Taking the LSAT-Flex Online

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Law School Admissions Council [LSAC] is offering what it refers to as LSAT Flex—an online, remotely proctored version of the LSAT—for test takers who were registered for the in-person April and June 2020 tests that have been canceled in the United States and Canada.

Typically, the LSAT is administered in public buildings—especially classrooms and conference-type rooms—that are currently closed or restricted for public safety. LSAC will monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and will add additional LSAT-Flex dates as needed, but LSAC plans to resume in-person LSAT administrations once health and safety conditions permit. In the meantime, the remotely proctored LSAT-Flex provides test takers the opportunity to take the test and submit their LSAT scores along with their applications to law school.

Who is eligible for the Online LSAT-FLEX Administrations?

LSAC will administer the May LSAT-Flex during the week of May 18, 2020. This administration is available to test takers who were registered as of April 7 for the in-person test originally scheduled to happen on April 25, 2020. Most May LSAT-Flex test takers will take their online tests either Monday or Tuesday, May 18 and 19. LSAC will administer a handful of Flex tests later that same week to meet the needs of test takers with specific remote-proctoring requirements. The sign-up process* for the May Flex administration is now open.

LSAC will administer the June LSAT-Flex during the week of June 14, 2020. This administration is available to test takers who were registered as of April 29 for the in-person test originally scheduled to happen on June 8, 2020. Most June LSAT-Flex test takers will take their online tests either Monday or Tuesday, June 14 and 15. LSAC will administer a handful of Flex tests later that same week to meet the needs of test takers with specific remote-proctoring requirements. The sign-up process* for the June Flex administration will open on May 13.

* Test takers sign up for specific days and times through their LSAC accounts, and LSAC encourages students who require or prefer to take the test on a specific day or at a specific time to sign up as soon as possible. Testing slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

How does the Online LSAT-Flex work?

LSAT-FLEX TEST FORMAT
LSAT-Flex will be a three-section version of the standard digitally administered LSAT test. It will have one 35-minute Logic Games section, one 35-minute Logical Reasoning section, and one 35-minute Reading Comprehension section. There will be no break during the test, so plan on around two hours for your LSAT-Flex test, including check-in and proctoring procedures.

All of the questions, game types, and reading passages will be in the same format and of the same difficulty as those seen on a standard, five-section LSAT administration. All three sections of the LSAT-Flex are scored and every question counts equally toward your score. LSAC has stated that the Logical Reasoning section will not be counted double despite the fact that there are two scored Logical Reasoning sections on a typical five-section version of the LSAT. Kaplan’s testing experts have put together a chart to show how raw scores (i.e., the number of correct answers) from the three-section tests will likely correspond to scaled (120–180) scores.
LSAT-FLEX PROCTORING & CHECK-IN
You’ll be proctored remotely by a live person using ProctorU. You’ll create a ProctorU account (there’s a link through your LSAC account) and use ProctorU’s online tool and technical requirements page to make sure you’re set up properly. You can use the Lawhub tool on LSAC’s website to familiarize yourself with the LSAT test interface and tools. After the test, a video recording of your test session may be reviewed by humans and artificial intelligence.

There will be check-in and security measures in place to ensure test integrity and fairness. Just as you would at an in-person LSAT administration, you’ll be required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID at the beginning of the test. The ID must be current (or expired within fewer than 90 days of your test date). The name on the ID must match the name you used for your registration exactly (first and last names), and the ID must have a recent, recognizable photo and your date of birth.

NOTE: By law, U.S. military IDs cannot be photographed and thus cannot be used to check in for the online LSAT-Flex administration.
LSAT-FLEX ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL RULES
The typical, in-person LSAT administration has strict rules about what you can wear and what you can have with you during the test. The online LSAT-Flex is equally specific, but some of the requirements are different from those at an in-person test site.

During the LSAT-Flex test, you may not wear anything that obscures your face: thus, hats (other than religious items), hoods, sunglasses, and headphones are not allowed.

Because of the online nature of the test, there are also some forbidden behaviors: for example, you may not communicate with anyone other than your proctor, read aloud, leave your seat or allow your face to leave the webcam’s view, connect to any external storage devices or run any forbidden applications.

The full list of rules and requirements is listed on the LSAC website. We strongly encourage you to review those before your LSAT-Flex test day and prepare your testing space accordingly. The list of items you may have with you includes five blank sheets of scratch paper (you’ll have to show both sides of each sheet to your proctor), No. 2 or HB pencils, a highlighter, an eraser (no mechanical erasers or erasers with sleeves), a pencil sharpener, tissues, and a beverage in plastic container or juice box (maximum size: 20 oz/591 ml; no aluminum cans).

WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED FOR THE ONLINE LSAT-FLEX?

LSAT-Flex tests can be taken on either laptop or desktop computer with a Windows or Mac operating system. The specific requirements will be available to you through your LSAC registration and your ProctorU account. LSAC is encouraging all Flex test takers to test their equipment in light of those requirements and to use the practice testing tool at lawhub.lsac.org as soon as possible.

LSAC has made clear their commitment to “expanding opportunity and access” and to reducing barriers to testing. For June LSAT-Flex test takers with concerns over having

all the equipment that they need to use the remote proctoring option (i.e., a webcam, etc.), or
access to a quiet or private room in which to take a remotely proctored test, particularly during this time of disruption and social distancing due to the COVID-19 emergency

LSAC asks that they respond to the LSAT-Flex Options form in their LSAC account no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, May 18, 2020, so that LSAC can address the situation, if possible.

WHEN WILL YOU RECEIVE YOUR LSAT-FLEX SCORE?

All May LSAT-Flex test takers will receive their scores on the same day (regardless of when they complete their tests during the Flex week). LSAC is currently targeting Friday, June 5, as the scores-back day for the May administrations.

Likewise, all June LSAT-Flex test takers will receive their scores on the same day, with LSAC currently targeting Tuesday, June 30, as their scores-back date.

DOES THE LSAT-FLEX OFFER ACCOMMODATIONS?

The short answer is, “Yes.” The LSAC has explicitly reiterated its commitment to ensuring that test takers with disabilities will have their accommodation needs met during LSAT-Flex administrations. Any test taker approved to receive accommodations for the April 25, 2020, or June 8, 2020, LSAT test dates will receive the same or equivalent accommodations for their corresponding LSAT-Flex test. Test takers with approved accommodations should expect to hear directly from LSAC with relevant details for the LSAT-Flex experience.

SHOULD YOU TAKE THE LSAT-FLEX?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The most important considerations are how prepared you are for the LSAT and when you’ll be applying to law school. Your LSAT score is a very important part of your application, and you want to be prepared and confident of your success no matter where or how you’ll be taking the actual exam. If you are applying for admission to law school in fall 2020, you’ll need to have your LSAT score this summer (and you should contact your prospective schools for specifics about their application deadlines).

You know yourself. You may be a test taker who likes the idea of the shorter LSAT-Flex test. That’s great. But, you may also be concerned about the testing environment and know that the formality of an in-person test site better suits you. That’s okay, too. Those are the personal factors in your decision that only you can weigh.

LSAC may be offering in-person tests again as early as this summer, but they’ve stated that they’re watching the COVID-19 situation closely and will continue the LSAT-Flex offerings as needed.

HOW TO PREP FOR THE LSAT-FLEX

First of all, remember that all of the questions, logic game types, and passages are just like those you’ve been practicing on paper-and-pencil tests. If you’re ready for the LSAT content, nothing on the digital test will surprise you!

To get yourself ready to take full advantage of the digital, take-at-home format, Kaplan suggests

Practice on the computer you will use for the test in the room where you’ll be taking it. Getting used to testing in that environment is very helpful.
Use a practice test from LSAC’s LawHub in the digital interface you’ll be using on test day.
Take three full 35-minute sections in a row–one section each of Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Logic Games–with no breaks.
Use scratch paper for all of your note taking and logic games sketches. On test day, you can use five sheets of blank paper. Get used to that way of working.
Practice at the same time of day as your official LSAT-Flex test will be. Once you have registered, you will know the time at which you’ll be testing, and you can get a feel for how rested and alert you’ll feel.

Kaplan’s wishing you all the best and we’re always here to help you succeed.

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