This guide is for Carleton students who plan to write the LSAT and apply to law school. It explains what the test looks like now, how to build a study plan that fits your Carleton schedule, and which real campus resources can help you.

The LSAT Changed in 2024 — Know the New Format

Starting with the August 2024 test, LSAC removed the Logic Games section, and a second Logical Reasoning section took its place. The LSAT now has two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored section used to test future questions. You will not know which section is unscored, so treat them all the same way.

This means you no longer need to learn logic game diagrams. It also means Logical Reasoning now makes up most of your score, so give it the most study time.

There is also a separate part called LSAT Argumentative Writing. It is unscored but sent to every school you apply to. You write it at home through proctored software, any time from eight days before your test date.

If you own an old prep book, check the print date. Anything from before 2024 still teaches Logic Games. Skip those pages. The Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension chapters are still good.

What Score Do You Need for Canadian Law Schools?

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Canadian law schools generally accept lower scores than schools in the United States. Manhattan Review’s summary of published school data shows the University of Toronto has the highest median among Canadian schools, at 167. Many other well-known Canadian law schools have medians between 157 and 163.

A summary from the Canadian Law Forum notes that the 50th percentile sits around a score of 152, and Ontario schools tend to look for scores in the low-to-mid 160s.

These are general numbers, not official school data, so always check the exact median for each school on your list.

Step 1: Take a Diagnostic Test and Set Your Timeline

Start with a cold diagnostic test. This means taking one full, timed, official practice test before you study anything at all. You can get real retired tests for free through LSAC LawHub, which uses the same screen layout you will see on test day.

Do not worry if your first score feels low. This is your starting point, not a judgment. It shows you which sections need the most work.

Once you have a baseline, plan your study length around it. Career in Law suggests these rough timelines based on how many points you want to gain:

• 5 points — about 2 to 3 months
• 10 points — about 3 to 4 months
• 15 points — about 4 to 5 months
• 20 points — about 5 to 6 months

Fit this plan around your Carleton term, not the other way around, and avoid your heaviest study weeks during midterms or finals. Many students start light in the summer and aim for an August or October test date, which still leaves room for a retake before winter application deadlines.

If you would rather study during the school year, treat LSAT prep like a real course with fixed weekly hours, and aim for a January or February test date so you can use winter break for final practice.

Split your prep into stages instead of cramming. UnicrossBlog recommends learning the core ideas first, then drilling questions by section, then finishing with full-length timed tests as your date gets closer.

Step 2: Use Real Support Available at Carleton

You do not need to do this alone. Carleton offers support that many students never use, and none of it costs anything.

Carleton Law and Legal Studies Society (CLLSS)

The Carleton Law and Legal Studies Society is a student group tied to Carleton’s Department of Law and Legal Studies. It runs speaker events, mock LSATs, and visits to courts and law schools. Joining early is a good way to meet other pre-law students and pick up tips from people ahead of you in the process.

Career Services

Carleton Career Services is located at 401 Tory Building. You can book a one-on-one appointment through the mySuccess portal for help with your personal statement, resume, and application timeline. There is no cost, so use it well before your OLSAS deadline instead of waiting until the last week.

MacOdrum Library

If you want a quiet place to run a full, timed practice test, MacOdrum Library’s floors 3 and 5 are set aside as silent study floors, where talking and whispering are not allowed. You can also use the library’s search tool to check whether LSAT prep books are available at other Ontario university libraries before you buy your own.

Step 3: Study Each Section the Right Way

With Logic Games gone, the LSAT now mostly tests careful reading and clear thinking. Here is how to approach each part.

Logical Reasoning

This is now the biggest part of your score. Each question gives you a short argument and asks you to judge it. The main skill is splitting the argument into two parts: the evidence given, and the main claim it leads to. Almost every argument has a gap — something the writer assumed but did not say. Finding that gap is the most useful skill for this section.

Reading Comprehension

This section gives you dense passages, each followed by several questions. Do not try to memorize facts from the passage. Instead, read for structure: who is speaking, what is their main point, and where does the passage shift to a different view. Words like however, but, and therefore often signal that the argument is about to turn in a new direction.

If your Carleton courses already involve heavy reading — Political Science, History, or Law courses, for example — you already have a head start. Reading a court case or academic argument with an eye on its structure, not just its conclusion, works as good LSAT practice too.

LSAT Argumentative Writing

This part gives you a debatable issue along with a few different perspectives on it, and you write an essay taking your own position while addressing the other views. LSAC’s official page explains that you get 50 minutes total: 15 minutes to plan using guided questions, then 35 minutes to write. You complete it at home, up to eight days before your test date. Law schools use this to check that you can write a clear, organized argument on your own, so take it seriously even though it is unscored.

Free and Low-Cost Ways to Prepare

LSAT prep can get expensive, so check what is free first.

The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law runs a free LSAT Prep Course each year. It is for applicants who have faced barriers to education, including students from low-income families or groups that are underrepresented in law school. You generally need an undergraduate average of at least a B+ (78%), an LSAC account, and an approved LSAC fee waiver to qualify.

The University of Toronto’s Law School Access Program is a similar free in-person option held over the summer. It is open to applicants who meet certain income and grade requirements. It also covers personal statement writing and general application help, not just LSAT content.

LSAC’s LawHub gives you four official retired tests for free. For the full library of past tests, LawHub Advantage costs $124 per year, according to LSAC. If you have an approved LSAC fee waiver, you may get LawHub Advantage at no cost.

How to Apply for an LSAT Fee Waiver

Based on guidance from the University of Toronto’s LSAP program, here is how the fee waiver process usually works:

• Open an LSAC account and get your account number, called an L-number
• Apply for an LSAC fee waiver for Canada. You will need proof of low family income, such as government student loan papers or a parent or guardian’s tax assessment
• Once approved, use your fee waiver for free or reduced-cost official practice tests, and in some cases free prep programs like the ones above

Apply early, since some free prep programs need an approved fee waiver before you can even apply.

A Big Change Starting August 2026: In-Person Testing Only

If you plan to write the LSAT in August 2026 or later, know that LSAC will require in-person testing for almost all test takers. Remote, at-home testing will only be allowed for a small number of people with approved medical needs or those who live very far from a test centre. If you were planning to test from your dorm room or apartment, you will need a new plan.

LSAC is also switching to a new LawHub test platform starting with the August 2026 test. This changes where and how you take the test, not what it covers — the content, sections, and scoring all stay the same. The screen layout will look a little different, and LSAC plans to release updated practice tests in the new interface by May, so use those newer versions if your test date is August 2026 or later.

Test Day in Ottawa: What to Know

Since testing is now mostly in person, Prometric runs a testing centre in Ottawa at 450 March Rd, Suite 101, in Kanata. Popular dates fill up, so check your LSAC account early instead of waiting until the last few weeks.

Plan your travel with extra time built in. Test centres will not let you in if you miss your check-in window.

If you believe you qualify for a remote testing exception because of a medical need or living far from a test centre, apply through LSAC’s accommodations process well before your test date. Approval can take several weeks.

The week before your test

Stop taking full-length practice tests about 48 hours before your exam so your brain can rest. If testing in person, get your ID and any allowed items ready the night before, not the morning of.