Taking LSAT in Oct. or Nov.

[bearcats123]

Hi!
I had a question in regards to if I should take the October LSAT this year or the November one. I am currently signed up for October test and I have a few days to decide if I want to change my test date to the November LSAT. I was planning on getting my application in by October, but I am currently struggling on the RC section still which is deterring me from taking the October test. Would it be wise to go ahead and take the October and work on the RC section in the meantime so I can get my application in early. Or would it be more wise to take it in November and feel more confident/have more time to work on a major section? I know a higher LSAT score is better than applying early. But I'm just unsure if a month difference in applications for this cycle, with COVID, would make a greater difference in admissions or if I think I can do better in November on the LSAT compared to October is more important?

Any advice would greatly help! Thank you!!

[Jeremy Press]

Hi bearcats123,

Since each test from here on out in the 2020-21 testing cycle will count toward your yearly and lifetime limits on number of times taking the test, you should be very judicious about when you take the test. If your reading comprehension scores are currently somewhat hit or miss (let's say you hit a raw RC score that would let you get an overall score you'd be happy with about 50% or so of the time), then it would probably be wise to take October in the hopes that the RC section is a "hit," and then keep the November date as an option in case it's not. But, if you've never had an RC raw score that would let you get an overall score you'd be happy with (or if you've only done it once or twice), then it would probably be best to wait until November to take the test.

Your decision should really be determined by your assessment of the likelihood of getting a score you'd be happy with, rather than the date your application can be submitted. The November testing date is not "too late" in the testing cycle, provided you hit your goal score by that test. There's a modest application-related advantage to taking a month earlier, but that advantage is not big enough to warrant rolling the dice on that test date if (according to the analysis above) you're very unlikely to hit a score you'd be happy with.

I hope this helps!

[bearcats123]

Thank you Jeremy! This was helpful in deciding what I should!