Score Preview cancellation?

[rachel.bishop]

Hi there! Like everyone else this morning, I just got my August 2022 LSAT results back and I got a 157. Now, I'm not incredibly disappointed because I was expecting no higher than a 160 based on how my PT scores were at the time, and especially because I was still pretty hit or miss with logic games leading up to the test. (I also would factor in first test day anxiety, proctor U problems, and a case of covid the week before). All that being said I knew it was going to be lowish, and not the best that I could do, but my target score is 165+ for Canadian law schools. I did purchase Score Preview, and had already signed up for September. Since then, I've become much more consistent with LG which was my worst section and my last three PTs I scored a 166, 169, and 168 on 89, 90 and 91 respectively. So here's my question: I feel a lot more confident going into the September test next week, and expect my score to be higher so does it even matter if I use score preview to cancel my 157? How does it look for admissions if I leave the 157 that hopefully won't be my highest score versus cancelling it completely?

Thank you in advance!!

[Stephanie Oswalt]

Hi there! Like everyone else this morning, I just got my August 2022 LSAT results back and I got a 157. Now, I'm not incredibly disappointed because I was expecting no higher than a 160 based on how my PT scores were at the time, and especially because I was still pretty hit or miss with logic games leading up to the test. (I also would factor in first test day anxiety, proctor U problems, and a case of covid the week before). All that being said I knew it was going to be lowish, and not the best that I could do, but my target score is 165+ for Canadian law schools. I did purchase Score Preview, and had already signed up for September. Since then, I've become much more consistent with LG which was my worst section and my last three PTs I scored a 166, 169, and 168 on 89, 90 and 91 respectively. So here's my question: I feel a lot more confident going into the September test next week, and expect my score to be higher so does it even matter if I use score preview to cancel my 157? How does it look for admissions if I leave the 157 that hopefully won't be my highest score versus cancelling it completely?

Thank you in advance!!

Hi Rachel,

Thanks for the post, and sorry to hear that you didn't reach your target score!

My take here is that you should more than likely cancel this score. It's not because the law schools will hold you to this 157--they won't. It's more because in our experience, once an applicant has a score on record that they know is lower than their potential, it creates a sort of mental drag on them, and increases pressure for their next take. That can cause issues, so since in this case, if you are certain (and this is key) that you can outperform the 157 (it sounds like the case, based on recent PTs, and test day factors such as Proctor U issues and having COVID recently), it only harms you since it will be in the back of your mind. Cancelling erases that issue, hence my recommendation.

By the way, if you were uncertain about outperforming the 157, then I'd say keep it without hesitation. So, there are nuances here.

I hope this helps! Thanks!

[rachel.bishop]

Just wanted to come back and say that retaking and cancelling that score was the right choice! I wrote again in September, unfortunately had tech problems and wrote the re-test a few days later, and ended up with a 165! Super happy with that score for Canadian law schools and obviously an improvement from my first try. I'm glad I don't have that old score hanging over my head so thank you for the advice and everything else!

[Stephanie Oswalt]

Just wanted to come back and say that retaking and cancelling that score was the right choice! I wrote again in September, unfortunately had tech problems and wrote the re-test a few days later, and ended up with a 165! Super happy with that score for Canadian law schools and obviously an improvement from my first try. I'm glad I don't have that old score hanging over my head so thank you for the advice and everything else!

Hi Rachel! Congrats! That is great to hear!!