08/28/06
Significant LSAT reporting changes
This past December the Law School Admission Council removed statements in their publications emphasizing that an average of multiple LSAT scores is the best estimate of ability.
As of June, the American Bar Association voted to no longer require law schools to report an average of multiple tests-taking. Now the ABA instructs them to report the higher LSAT score.
The mandatory reporting policy was changed mainly due to concerns of extenuating circumstances not being factored in when law schools weigh applicant ability. Law schools will be asked to report only the highest score for multiple-test takers. This is the score that will be included in their Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools when reporting median and percentile scores, and also the information provided to the U.S. News & World Report.
Schools will still retain their own criteria in selecting students however, which may still include an averaging of scores, but now probably with a greater emphasis on exceptions and circumstances. This could bode very well for some of you who under-performed the first-time around due to various reasons (insufficient preparation, illness, disruptive testing environment) and are planning to retake the exam with the assumption that you can meet your diagnostic test standards.
Keep a few things in mind, here. Over the past several years, the average improvement of multiple test-takers was 3 points. This change may flatten those numbers, since more students may consider retaking the exam when they actually performed optimally the first time around. Students are still encouraged to concentrate on taking the exam only once! Prepare as well as you can for the exam and do the best possible the first and hopefully only time. It’s a waste of time and money if you’ve already scored at your ability.
For two explanations and explanations of this change (Kent Syverud and Philip Shelton) please read the LSAC July Report found here. This is also where I got my source material.
Their statements of caution for law schools can be found here.
