LSAC just released 58 new PrepTests. Here’s what you should know.
LSAC just released a huge set of new PrepTests—58 new tests in total. (Well, they’re not exactly “new,” but we’ll get into that shortly.)
You might have seen an announcement about it through LSAC’s mailing list, or you might have logged into LawHub and seen that there are now two different sets of PrepTests to choose from. If you’re here, you probably have some questions!
- How are these new PrepTests different? (Short answer: they don’t include Logic Games.)
- Should I start using them instead of the old PrepTests? (It depends.)
- Will the new PrepTests be coming to 7Sage? (Yes.)
Read on for a full explanation of what these new PrepTests are all about, where you can find them, and whether or not you should use them.
What new PrepTests are you talking about?
On February 22, LSAC released a set of 58 new PrepTests on LawHub. LSAC is calling this set the “August 2024 Admin Test Format.” They start at PrepTest 101 and go up to PrepTest 158.
These new tests are grouped separately from the old set, which started with PT1 and goes up to PT94. That old set is now being called the “Up to June 2024 Admin Test Format” in LawHub.
Both sets are currently available in LawHub in the LSAT Test Prep menu.
Why is LSAC doing this?
It’s all about the upcoming removal of the Logic Games section in August. In the current batch of PrepTests going all the way back to PT1, every test contains a Logic Games (LG) section. In order to provide students with practice material that actually reflects the new, no-LG test format, LSAC needed to completely revamp their PrepTests.
The new set of PrepTests contains no Logic Games section. Instead, the new tests contain the following:
- Two Logical Reasoning (LR) sections
- One Reading Comprehension (RC) section
- One experimental section, either LR or RC
Are these brand-new PrepTests?
Actually, no. Everything contained in these “new” PrepTests is taken straight from PT19 through PT94. Essentially, the “old” PTs have simply had their LG sections cut, and the LR and RC sections have been shuffled around and repackaged together as new tests.
Now, you might be wondering precisely where each of the old PT sections has ended up within the new tests. The answer is a little complicated. (Of course it’s complicated, we’re talking about the LSAT.) Some old PTs have been ported over to the new tests while remaining fairly intact, while others have been completely carved up and scattered across multiple new tests. If you want to know exactly which old sections make up which new tests, you can use this handy chart.
The most important takeaway here is that the content of these new tests is identical to the LR and RC content on the old PrepTests. The only change is that the LR and RC sections have been shuffled and recombined.
One other interesting detail: not all of the old PTs actually made it into the new PrepTests. Everything up to PT18 has been excluded, as well as a select few other old PTs. You can see exactly which PTs have been excluded here.
What’s with the new numbering system?
As mentioned, the new PrepTests start at 101 and go up to 158. But why start at 101 instead of just, you know... 1? Only LSAC knows why they do what they do, but most likely, the new three-digit numbering system is simply an easy way to tell the new tests apart from the old. If you see a three-digit test number, you know it’s a new test and doesn’t have an LG section.
Will 7Sage be using these “new” PrepTests?
Yes! We’re working hard to update the site with the new set of tests, and they will be available on 7Sage in late March. You’ll be able to choose between the new tests (PT101 and up) and the old tests (PT1 and up) until the June 2024 LSAT, at which point the new tests will fully replace the old ones.
For now, if you want to take one of the new tests, you can do so directly in LawHub.
Which leads to the last question...
Which type of PrepTest should I be taking? Old or new?
If you’re taking the LSAT in April or June 2024: Use the old set of PrepTests. The new tests are only for those taking the LSAT in August 2024 or later.
If you’re taking the LSAT in August 2024 or later: The new PrepTests were designed specifically for you, so you can go right ahead and use them! They’re already available in LawHub and they’ll be up on 7Sage in late March.
However, if you’ve already taken any of the old PTs, be aware that the new tests are made up entirely of sections pulled from those old PTs. This means that you could see repeat sections that you’ve already encountered on your past PTs. If you want to start using the new PrepTests, we strongly recommend referring to this chart to make sure you can choose a test that features sections you’ve never taken before.
Also, keep in mind that because the new PrepTests are simply a reorganization of the old PrepTests, they’re not introducing anything new. They’re simply one option to help you more closely simulate the actual test format. But they’re not the only option. 7Sage already lets you simulate the new post-August test format for every PrepTest from PT1 to PT89. So if you’re currently well into your LSAT journey and would rather just avoid the confusion and complication of the new PrepTests, you have that option too.
If, instead, you’re relatively early in your LSAT journey and haven’t taken many (or any) PrepTests yet, we recommend going ahead with the new tests, either through LawHub or here on 7Sage come late March.