d. Exam Scoring

and do not perform your best on a section because you think it is experimental when it is actually a scored section. It’s best to approach each of the sections as if they are scored.

The sections we just reviewed make up the five multiple-choice sections you will have on the exam: four scored sections and one unscored experimental section. As if it that were not exhausting enough, after you complete these five sections, you’ll be asked to complete a writing sample.

The Writing Sample is administered at the end of the exam and is unscored. As with the other sections, you have thirty-five minutes to write a well-reasoned argument in response to the provided prompt. The writing sample is included to assess your ability to effectively communicate in writing. While the writing sample is unscored, each school you apply to will receive a copy. Each law school evaluates the writing sample differently. While some may not look at it too closely, other schools may factor it into their admission decision. As such, it is important that you approach the writing sample seriously, as you would any other section on the exam. Failure to complete the writing sample can result in your application not being considered or being rejected. So, though you may be thoroughly exhausted, dig down and get it done!

Now that we have examined the format of the exam, let’s review how the exam is scored.

d. Exam Scoring

The LSAT is scored on a scale of one-hundred-twenty to one-hundred-eighty. But, the scoring process is much more complex than a simple number. In fact, there are several components of your LSAT score that you should be aware of, and you will want to understand how law schools use each component when evaluating your application for admission. On your score report, you will see a raw score, a scaled score, and a percentile ranking. Let’s look at what each of these means.

i. The Raw Score

The raw score indicates the number of questions you answered correctly. The LSAT typically has between one hundred and one-hundred and two questions. For each correct answer, you will receive one point; all questions are weighted equally regardless of difficulty. So, your raw score will be zero if you answer no questions correctly. The maximum raw score you can receive is equal to the number of questions on the exam. If there are one-hundredone questions, for example, the maximum raw score you can receive is one-hundred-one.

There is no penalty for incorrect answers or unanswered questions. Since there is no penalty, it is wise to attempt every question, even if you guess. Since all the questions are weighted equally, if you find yourself running low on time, shift your focus to the easier questions, and tackle those first. This will help you rack up easy points in less time and boost

your score.

Your raw score is used to determine your scaled score. Again, the scoring scale for the LSAT is one-hundred-twenty to one-hundred-eighty. The vast majority of law schools will not look at your raw score, but rather your scaled score and percentile rank when assessing your application. Let’s look more at the scaled score and understand how it’s calculated and used by admissions committees.

ii. The Scaled Score

But while the scaled score is pretty cut and dry when it comes to answering all or none of the questions correctly, there is a bit more involved with scores that fall in between. Your scaled score is calculated using your raw score and a calculation known as equating. The equating calculation adjusts for differences in the number of questions and the level of difficulty between exams. This calculation accounts for minor differences in the raw score to scaled score conversion and ensures your scores accurately reflect your performance in comparison with other test-takers, regardless of the exam you took.

With equating, a raw score on one exam may yield a scaled score of one-hundred fifty-two, while the same raw score on another exam may yield a scaled score of one-hundred fiftythree. These differences are subtle and never more than a two-point difference. Keep this in mind when taking practice exams; make sure you use the scoring scale for the specific exam to get an accurate scaled score that matches your performance.

Your scaled score is what is primarily used by law schools to evaluate your application. The weight attached to your scaled score varies by institution. Most institutions have a formula that adds different weights to your LSAT score, your grade point average, and other factors they deem important.

Just like your raw score is used to determine your scaled score, you scaled score determines your percentile rank. The key difference between the raw and scaled scores and the percentile rank is that the raw and scaled scores are based on the specific exam you took. Percentile scores take into account more historical test data.

Let’s look at the percentile rank.

iii. The Percentile Rank

Your percentile rank reflects how your performance compares to the test-takers who took any LSAT exam in the three years prior to your test administration. More specifically, your percentile ranking indicates the percentage of scaled scores in the applicable testing period that your score was relatively better . For example, if you scored a one-hundred-sixty-three and your percentile rank was the eighty-seventh percentile, you scored better than eightyseven percent of test-takers in the three-year period used to scale your exam.

The percentile rankings account for the previous three years’ scores. However, they may undergo slight adjustments since the rankings are based on a normalized bell curve. A majority of the scores are concentrated in the middle of thisbell. The score range for the

middle of the bell is typically between one-hundred-forty-seven and one-hundred-fifty-five. Because of the bell-curve scoring, there are very few scores on either end of the curve: those in the low one-hundred-twenties and those in the high one-hundred-seventies.

Many law schools view your percentile score as a more accurate measure of your abilities in comparison with other test-takers over the past three years. Combined with your scaled score, GPA, and other application materials, law school admissions committees have a wealth of information to evaluate your fitness for their law program.

Now that we’ve discussed the different scores, let’s look more closely at what you can expect to see when you receive your score report.

iv. Understanding your Score Report

After each exam you sit for, you will receive an official score report either in the mail, via your online LSAC profile, or both. Each score report will contain the following key pieces of information:

• Your score from the most recent exam

• Your raw score and scaled score band for the most recent exam

• Your percentile rank for the most recent exam, which reflects your performance in relation to test-takers for the previous three years

• All your previous exam scores, up to a maximum of twelve, for the past five years

• Any cancelations or no-shows for the past five years

Lastly, if you have more than one valid score on file, your report will display an average of those scores; this average is sometimes used by schools instead of your most recent score. Most schools that average your scores will indicate this on their application or website. You can always ask an admissions counselor for the school if you are unsure. In the past few years, however, most schools have started to take the highest score.

Your official LSAT score is sent directly from the LSAC platform to schools to which you apply. Your scores are only valid for five years. Scores older than five years are not reportable and will not show up on your score report.

As we wrap up scores, let’s discuss how to get hard copies of your score report and how to handle score cancelations.

v. Obtaining and Canceling your LSAT Score

After the exam, your score should be emailed to you in about three weeks. Your LSAC profile, if you have already registered, will also be updated with your score, and you can view it online. There is no fee for either of these delivery methods.

If for some reason you want a hard copy of your score report, you can order one directly through the LSAC. You should be aware that if you do not register for an online LSAC account prior to your exam, you will need to order a hard copy of your scores. They will not be emailed to you. Hard copies of score reports are delivered about a month after the exam administration and cost twenty-five dollars as of June 2017. The price is subject to change. You can always check the LSAC website for the most up-to-date fees.

After you take the exam and before your score is calculated, you have a window in which to cancel your score if you wish. You have two cancelation options.

First, you can pull the trigger immediately, before you even leave the test center. There is a section on your answer sheet that allows you to cancel your score. Follow the directions provided on the answer sheet. But here’s the deal: it’s immediate and you can’t take it back. So, unless you threw up on your test booklet or slept through the exam, this isn’t really a wise option. It’s natural to feel panicky after the exam and feel like you did horribly. It can be a stressful exam, and when it’s over, you may not be in the best mental space to make a

clear decision. Avoid making a rash decision and avail yourself of the second cancelation option, if necessary.

The second option for cancelling a score is to cancel it directly through the LSAC. You have six days—six whole days—to cancel your score. This gives you some time to cool off and seriously consider whether or not you want to cancel your score. Giving yourself some time allows you to clear your head and think more clearly about the exam and your performance. Maybe you’ll discover that the really hard section you struggled on was not on your friend’s exam. So, it was the experimental section. Or maybe you’ll realize that you completed more questions than you thought you did. Whatever perspective you gain, use it to determine whether you really want to cancel your score.

If you decide you do in fact want to cancel, you can mail or fax the cancelation form to the LSAC. Make sure you use tracking information or follow up to ensure the fax was received. Canceled scores are not reported on your score report, meaning you will not have a numerical score appear on your report. Nor will you ever know that score. You will, however, see a cancelation notation on your score report. This will indicate that you sat for the exam and that the score was canceled. The first cancelation is really not a big deal. Schools don’t look poorly on this at all. Anything could have happened to lead up to a canceled score. But if you have a record of canceled scores, that may be a red flag to law schools. Be wise about canceling your score…and remember that if you cannot make it to an exam you should absolutely cancel or reschedule to keep from getting a no-show notation on your score report.

If you cancel your score, you can of course take the exam again. You can take the LSAT up to three times in a two-year period.

Key Takeaways

• The Law School Admissions Test, commonly referred to as the LSAT, is administered by the Law School Admissions Council, known as the LSAC, four times a year in

September or October, December, February, and June.

• The registration deadline is usually five -to-six weeks before the day of the test. There is a late-registration deadline that is usually seven-to-ten days after the first deadline.

There is a late fee for this registration period. Save money and avoid the stress.

Register early! • The LSAT tests logical reasoning and critical thinking skills across three different sections—logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and analytical reasoning. The multiple-choice questions in each of these sections require specific reasoning skills and a different approach.

• The Reading Comprehension section measures your ability to derive information and draw inferences from complex narrative passages from various fields of study. The

Analytical Reasoning section—also commonly referred to as the Logic Games section—assesses your ability to determine relationships and identify possible logical outcomes based on provided variables and a given scenario. The Logical Reasoning section evaluates your ability to analyze, challenge, strengthen, and logically complete arguments. • The LSAT is comprised of six sections, only four of which are scored. Each exam will have:

o Two scored sections of Logical Reasoning o One scored section of Analytical Reasoning o One Scored section of Reading Comprehension • In addition to these scored sections, each exam will also include:

o One unscored experimental section and o One unscored writing sample

• The LSAT is scored on a scale of one hundred twenty to one-hundred-eighty. On your score report, you will see a raw score, a scaled score, and a percentile ranking. o The raw score simply indicates the number of questions you answered correctly. o Your scaled score will be one hundred-twenty to one hundred-eighty and is calculated using your raw score and a calculation known as equating. The equating calculation adjusts for differences in the number of questions and the level of difficulty between exams. o Your percentile rank reflects how your performance compares to the testtakers who took any LSAT exam in the three years prior to your test administration.

Mini-Quiz

Question 1. What is the name of the governing nonprofit that administers the LSAT and whose online platform you are required to use to submit your law school applications?

Answer: Law School Admissions Council (lsac.org)

Question 2. What is the scaled score range for the LSAT?

Answer: One-hundred-twenty to one-hundred-eighty.

Question 3. How many days do you have to cancel your LSAT score after you take the exam?

Answer: Six days.

Question 4. What are the four scored sections on the LSAT?

Answer: Two Logical Reasoning sections, One Analytical Reasoning (Games) section, and One Reading Comprehension section.

Question 5. How long is your LSAT score valid?

Answer: Five years.

Question 6. How many times a year is the LSAT administered and in what months?

Answer: Four times a year in September or October, December, February, and June.

Question 7. Which of your LSAT scores are reflected on your score report and indicate your performance in relation to test-takers from the previous three years of test administrations?

Answer: The percentile rank.

Question 8. Which section is the longest section in terms of number of questions on the exams?

Answer: Reading Comprehension.

Question 9. To receive your score report online, it is necessary that you do what before you sit for the exam?

Answer: Create a user profile on LSAC.org.

Question 10. If you are unable to make your scheduled exam, what should you be sure to do?

Answer: If possible, cancel or reschedule the exam. Simply not showing up will result in a “no-show” notation on your score report.