The LSAT Is About to Get Harder. Here's the Timeline.

The host of LSAT Unplugged + Law School Admissions Podcast reveals that the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is preparing to introduce a scored Writing Ability Score on LSAT score reports, signaling a major shift in the test's structure. Currently, the writing section is unscored and called LSAT writing, but recent changes—including renaming it to LSAT argumentative writing, redesigning prompts to require constructing arguments from multiple perspectives, integrating writing into test logistics, and adding a placeholder field on score reports—indicate LSAC is building toward a formal scoring system. The host predicts this change will likely take effect in July 2027, driven by the rise of AI-generated personal statements and essays in law school applications. The proctored, timed writing sample will serve as a credibility check, verifying whether a candidate’s writing ability matches their application materials. While not a deciding factor, the scored writing will act as a consistency filter, especially for non-native English speakers or applicants with AI-polished submissions. The host emphasizes that writing ability cannot be crammed for and urges test-takers to consider taking the current, simpler version of the LSAT before the change, especially if they’re close to their target score. Importantly, law schools will not penalize applicants for taking the test under different versions, and a strong LSAT score still outweighs concerns about the writing change.