For many students, the most stressful part of applying to law school is the LSAT. It is well known among pre-law students that even with a great cumulative GPA and sparkling letters of recommendation, a high enough score on this examination is the single factor to make your application stand out from the crowd. In fact, according to Princeton Review, your LSAT score is weighted about twice as much as your GPA in admissions decisions. So, what happens if your score isn’t what you’d like it to be?
Here a few factors to consider when trying to ascertain if a redo is right for you.
Does your score accurately reflect your true abilities?
Did you score significantly lower on the actual exam than in all of your practice tests? Did you get sick, have sudden test anxiety, or experience a significant outside factor such as a death in the family? Did you fail to prepare adequately for the exam?
If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then a retake is almost always the correct choice. Significant factors such as these can really hold you back from reaching your potential and probably mean that you can improve with a redo.
Did you score a 170 or better? Did you achieve your practice average on the real exam? Chances are, if this is the case you won’t be able to score much higher on a retake. Unless it’s an extremely rare case, these are examples of circumstances in which you shouldn’t take the LSAT again.
How much do people typically improve on the LSAT?
The LSAC offers LSAT retaker data to help guide your decision. The statistics seem to show that while gaining as many as 10 points from a retake is highly unlikely, jumping up 5 points is very possible and occurs relatively often. Especially if you score along the lines of 165 and improve to a 170, those few points are a significant improvement that can have a tremendous effect on your chances of admissions. If you are considering a retake, spend some time perusing this data to see where you fall. While statistics aren’t everything and there are certainly always outliers, considering what other students have done in the past is a good way to guide your decision.
If you have not yet taken the LSAT, the best advice is to plan on sitting for the exam only once. Prepare yourself adequately for the exam by taking timed practices, calculating your score, and focusing on the sections that need improvement. Not many people think the LSAT is a fun experience–going into it with the idea that you won’t have to do it again is probably the best mentality.
Does a retake hurt you in the eyes of law schools?
The authors at LawSchooli.com have compiled LSAT retake policies from the T14 law schools and compared their official statements. While some top schools such as Harvard claim to average LSAT scores, the predominant approach seems to be taking the top score. Before retaking the exam, looking at the opinions of your target schools can be a helpful resource in deciding whether or not it would be worth the time and effort you will need to expend on a second try. Undoubtedly, there are some circumstances under which a retake is a clear choice and a low score on the first exam can be explained in an addendum to your application. It is important to be sure, however, that you will be able to score higher on a retake. Regardless, the answer seems to be largely that a higher score on a retake will not hinder your chances of admission to law schools.
As an aside, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) notes that if there is an “unusually large” discrepancy between scores, your exams may be reviewed for misconduct. Additionally, it is your responsibility to inform school you’ve applied to that you will be retaking the LSAT. The LSAC does not do so automatically.
While these are guidelines to help you start thinking it is certainly beneficial to speak with an advisor or admissions counselor to determine what the right next step is for you.
Best of luck to everyone thinking about, taking, or re-taking the LSAT!