Adoption of Free LSAT Prep from Khan Academy and LSAC Is Growing Rapidly

Use highest among African Americans, women, and students who are economically disadvantaged, which could help expand and diversify the pipeline of aspiring lawyers over time

Less than a year after launching the first free and official online prep for the LSAT, the nonprofit organizations Khan Academy and the Law School Admission Council released new data showing rapid growth in use of Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep by aspiring law students, particularly among African Americans, women, and economically disadvantaged students.

The new survey data underscores the importance of free tools and resources that, over time, could help create greater opportunity and stimulate more diversity in the legal profession that is more reflective of the society it serves.

Since launching in June 2018, Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep use has grown steadily. Today, 40,000 students use Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep every month.

A survey¹ of students who took the LSAT for the first time in November 2018 found:

• 52% of African American respondents report using Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep to prepare for the exam.
• 47% of Puerto Rican respondents report using Khan Academy to prepare.
• 46% of women respondents report using Khan Academy to prepare.
• 42% of Native American/Alaska Native respondents report using Khan Academy to prepare.
• 41% of Hispanic respondents report using Khan Academy to prepare. 
• 38% of Asian respondents reported using Khan Academy to prepare.

In comparison, 43% of White/Caucasian students and 41% of male respondents report using Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep.

“Our long-standing commitment to equity motivated us to help level the playing field by creating wide access to a top-notch program that develops the critical thinking skills required for success in law school and a wide range of careers,” said Kellye Testy, president and CEO of LSAC. “We are excited that so many students are taking advantage of the free tools that LSAC and Khan Academy are offering together. Increasing opportunity for all students will, over time, ensure that our legal system truly reflects the diverse needs of society.”

Unlike commercial test prep, which can cost hundreds of dollars to more than $2,000, LSAC and Khan Academy have partnered to ensure that Official LSAT Prep by Khan Academy is free. 

“When you decrease barriers to education and increase access to free resources and tools, all students can really thrive,” said Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. “Khan Academy and LSAC share a goal of expanding opportunity for all students no matter who they are, where they are from, or their ability to pay. We’re proud to have created one of the best LSAT prep programs out there to help all students reach their dreams.”

In an era when many young people graduate college with high levels of student debt, the introduction of free LSAT prep from Khan Academy helps open doors for low-income students and those who have significant student loans. Based on survey responses from first-time LSAT takers between June and November 2018, 37% of students who reported undergraduate debt up to $39,999 say they used the free Khan Academy tools to prepare for the LSAT. For respondents reporting $40,000 or more in debt, the number was even higher — 41% used Khan Academy.

Official LSAT Prep on Khan Academy diagnoses each student's strengths and weaknesses, and guides students through lessons and practice questions at just the right level for them. Videos, articles, and explanations cover every concept on the LSAT and, as weaknesses turn into strengths, students track their progress toward a goal.

Last year, nearly 100,000 prospective law school students took the LSAT. The LSAT is the only standardized test accepted by all accredited law schools in the United States, providing an assessment of critical reading and reasoning skills considered essential for success in law school.

The partnership with LSAC continues Khan Academy’s track record of providing free, official practice for critical standardized exams. In 2015, Khan Academy launched Official SAT Practice with the College Board and in 2018, announced its partnership with ETS to develop free test prep for Praxis® Core tests, key exams for candidates entering teacher preparation programs, which will launch in summer 2019.

Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep, provided in collaboration with LSAC, is available free at KhanAcademy.org/lsat.

¹Based on the November Post-LSAT Questionnaire, which was completed by 7,450 first-time LSAT takers of the November 2018 LSAT, for a survey response rate of 38.2%.

About Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Khan Academy’s free resources include practice questions, quizzes, videos and articles. We offer preschool through early college learning on a range of academic subjects, including math, sciences and the humanities. Our mastery learning system allows teachers to tailor instruction for every student. We offer free personalized SAT practice in partnership with the College Board and free personalized LSAT prep in collaboration with the Law School Admission Council. Khan Academy has been translated into 36 languages, and 18 million people learn on Khan Academy every month. As a nonprofit organization, Khan Academy relies upon donations from foundations, corporations and individuals around the world. For more information, please visit khanacademy.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.