To take the December LSAT or not to take it...

[negeen]

...that is (basically the question).

Hello!

I took the LSAT in June 2014 and completely bombed it, as a result of being ill-prepared by another prep course. I took PowerScore's online course in preparation for the December exam and the course was amazing. (Thank you!) Despite this, I feel I need more time to nail my timing down. I can score in the mid 170's when I take an untimed practice test, but my score suffers greatly when I time myself or simulate a proctored test.

I would feel more comfortable taking the February LSAT, but I am very worried about being disadvantaged during the application process for this cycle. All the schools I am planning on applying to have deadlines in March or accept applications purely on a rolling basis, but I am aware that they would have already selected a majority of the incoming class by the time I submit my application.

Would it be advisable to take both the December and February tests, or wait to take the test in February? I have heard so many rumors, myths, and horror stories about law schools disliking multiple LSAT scores.

Thank you, in advance!

[Nikki Siclunov]

Hi negeen,

Thanks for your question, and welcome to the Forum! Also, thanks for the kind words about our online course! We wouldn't be teaching it if it were anything less than amazing!

Re: your question, it's a tricky predicament. However, my advice has always been - take the test only when you feel like you're ready to completely dominate it! As a general rule, it’s almost always advisable to not take the LSAT until you’re consistently scoring in a range with which you are satisfied (timed). Law school admission is incredibly competitive, so you need to give yourself the best possible chance of attending the best possible school. Which, of course, means that you need to aim for the highest possible score on the LSAT. And if that means waiting until February to take the test, then for most people that’s the right decision.

While it's awesome that you're scoring in the top-1% when taking the test untimed, your performance on the timed practice tests tells me you can definitely benefit from additional practice. You clearly know how to think through the vast majority of questions on the test, but aren't yet able to quickly recognize the patterns and formations in certain stimuli or games that can yield a faster, more efficient approach. So, you end up wasting time. With more practice and repetition, this is usually something that can be worked out. You have achieved a high level of accuracy; efficiency is what comes next.

As you obviously understand, the benefits of having two more months to practice need to be weighed against the cost of applying relatively late in the game. Yes, this will put you at a slight disadvantage when it comes to some of the T-14 schools. Also, nobody can guarantee that February will go seamlessly; if you bomb it for whatever reason, you don't get another shot (unless you wait a year). Third, what's to say that on February 1, you won't find yourself in the same predicament as you are now?

I realize it's a very personal decision, but all things considered, I would probably wait to take the test in February. Here's why:

Unless you drastically improve your pacing by Saturday, which is highly unlikely, you'd have to re-take the test in February anyway. This is disadvantageous not because law schools look down upon multiple LSAT scores (they don't, and almost always take only the highest score), but because of the "3 times in 2 years" rule that prevents you from taking the test more than 3 times in any two consecutive years. Having taken the test once already in June, you would be taking it for a second time in December. After that, you will have only one more shot at it, which will make your February test that much more stressful.

In addition, while the practice of rolling admissions does place late applicants at a disadvantage, the drop in applications over the last 5 years has made admissions officers a lot more likely to wait for February LSAT-takers before rendering the majority of their decisions. Reports from the last two years suggest that applying with a February score can still work if the score is high enough, provided the school has indicated that it accepts a February score. You will be put at a slight disadvantage (unless you're applying to Yale, which doesn't practice rolling admissions), but it won't be fatal. I had a student last year who got into Harvard after scoring 171 in February (her previous two scores were 159 and 164).

Every school is a little different—some schools won’t accept February scores for admission that calendar year, some schools accept it but penalize you in their rolling admissions process, and some accept it without penalty. If you're considering February, your best bet is to do some research, and potentially contact schools directly and ask.

One more thing to consider: if you're still in college, the February test is perfectly timed for Winter break. Unlike the June or the December administrations, which tend to coincide with the end-of-semester finals at many colleges and universities, a February test is unlikely to compete for your attention with schoolwork. This wouldn't apply to you if you're out of school, but it's worth considering otherwise.

I realize this is a lot to process, as it's definitely a tough decision. Don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and definitely let us know what you decide to do!