Addendum Explaining Score Increase?

[henryjames88]

Hi All,

I took the LSAT twice last year, scoring a 158 on the October 2015 exam, and a 164 on the December 2015 exam. Being that this is a six-point increase, and after reading several lukewarm articles on addenda matter that confused more than clarified, I was wondering if I should submit an addendum explaining the jump?

The following items should be noted. First, because my PT's had generally been in the 163-165 range, I can think of no possible reason for such a drop in October other than nerves and/or over-confidence, which makes me hesitate on grounds that I have a "soft" explanation. However, because I will be applying to several T14 schools (I'm proud to say my LSAC adjusted GPA is over 4.0 and my application/recommendations are pretty strong), I feel compelled to submit the addendum, being that they may cast an unfavorable glance on the lower score.

Any advice would be much appreciated, especially since deadlines are right around the corner.

[Jon Denning]

Hey Henry,

Thanks for the question and welcome to the Forum!

First, a question for you: is your addendum intended to explain why October was lower than your later score (the nerves/over-confidence point you mention), or how/why it was that you were able to improve 6 points in those two months?

The former makes more sense to me than the latter—better to suggest that the 158 was an anomaly, an entirely outlier event, than to explain how the 158 was, at least at one point, representative—but in all honesty I don't think I'd attempt to explain either. The truth is schools, even highly-ranked ones, really only care about your higher/highest score, so they're not going to view that 158 as anything but a starting point from which you made a significant improvement. In fact, there's an argument to be made that this could even work in your favor: it's proof-positive that you have both the ability and the ambition to make notable progress with content that reflects to a large degree the skills required for success in law school. If you can make a 6-point improvement on your own on the LSAT, it seems reasonable to then presume you could similarly, and successfully, navigate the rigors of your future academic endeavors.

So my advice here is no addendum. Schools will treat you as a 164, and take note of the fact that you achieved that number as the result of (presumably) hard work and dedication, two highly-desirable attributes in the eyes of an admissions committee.

Of course, it could be that others feel differently, or have experience with this particular issue that may warrant some further discussion about the most appropriate decision, in which case I'd love to hear from them, as well

Thanks again!

[henryjames88]

Hi Jon,

Your response quells a great deal of my anxiety and compels me to focus on other application materials, like my personal statements and optional essays. I am elated to hear that the higher-score-rule prevails even at the most competitive level.

Thanks again, and to the rest of the team for a helpful series of prep-books!

[Jon Denning]

Happy to help, man! To your point: I think the other elements would be much better to focus on (i.e. a much better use of your time), so I wholly endorse that plan