12 point score increase on LSAT in 2 months. Will this hurt me?

[averifoster1@gmail.com]

Posting this to try to get some clarity because it is something I have been worrying about. From the February to April LSAT I had a 12 point score increase. I did not cancel my Feb score, so both scores will be visible to the admissions officers. I was just wondering if y'all had any insight into how they would view this. I know the highest score is the only one that affects their statistics, but will that 12 point lower score taint the way that they view my higher score in any way?

[Stephanie Oswalt]

Posting this to try to get some clarity because it is something I have been worrying about. From the February to April LSAT I had a 12 point score increase. I did not cancel my Feb score, so both scores will be visible to the admissions officers. I was just wondering if y'all had any insight into how they would view this. I know the highest score is the only one that affects their statistics, but will that 12 point lower score taint the way that they view my higher score in any way?

Hi averi,

Thanks for your post, and congrats on your score increase. The good news is that schools really only care about your highest score. A 12-point score increase is significant, but not unheard of.

That being said, human nature on the part of adcomms will naturally lead them to wonder what happened to get the score increase. But, our general advice is that you should only write an addendum on LSAT score increases if you can add context to the story that benefits you. Telling them you studied harder or took it more seriously does not add any benefit in our opinion. But, if you have a compelling reason for your first score being lower (you were sick, had technical issues with the LSAT, etc.), then you can write an addendum.

I hope this helps!

Thanks!

[schuster2]

In what scenarios would it be beneficial to include an addendum explaining a lower LSAT score, and what types of explanations tend to be viewed favorably by admissions officers?

[Stephanie Oswalt]

In what scenarios would it be beneficial to include an addendum explaining a lower LSAT score, and what types of explanations tend to be viewed favorably by admissions officers?

Hi! This podcast starting at the 49-minute mark should help clear those questions up. https://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/lsat-p ... h-addenda/