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RETAKING THE LAW SCHOOL LSAT TEST
TOPICS |
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TOPICS
ADVICE
THE CASE FOR RETAKING THE LSAT
THE CASE AGAINST RETAKING THE LSAT
RETAKING THE LSAT PREP COURSE
THE NUMBER RETAKING THE LSAT
DATA ON PEOPLE RETAKING THE LSAT
HOW SHOULD LAW SCHOOLS HANDLE
THE RETAKING OF THE LSAT |
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RETAKING THE LAW SCHOOL LSAT TEST
ADVICE |
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If you are unsure whether to retake the LSAT, consult with the prelaw advisor.
If you take the LSAT more than once, LSDAS will average your LSAT scores but each law
school has its own policy; this policy varies from taking the average, taking the latest, to
taking the highest.
Normally, you may not take the LSAT more than three times in any two-year period. This policy
applies even if you cancel your score or it is not otherwise reported.
When selecting law school to which you will apply, know what LSAT score they will be using (e.g.
the average of your LSAT scores or the highest) and apply accordingly.
LSAC considers the question SHOULD I TAKE THE TEST AGAIN.
If you did poorly on the LSAT, you have two choices: retake the LSAT or try to explain
your poor score.
Delaying applying to law school for a year may make sense if time does not permit maintaining the
UGPA and preparing for the LSAT retest.
If improving your LSAT score a sufficient amount to make a difference seems hopeless then,
without a doubt, trying to explain your poor LSAT score seems best. . .
If you are reading this section, you must have played a losing game on your last LSAT test so now
is the time to take a lesson from Bill Tilden (1893-1953), the first great American tennis player and
the great tennis player of the nineteen twenties. He said,
Never change a winning game but always change a losing game.
To begin changing your LSAT losing game, attempt to determine why your LSAT score was low
and, if you decide to retake the LSAT, avoid making those errors again. |
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RETAKING THE LAW SCHOOL LSAT TEST
THE CASE FOR RETAKING THE LSAT |
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Retaking the LSAT is a bad career move unless you make the necessary effort
to significantly improve your LSAT score.
If you did poorly on the LSAT because of circumstances (lack of preparation, failure to guess when
the answer was not known, not following directions, being ill, being excessively nervous, etc.) that
you were unwilling or unable to control and you have reason to believe that these circumstances
will be under control at a later test date, then retaking the LSAT may be a good idea. .
After receiving their LSAT score, some prelaw students may decide to retake the LSAT. This may
be a good career move for someone who still wants to be a lawyer and rationally believes that
obtaining a decent LSAT score is possible with sufficient effort. This person should, after sufficient
effort, retake the LSAT. .
If the law schools that appeal to you almost certainly will reject you because of your LSAT score
and, if this fact motivates you, then you may have good case for retaking the LSAT test. .
After receiving their LSAT score, some prelaw students may decide to retake the LSAT. This may
be a good career move for someone who still wants to be a lawyer and rationally believes that
obtaining a decent LSAT score is possible with sufficient effort. This person should, after sufficient
effort, retake the LSAT. |
EXPLAINING A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER LSAT RETAKE
If you perform significantly better on the LSAT the second time around, to the schools to which
you apply or have applied, make sure to give the reasons, if they exist, for this improvement.
Perhaps give the reason in your addendum. "Explanation of Improved LSAT score." |
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RETAKING THE LAW SCHOOL LSAT TEST
THE CASE AGAINST RETAKING THE LSAT |
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If you did your best on the LSAT Test, then retaking the LSAT does not seem like a good idea.
The best you can hope for is that you can explain your poor LSAT score to the satisfaction of some
law school admission officers. |
EXPLAINING A POOR LSAT SCORE
If your LSAT and GPA do not match up, explain it (without bitterness, anger or defensiveness) on a
separate piece of paper entitled 'Explanation of LSAT score' or Explanation of UGPA. (Johns Hopkins
University Law School Option)
If your LSAT score is poor, but your UGPA is high, you may be able to convincingly argue that
your standardized test performance is unreliable. Assuming your SAT scores were also low,
you may compare your predicted undergraduate performance based on those SATs to your actual
performance. Showing that your SATs were a poor predictor of your college success may help
convince some admissions committees to discount your poor LSAT performance.
University of Notre Dame Prelaw |
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RETAKING THE LAW SCHOOL LSAT TEST
RETAKING THE LSAT PREP COURSE |
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If you have not taken an LSAT prep course and you know of a good LSAT prep course with a good instructor, you may want to sign up for such a LSAT prep course. If you are not too happy about doing this, check out the words of Blaise Pascal (1623-1662):
To extreme diseases one must apply extreme remedies. |
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LSAT
NUMBER RETAKING |
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ACADEMIC
YEAR |
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TOOK LSAT
EXACTLY
ONCE |
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TOOK LSAT
EXACTLY
TWICE |
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TOOK LSAT
MORE THAN
TWICE |
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2001-2002 |
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80.1 |
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17.1 |
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2.8 |
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2002-2003 |
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78.8 |
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18.0 |
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3.2 |
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2003-2004 |
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77.9 |
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18.5 |
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3.6 |
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2004-2005 |
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76.3 |
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19.7 |
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4.0 | CONCLUSION: The trend is clear. People want to double, even triple,
their pleasure. |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
DATA ON PEOPLE RETAKING THE LSAT |
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| Using the LSAT Repeater Data on page 18 of the 2006-2007 LSAT&LSDAS Registration and Information Book, we see that for testers whose previous test score was 132 or above, the average increase from retaking the LSAT is less than or equal to three (3) points and for repeaters whose previous LSAT score was 166 or above, the average increase from retaking the LSAT was less than two (2) points. Needless to say, some testers did better than the average and some did worse. |
| In the first table below, we indicate how LSAT retakers whose most recent LSAT prior to the retake was 147 did on this retake. After that we give three tables in which we do the same but for the most recent LSAT score prior to the retake being 153, 157, or 163. These tables were derived from the just mentioned LSAT Repeater Data and a little effort. Let us know (prelawhandbook@bellsouth.net) if you need this data for your LSAT score. |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
REPEATER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 147 |
CHANGE AFTER RETAKE
Average change: 2.3 points |
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NUMBER OF RETAKERS
Total: 1576 retakers |
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PERCENT |
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| Increased by 13 to 22 points |
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19 |
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1.2 |
| Increased by 3 to 12 points |
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715 |
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45.4 |
| Increased by 1 to 2 points |
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269 |
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17.1 |
| No change |
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158 |
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10.0 |
| Decreased by 1 to 7 points |
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391 |
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24.8 |
| Decreased by 8 to 17 points |
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24 |
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1.5 |
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Summary. An LSAT score of 147 (approximately at the 36th percentile) or below puts one in a very inasupicious situation: even admission to one of the LEAST SELECTIVE LAW SCHOOLS may be difficult without an outstanding UGPA and, as the table above indicates, retaking the LSAT does not guarantee a decent LSAT score. .
Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 147. With the exception of ten law schools (Florida A&M University, North Carolina Central University, Texas Southern University (Houston), Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA), Appalachian School of Law (Grundy, VA), Thomas M. Cooley (Lansing, Michigan), St. Thomas University (Miami), Barry University (Orlando), University of Detroit Mercy), and University of North Dakota (Grand Forks), all law schools have their LSAT 25th percentile score above 147; this means that, with but the ten exceptions just listed, an LSAT score of 147 implies that, at least with respect to the LSAT, you will be in the bottom twenty-five percent of your entering class.
Improving an LSAT score of 147. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 147, the average increase in LSAT score was only 2.3 points. Thus an increase on your LSAT score of two points or less will not impress too many people. Unfortunately, only about 46.6 percent of the retakers increase their LSAT score by three or more points. With an LSAT score of 147, you may want to fold (that is, give up on the idea of law school) or take a hit (that is, retake the LSAT). Standing pat will not get you very far. As always, retaking the LSAT will not do any good unless you are willing and able to to improve your LSAT score. |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 153 |
CHANGE AFTER RETAKE
Average change: 2.7 points |
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NUMBER OF RETAKERS
Total: 1225 retakers |
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PERCENT |
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| Increased by 7 to 16 points |
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225 |
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18.3 |
| Increased by 1 to 6 points |
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601 |
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49.0 |
| No change |
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118 |
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9.7 |
| Decreased by 1 to 3 points |
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192 |
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15.7 |
| Decreased by 4 to 13 points |
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89 |
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7.3 |
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Summary. An LSAT score of 153 is a semi-decent score (approximately at the 59th percentile) and will not make a law school applicant unwanted and retaking the LSAT is certainly a viable option.
Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 153. An LSAT score of 153 will be at or above 75th percentile (that is, in the top 25 percent) of the entering class at fourteen law schools and strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at sixty-ix law schools; these sixty-six law schools include five second tier (top 51 to 100) law schools (University of Nebraska, Mercer University, University of Indiana at Indianapolis, Seattle University, and University of Buffalo SUNY).
Improving an LSAT score of 153. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 153, the average increase in LSAT score was 2.7 points. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 153 by taking the LSAT again but, before being hasty, note that less than 23 percent of the LSAT score 153 retakers see a drop in their LSAT score while almost half (49 percent) see a modest increase (1-6 points) and 18 percent see an impressive increase (7-16 points). If you have rational reasons for thinking you will do better the second time around and if these reasons include your having plenty of time to improve your LSAT score, go for it. |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 157 |
CHANGE AFTER RETAKE
Average change: 2.3 points |
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NUMBER OF RETAKERS
Total: 669 retakers |
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PERCENT |
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| Increased by 13 to 23 |
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6 |
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0.9 |
| Increased by 3 to 12 |
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321 |
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48.0 |
| Increased by 1 to 2 |
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105 |
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15.7 |
| No change |
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39 |
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5.8 |
| Decreased by 1 to 7 |
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186 |
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27.8 |
| Decreased by 8 to 17 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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Summary. An LSAT score of 157 is a decent score (approximately at the 74th percentile) and will not make a law school applicant unwanted and retaking the LSAT is certainly a viable option.
Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 157. An LSAT score of 157 will be at or above 75th percentile (that is, in the top 25 percent) of the entering class at 62 law schools and strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at 59 law schools; these 66 law schools include five second tier (top 51 to 100) law schools (University of Nebraska, Mercer University, University of Indiana at Indianapolis, Seattle University, and University of Buffalo SUNY).
Improving an LSAT score of 157. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 157, the average increase in LSAT score was 2.7 points. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 157 by taking the LSAT again but, before being hasty, note that less than 23 percent of the LSAT score 157 retakers saw a drop in their LSAT score while almost half (49 percent) saw a modest increase (1-6 points and 18 percent saw a serious increase (7-16 points). If you have rational reasons for thinking you will do better the second time around and if these reasons include your having plenty of time to improve your LSAT score, go for it. |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 163 |
CHANGE AFTER RETAKE
Average change: 1.6 |
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NUMBER OF RETAKERS
Total: 236 |
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PERCENT
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| Increased by 7 to 16 |
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33 |
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14.0 |
| Increased by 1 to 6 points |
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110 |
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46.6 |
| No change |
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12 |
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5.1 |
| Decreased by 1 to 3 points |
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50 |
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21.2 |
| Decreased by 4 to 13 points |
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30 |
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12.7 |
| Decreased by 14 to 23 points |
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1 |
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0.4 |
Summary. An LSAT score of 163 is a very respectable score (approximately at the 90th percentile) and will make a law school applicant feel very welcome at well over 50 of the top 100 law schools. Retaking the LSAT is an option for those those willing to prepare to close to the maximum.
Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 163. An LSAT score of 163 will be at or above 75th percentile at 137 law schools including 5 of the top 50 and 45 of the second fifty, strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at 34 law schools, but at or below the 25th percentile at the sixteen elite law schools: Fordham University (New York City), University of California (Berkeley), University of Southern California, Cornell University (NY), Duke University (NC), University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University (DC), Northwestern University (IL), Stanford University (CA), University of Virginia, Yale University (CT), Columbia University (NY), New York University, University of Chicago, and Harvard University (MA).
Improving an LSAT score of 163. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 163, the average increase in LSAT score is only 1.6 points; a small increase like this makes a retake somewhat risky. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 163 by not retaking the LSAT; with the small average increase in LSAT score of 1.6 points, improving an LSAT score of 163 is not easy but a little over 60 percent do increase their score including about one-seventh who increase their score by seven to sixteen points while a little over one-third see their score decrease including about one-eighth seeing a decrease of four or more points. |
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LAW SCHOOL LSAT SCORES
LSAT INFORMATION BY LAW SCHOOLS |
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For each given LSAT SCORE (first column), we partition the law schools into three categories. The first category indicates the number of law schools at which the given LSAT SCORE would fall at or below the 25th percentile with respect to the LSAT scores of the first-year class; the second category does the same for strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile; the third category does the same for at or above the 75th percentile. |
| For each given LSAT SCORE (first column), we partition the law schools into three categories. The first category indicates the number of law schools at which the given LSAT SCORE would fall at or below the 25th percentile with respect to the LSAT scores of the first-year class; the second category does the same for Strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile; the third category does the same for At or above the 75th percentile. |
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LSAT
SCORE |
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At or below
the 25th
Percentile |
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Strictly between
the 25th and 75th
Percentile |
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At or above
the 75th
Percentile |
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Below 147 |
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177 |
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10 |
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0 |
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148 |
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173 |
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14 |
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0 |
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149 |
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169 |
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16 |
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2 |
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150 |
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155 |
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30 |
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2 |
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151 |
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137 |
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46 |
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4 |
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152 |
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121 |
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56 |
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10 |
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153 |
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107 |
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66 |
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14 |
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154 |
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93 |
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76 |
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18 |
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155 |
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83 |
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77 |
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27 |
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156 |
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74 |
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62 |
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51 |
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157 |
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66 |
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59 |
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62 |
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158 |
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50 |
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60 |
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77 |
|
159 |
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43 |
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55 |
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89 |
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160 |
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34 |
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50 |
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103 |
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161 |
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26 |
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45 |
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116 |
|
162 |
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21 |
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44 |
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122 |
|
163 |
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16 |
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34 |
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137 |
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164 |
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13 |
|
22 |
|
152 |
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165 |
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11 |
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20 |
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156 |
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166 |
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9 |
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15 |
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163 |
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167 |
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5 |
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11 |
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171 |
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168 |
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1 |
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13 |
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173 |
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169 |
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1 |
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9 |
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177 |
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170 |
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0 |
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9 |
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178 |
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171 |
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0 |
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6 |
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181 |
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172 |
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0 |
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3 |
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184 |
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173 |
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0 |
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2 |
|
185 |
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174 |
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0 |
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2 |
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185 |
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175 |
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0 |
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1 |
|
186 |
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176 |
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0 |
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0 |
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187 |
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RETAKING THE LSAT
HOW SHOULD LAW SCHOOLS HANDLE IT |
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As we already mentioned, If you take the LSAT more than once, LSDAS will average your LSAT scores. As we mentioned in our Retaker Data for LSAT Score of 147. the average change after retake was 2.3 points. Our idea is to deduct from each retaken LSAT score, the average change after retake and then calculate the average. For example, if someone took the LSAT two times with scores of 147 and 155 (in that order), from the 155 we would deduct 2.3; then we would calculate the average of 147 and 152.3 giving ust he LSAT score of 149.85. As a second example, but not realistic, if someone too the LSAT two times with scores of 147 and 149.3 (in that order), from the 149.3, we would deduct 2.3; then we would calculate the average of 147 and 147 giving ust he LSAT score of 149.85. In short, with a first-time score of 147, an increase of 2.3 is expect and is not rewarded; any increase above the 2.3 is rewardedd. Not that scores of 147 and 148 (in that order) would lead to the average of 147 and 145.3 whose average is 146.35. |
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