The shorthand reference of -8 to -14 refers to the number of questions you can miss to obtain a 170 on the LSAT. It's also a reflection of test difficulty. Harder LSATs allow you to miss more questions whereas easier exams require you to miss fewer questions.After every LSAT, there is a discussion of the relative difficulty of the test. You often hear numbers such as -10 or -12 thrown around as indicators of the LSAT scale. Simply, it refers to how many questions you can miss to score a 170. Historically, LSATs allow test-takers to miss anywhere between 8 and 14 questions to receive a 170. … [Read more...]
What 25th and 75th LSAT Score Percentiles Mean for Law School Admissions
With your LSAT score in hand, it's time to consider what that number means for your admissions odds. Everyone knows that an LSAT score is almost universally prized above all other factors. It often counts more towards an acceptance than GPA, letters of rec, personal statement, and resume combined! Often several times more than that collective "other." But exactly what does this number mean to the schools you intend to apply to? Let's investigate. Admissions Chances I should start by noting that I consider this a companion piece to this excellent article. Definitely give it a read! What … [Read more...]
Should You Cancel Your LSAT Score?
After the completion of a real LSAT, many test-takers will be asking a very important question. Should I cancel my score? If you find yourself amidst their numbers, don’t worry. You’re definitely not alone. It’s very common for LSAT-takers to second-guess themselves and fret. You may even experience this the moment you leave the testing center! How did you do on the test? What will your score be? Which questions did you get right and wrong? Should you cancel your score? Deciding Whether or Not to Cancel Making the decision to keep or cancel can be very stressful. However, there are several … [Read more...]
Which LSAT Has the Toughest Curve?
"Everyone and their mother takes the test in September," a student recently told me. "I think I'm gonna sit that one out." Why, I asked? Is it all the mothers? He looked confused. No, his mother wasn't actually taking the test with him (duh!), but the September administration is so popular that he was afraid the curve would be much tougher. That, and all the test-centers in New York were already booked up, so he'd have to drive up to Connecticut (Canada?), and you don't do that unless you have a pony or have a morbid curiosity about poutine.Fine, I said. All valid points, except for one: … [Read more...]
What Are Splitters, Reverse Splitters, and Super Splitters?
If you are applying to law school, you will come across an unusual and somewhat confusing term: Splitter. And no, it has nothing to do with baseball pitches, cutting trees, or a certain San Antonio Spurs/Philadelphia 76ers basketball player. A "splitter" is someone who has LSAT and GPA numbers that are split between high and low marks. Often, the medians for a law school play a role in determining if one is truly a splitter. While this concept is relatively easy to follow, over time several variations have cropped up, so let's look at each: Traditional Splitter (or, Just "Splitter") This … [Read more...]