LSAT Test Dates 2026–2027: Registration, Deadlines, and Fees

Picking the right LSAT date is a strategic decision: you need enough runway to prep, a score release that lands before your application deadlines, and ideally a buffer for a retake. This guide covers every remaining 2026–2027 administration — test windows, registration deadlines, score releases — plus LSAC fees, how registration works, and the retake rules.

Upcoming LSAT Test Dates (U.S. and Canada)

All dates below are published by LSAC. Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and LSAC notes dates are subject to change — confirm on LSAC's official dates page before finalizing plans.

LSAC also offers a Spanish-language LSAT–Puerto Rico administration (Feb 18–20, 2027; register by Jan 5, 2027; scores Mar 10, 2027). International administrations share the same registration deadlines and score releases, with shorter testing windows.

Which date should you pick? Work backward: take a diagnostic first, estimate your prep timeline LSAT study schedule 3 month, then choose the earliest date that gives you adequate prep time plus 4–8 weeks of buffer for a potential retake. For fall admissions, the November–January administrations are the most popular; June is ideal if you're applying the following cycle and want maximum prep time.

Choosing Your Date Strategically

Not all administrations are equal for your application timeline. Here's how to think about it:

Applying this fall (deadlines December–February): the November or January administration should be your primary target, with the later date held as a retake option. November scores release December 2 — in time for most deadlines — while a January test (scores February 3) still works for schools with February or rolling deadlines but cuts it close.

Applying next fall: you have the luxury of choice. The April and June administrations give you maximum prep time and zero deadline pressure. June scores (released June 30) land right as applications open, letting you apply early in the cycle — a genuine advantage, since many schools admit on a rolling basis.

Retake buffer math: LSAC releases scores about three weeks after each window. If your first attempt is November and you need a retake, January is 8+ weeks later — enough time for targeted prep between sittings. Taking your first attempt in April with a June retake in reserve follows the same logic. What you want to avoid is a first attempt so late that a disappointing score leaves you no room to respond.

Test-center availability: popular administrations (especially November and January) can fill preferred time slots at convenient centers. Registration opens months ahead; registering early through Prometric's scheduler gets you first pick. If you're in an area with few centers, don't wait until the deadline.

How Registration Works

1. Create an LSAC account at lsac.org if you don't have one.
2. Register for your administration through LSAC's registration system. You pay the full fee at registration — not on test day.
3. Schedule your test center and time via Prometric's scheduling tool once your scheduling window opens. Scheduling is first-come, first-served, so register early for the best choice of dates and locations.
4. Upload a registration photo (head and shoulders, plain background) through JD Services.
5. Complete LSAT Argumentative Writing, which opens about 8 days before your test window. You can do it before or after test day, but your score won't be released until your writing sample is on file.

There is no late registration. LSAC enforces deadlines strictly — miss the registration deadline and you cannot test on that date. Set a calendar reminder.

Testing location note: starting with the August 2026 LSAT, LSAC moved to in-center testing at Prometric centers for almost all test takers. Remote testing is now limited to approved exceptions (such as extreme distance from a center or certain accommodations).

LSAC Fees (2026–2027 Testing Year)

Registration rose from $248 to $253 and CAS from $215 to $219 this testing year. The realistic all-in cost: about $607 for the test + CAS + three school reports, climbing past $1,100 if you apply to 14 schools. Fee waivers are available through LSAC's Fee Waiver Program based on financial need — Tier 1 covers up to two LSAT registrations plus CAS and reports, and many eligible students never apply.

Total Cost Scenarios

These figures cover LSAC fees only — prep courses, travel to test centers, and transcript fees are on top. Budget the full picture before you register.

Retake Rules and Limits

LSAC's current retake limits (the old 3-per-testing-year cap was removed in August 2023):

Canceled scores count toward your limits; absences and withdrawals generally do not. All scored attempts are reported to schools — most focus on your highest score, but some look for patterns across attempts. Retakes cost the full $253 each time, so make each attempt count with real preparation between sittings.

Scores remain reportable for five testing years. If your score is older than that, schools can't receive it through CAS and you'll need to retake.

Compare LSAT Prep Courses

Once your date is locked in, the countdown starts. Our LSAT prep comparisons will help you pick the course that fits your timeline and target score: LSAT prep · 7sage vs LSAT demon · LSAT study schedule 3 month