree programs.

Summary of Differences between the LSAT and the LSAT India

The LSAT India is a different exam than the standard LSAT because the former is meant to assess a broader group of students and a wider range of degree programs. Although the LSAT India's four multiple-choice sections are based on the American version of the exam, some sections of the LSAT India have fewer answer options (four versus five). The LSAT India has no experimental and writing sections and is therefore a shorter exam that requires less testing endurance. LSAT India acceptance and availability are much more limited than the standard LSAT; the LSAT India will only be considered by law schools in that country and the test is only offered once per year. Standard LSAT scores are reported from 120-180, while LSAT India scores are reported as percentiles only. The LSAT India is a paper-and-pencil exam; the standard LSAT is entirely digital in North America as of 2019. The LSAT India tends to be a greater factor in financial aid awards than the standard LSAT, and some scholarships can be obtained exclusively through elite LSAT India scores.