Challenges To Taking Multiple LSATs
We’ve said it time and time again, your single LSAT score is often weighted as highly as your undergraduate GPA by law school admissions committees. On average, LSAT test takers typically score anywhere from 5-10 points below their latest PrepTest/practice tests leading up to the real LSAT. Sometimes it’s wits, nerves, or just unfamiliarity with testing conditions – but whatever the case is, LSAT test takers often contemplate retaking the LSAT.
Certainly, there are many good reasons to retake the LSAT, you can read our article on when to retake the LSAT to find out more.
However, there are various challenges to retaking the LSAT including implications for law school admissions in terms of how admissions committees judge multiple LSATs. These challenges primarily are:
- The Law School Admissions Committee May Average Your LSAT Multiple LSAT Scores
While some law schools take your highest score or they may evaluate you on a case-by-case basis, a number of law schools will simply average your maximum of three LSAT scores. The challenge in this case is that you need to raise your second (or third) LSAT score by at least 5-points to really make a difference to your averaged LSAT score. Especially as you approach scores above 163, the chances of raising your score significantly decreases to attain the additional 5 points on your LSAT Score.
For your reference, take a look at our article about how some of the top law schools treat multiple LSAT scores. - You Could Score Lower
As many law schools will average multiple LSAT scores, it’s possible that your LSAT score could drop due to a poor performance the second or third time around. In addition, you will also face the challenge during application time to explain why you did more poorly during your second/third LSAT test. This is an addendum that you would will want to avoid during application time.Instead, only take the LSAT again if you’re absolutely sure that you will score higher.
- Limited Study Materials
There are only roughly 55 actual LSAT PrepTests that you will be able to find available and released by LSAC. Ideally, after studying for and taking your first LSAT, you will have burned through 30-40 of these PrepTests and perhaps have studied questions from other LSATs in your study materials. Almost all prep books take their questions from the real LSAT. So naturally, the second and especially the third time around, you will find yourself with less and less fresh LSAT questions to study from.Since you absolutely need to score higher in the second or third LSAT, finding yourself in a situation with less and less new study material is a major challenge to taking the LSAT again.
- Fatigue
Like law school itself, studying for the LSAT is is a very long and tiring process. If your goal is to score 10+ points from your baseline test, studying for the LSAT requires extreme dedication. No hanging out with the friends on Friday night, your lunches will become study sessions for individual 35-minute sections, scattered work on the Logic Games Bible, and your nights taking 3-4 hour preptests. After, enduring this for 3-6 months after your first test, imagine doing it all over again for a second LSAT.The most concerning, fatigue and nerves may trigger during the day you actually take the LSAT and lead to a much poorer score than you are actually capable of.
Note:
If you plan to take the LSAT again or are worried about a poor score, most LSAT test prep programs such as Kaplan or Princeton Review have a 100% refund policy if you score lower than your baseline on the actual test or offer a free re-take of their course if you plan on taking the LSAT again.
Wrap Up
With the challenges of taking the LSAT again discussed, the key takeaway point (if you haven’t already taken the LSAT), is to study and plan on taking the LSAT only once. If you fall ill or if the test day conditions are poor enough to be documented, contact LSAC for a retake or for them to revoke the entire score and offer you a free retake. While during the course of your studies, we recommend that you leave 20-25 fresh PrepTests available just in case you do plan to take the LSAT again.
Best of luck in your LSAT studies and law school applications!