June 2007 LSAT Analysis

[RyanM12]

Hello,

I just took the 2007 exam as a diagnostic exam (after a long LSAT prep break)...and going to review it later but I had a few specific questions about the curve.

I understand the basic principles that an easier exam means a harsher curve and a logically harder exam means a looser curve. What in your opinion made this exam so logically easier to warrant a -8? I was curious since most of the exams even the logically easier ones usually have double digit curves (10 or 11 for a relatively easier one) I personally found the test challenging ( but there could be bias since I haven't practiced in a while)

Thanks!

[Jon Denning]

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for the question! Difficulty is always a tricky thing to measure objectively—what I find hard others may find easy, and vice versa—so my commentary on the June 2007 test should be taken as just that (mine), however I think the combination of some very straightforward games and an average LR and RC made this test fairly benign for most students.

You'll notice too that while -8 is on the extremely "tight" side scale-wise, it's much closer in line with tests 10-14 years ago than with tests of today. For instance, the December 2005 LSAT also had a -8 scale, and several others in those years were -9 or -10. June 2007 also only had 100 questions instead of the more typical 101, so that makes the -8 look a little more severe: you needed 92 correct for a 170, which is a -9 on the 101-question tests.

You can read more about the historical range of correct answers for various scores here: https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/help/co ... rgeted.cfm

All in all I think June 07 was a fair, but exceedingly predictable, LSAT, and the lack of outlier elements and obvious sources of confusion meant that higher scorers in particular were able to perform at their best. Come back to it after a few months of dedicated practice and I imagine you'll feel the same

I hope that helps!