The digital LSAT, explained.

The LawHub interface

The digital LSAT runs on LSAC's LawHub platform. The interface is deliberately spartan: passage or question stem on the left, five answer choices on the right, and a toolbar with a highlighter, strikethrough eliminator, review flag, section timer, and question navigator. The layout is fixed — you cannot resize the passage pane or reflow the answer choices. This is intentional. Every test-taker sees the same visual real estate, and every question is designed to be readable within that frame.

There is no scratch paper for the digital administration, though you may request an optional erasable booklet and pen at the test center. For remote administrations, a small whiteboard and dry-erase marker are permitted, but you cannot use paper, sticky notes, or any writing surface not approved during the check-in scan of your test area.

On-screen tools that matter

The eliminator (strikethrough tool) is the single most underused feature on the LSAT. Physically striking through wrong answers frees working memory for the two remaining choices — the mental load of holding "I ruled out A and C" while reading D is measurably higher than the load of reading D with A and C already crossed out. Get in the habit of eliminating aggressively; you can always undo a strike.

The flag tool marks a question for return within the section. Use it on any question where you cannot see the path to the answer within 30 seconds. Flag, pick a guess, and move on — you can return to flagged questions in any order with the question navigator. Never leave a question blank; there is no wrong-answer penalty on the LSAT.

The highlighter is genuinely helpful on Reading Comprehension and less useful on Logical Reasoning. Use it sparingly on RC to mark the author's attitude signal words, the main point, and named theories or thinkers. On LR, most students find highlighting slows them down more than it helps; the stimulus is short enough to hold in working memory during a single question.

The timer at the top of the screen counts down from 35:00. You can hide it if the countdown becomes distracting, and there is an on-screen five-minute warning near the end of every section.

The question navigator

The question navigator shows every question in the current section with color-coded status: answered, unanswered, flagged. You can jump to any question at any time. Use the navigator for two things: (1) a final check for unanswered questions with 90 seconds left, and (2) returning to flagged questions in order of your confidence in solving them, not in the order they appeared.

Remote vs. test-center delivery

Both formats use the same LawHub interface, the same question pool, and the same 35-minute section timing. The differences are logistical and behavioral.

Remote administrations require a stable internet connection (at least 15 Mbps down / 3 Mbps up), a private, quiet workspace with clear walls, an approved computer (Windows or Mac, not Chromebook or tablet), a working webcam and microphone, and government photo ID verification with your live proctor. The proctor watches you throughout the test on video and can pause you for restroom breaks. Any interruption — a family member walking in, a phone notification, a shift in lighting that obscures your face — can trigger a proctor intervention.

Test-center administrations provide the tablet, so you cannot bring your own device. You will be assigned a workstation, given the tablet with LawHub pre-loaded, and monitored by a room proctor. There is one scheduled break in the middle of the test. Test centers generally have fewer technical failures than remote administrations, but they may be farther from home and require earlier arrival.

Choose remote if your home workspace is genuinely private and your equipment is reliable. Choose test center if either of those is uncertain, or if you find home testing psychologically distracting.

Timing structure of the digital LSAT

Each of the four sections is 35 minutes. Between sections you get a 1-minute untimed transition, and there is one 10-minute break after the second section. The order of sections is randomized — you will not know in advance whether the first section is LR, RC, or the unscored variable. The variable section is indistinguishable from the scored sections; treat every section as if it is scored.

After the four scored sections, LSAT Writing (now Argumentative Writing) is completed separately at home under proctoring on your own schedule. You do not need to complete Writing on test day, but law schools require it on file before your application is reviewed.

Test-day logistics

For test-center administrations: arrive 30 minutes early, bring one government photo ID and your admission ticket, and expect to be searched (light — no metal detectors, but bags and pockets are checked). Water in a clear container, a light snack for the break, and non-mechanical earplugs are allowed at most centers. Everything else stays in a locker outside the testing room.

For remote administrations: run the LawHub system check at least three days before your test date, do a full-length simulation on the same machine in the same location one week before test day, and clear your workspace of anything not on LSAC's approved list. Cover mirrors and any visible screens; disable browser notifications; put your phone in a different room.

How to practice for the digital format

Every drill and full-length simulation on this site mirrors the LawHub interface — timer at top, toolbar controls, spare layout. Combine our full-length simulations with a few official LawHub PrepTests so test day is muscle memory. See our 170+ study plan for how to fit LawHub reps into your last four weeks.

The single most valuable digital-format practice habit: complete at least two full-length simulations in the exact conditions (home workspace or your planned test center) you will use on test day. Anxiety spikes at novelty — every logistical detail you rehearse in advance is one less thing consuming attention on the real test.

Accommodations

LSAC offers testing accommodations for documented disabilities, including extended time, additional breaks, screen magnification, screen readers, and separate testing rooms. Requests must be submitted through the LSAC Accommodations Portal at least six weeks before your test date, with supporting documentation. Historical approval rates have improved significantly since a 2019 legal settlement; most well-documented requests are now granted.

Common questions

Can I use my own laptop for remote testing? Yes, as long as it is a Windows or Mac laptop meeting the technical requirements and passes the pre-test system check. Chromebooks, tablets, and Linux machines are not supported.

What happens if my internet drops mid-test? LSAC has protocols for reconnection. If the disconnect is brief, you resume where you left off. If it is prolonged, you may be offered a free reschedule. Do not close the browser or restart — wait for the proctor to give instructions.

Can I go back to previous sections? No. Once a section ends, it is closed. You can review within a section but not across sections.