So if you feel reasonably confident that you can boost your score over your highest score thus far, go ahead and retake one last time. As there are no cases on record of schools withdrawing offers from students for sitting for the LSAT after being admitted, this removes the risk from the idea while still providing much of the benefit. If your top choice takes the highest score, a retake is much more appealing than if it takes the average, and this is something you should definitely take into consideration.
However, some policies are kind of in a gray area and thus my distinctions were somewhat arbitrary, so I decided to include the actual text of the policy from each school. If you take the test more than once, all scores and their average will be reported and considered.
I imagine this is a result of their desire to maintain an appearance of holistic admissions in which they consider everything. Published statistics for this and prior years were based on average LSAT scores. Yes, but they evaluate based on the average score in most cases. The Committee may take special circumstances into account. If a candidate can point out specific reasons why the Committee should consider an LSAT score aberrant, they should detail those reasons in an addendum to the personal statement.
LSAC data suggest that the first score is an excellent predictor of a second score; applicants are thus advised to re-take the test only if there is reason to expect significant improvement. We certainly do not wish to encourage expenditures on repeat test taking.
If you take the test more than once, we will use your average score in most cases. We recognize that there is no statistical significance to a score gain or loss of a few points within the standard deviation for the test. However, if there is a significant difference between an applicant's highest and lowest LSAT score more than 4 or 5 points the applicant should address this discrepancy in an addendum to his or her application.
The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight. We do, however, consider the average score as well, because data provided by the Law School Admissions Council suggests that it has the greatest predictive utility.
If you have a significant disparity between scores six or more points , it would be very helpful to address any explanation for the difference in an optional essay or addendum.
We evaluate all information submitted as part of the application for admission, however, including all scores earned on the LSAT. Studies by the Law School Admission Council suggest that in most cases the average score is the most accurate predictor of academic performance in the first year of law school, so we encourage applicants with a significant difference in LSAT scores to include with their application any information that may be relevant to the interpretation of test results, such as illness, testing conditions, or other circumstances that may have affected LSAT performance.
However, Duke may place greater weight on a high score if the applicant provides compelling information about why that score is a better indication of his or her potential.
If you feel that one or more of your test scores does not accurately reflect your ability or potential, please explain this disparity in a separate attachment. Please address any mitigating circumstances you feel the Admissions Committee should consider. In the case of a significant discrepancy between scores, applicants are advised to address it in their application.
Item 11 on our application is a suitable place to provide such explanation. The median score of J. We consider each applicant's LSAT score in the context of all the information in the full application. This means that applicants with lower scores are more likely to be admitted if they are strong in other respects. Anecdotal evidence suggests that they take the highest score.
However, all scores not averaged will be considered in the admissions review process. If there is a significant discrepancy in your scores five or more points , we encourage you to submit an addendum in order to put the variance into context for our Admissions Committee. If you take the test more than once, all your scores are considered.
However, applicants should keep in mind that Admissions Committee members will see all scores and may be negatively influenced by a large number of tests or a downward trend in scores. An addendum is not necessary. Despite this, we generally advise prospective students against taking the LSAT more than once, unless there are extenuating circumstances which caused the student to perform poorly during the first LSAT.
Scores are valid for three years. In exceptional cases where it is apparent that a significant difference exists between scores, the Admission Committee will consider carefully the explanation provided by the applicant. If warranted, the highest score will be used to reach a decision on the file.
The highest score will be the recorded score on all admission materials. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are wondering if you should retake the LSAT. When am I applying to law school? If you are going to take the February test for the same year you are applying, you will be at a disadvantage for all schools that allow rolling admissions.
You have to ask yourself if a score increase is worth late application. Read this post to see the advantages and disadvantages for taking the LSAT on particular test dates.
Did you prepare enough for the LSAT? Truly consider whether you put the necessary time and practice in to achieve a high LSAT score. Was this LSAT score reflective of my ability?
A lot of students do not improve when they retake the LSAT. But students who were sick, anxious, or not prepared sometimes see their scores improve dramatically. Were you super-anxious? Did you not prepare enough? Or were you feeling fine and was your score in line with the scores you were achieving on practice tests? If you think you never truly figured out the logic games or the logical reasoning section, do you think a tutor would help you?
Truly consider what went wrong if anything and what you could change if you decided to retake the LSAT. Is your LSAT score what schools are looking for? If your score is in the range that schools are looking for, then it might not be worth it to try to get it up a point or two.
If, however, you are below the range then it is worth it to consider retaking the LSAT. With your current score, you can apply at the most ideal time of the admissions season. Finally, take a minute to step back from the consideration of this one facet of your application process to think again about why you are applying to law school in the first place, and what you hope to get out of the experience and investment.
But it rarely has the power to determine whether you go to law school at all, and it says nothing about what kind of lawyer you will be. Thinking about law school Applying to law school Alumni-lawyer network Managing stress All topics.
Plan to take the LSAT only once. Ideally, it would be best if every applicant could secure their ideal LSAT score on the first attempt, but that is often not the case. Law schools will report the highest LSAT score. Applicants with multiple LSAT scores with huge score disparities can be harder to review.
Once applicants have taken the LSAT two or three times they often see scores start to cluster and plateau. All law schools are eager to admit applicants to their schools who possess solid aptitude scores on the LSAT.
Taking the LSAT multiple times is often less of a problem for law schools if each score shows improved results; otherwise, it is spending money trying to yield different results. If you plan to retake the test, strategize and prepare adequately. But some law schools see things differently, so I recommend applicants check with individual law schools regarding multiple LSAT scores.
Back in , the American Bar Association officially changed the rule on score reporting for accredited law schools. This is an important thing to note for prospective law students, because this rule made it so that retaking the LSAT could now make you more attractive to law school admissions teams.
Prior to this landmark rule change, ABA accredited schools viewed the average if a student took the LSAT multiple times within the 5 year active test score timeframe. Afterwards, the higher of your scores could now be reported. Keep in mind that most experts in this area will advise taking more practice tests beforehand and only taking the LSAT once. The best advice is to study really hard, pinpoint and work on your problem areas and go into that first test as prepared as possible.
Is it bad to take the LSAT more than once? Taking the LSAT for the first time typically requires months of preparation, sometimes longer. Most students, on average, improve two to three points statistically from one test to the next.
Personally, I am in favor of an LSAT retake that could really help boost a score and improve your application.
0コメント