LSAT Score Fluctuation Cause?

[ckoch6253]

Hello!

There's probably a post about this somewhere on this forum, but I can't seem to find one, so here it goes:

I took the June LSAT and got a 162, which was lower than my target score of at least 165, so I decided to take it again in September. Since that test, I took a practice test (June 2013) and I scored a 161, which was again disappointing because I was consistently scoring around 167 on practice tests before the actual test.

Then, today I scored a 169 (!!!) on the practice test I took. However, this was the June 2001 test...I wanted to check and see if this difference in my scores is due truly to my ability or if it's due to the test being an earlier, and therefore, easier test.

Thank you,
Caitlyn

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Caitlyn,

Thanks for the question. Although it may seem like your scores are crazy, they are actually closer to normal than you might think. If we look at 167 as a baseline for you, natural standard deviation around that point would be about plus or minus 3 points, or about 164-170. Seen within that range, your scores are less volatile. This natural range is actually why LSAC includes score bands with all score reports (see https://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/your-score/score-band).

Keep in mind also that while individual LSATs are supposed to produce identical scores, they don't. This is what I call the Casino Effect, and it can have a dramatic impact on your scores. With the 169, you likely ran into a test that was good for you, and the nice news there is that there will be other LSATs that are equally good (or better) for you

Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

[ckoch6253]

Yes that helps! Thank you!

[rkhullar]

Mr. Kilorean sir what if the range is much deeper. Say between 141-150. This is the second time I have taken this course. I try my best to read things carefully. Perhaps its anxiety. I am not one that handles failure well but when my score goes down its hard to come back up. This time I wasn't stupid and crazy like I was last time. Yet even still my scores go down before they go up not just once but a lot of the time. I don't know how to just use strategies. I just try to read and look for things. Some days I can get up to 150 and most of the time in the 140's. I can't seem to go up on this test. I am very frustrated and Jon Denning and has lost patience with me. I don't what to do. I will try harder I guess. I know that I could perhaps memorize stuff but I dont' think that is healthy.

[Dave Killoran]

Mr. Kilorean sir what if the range is much deeper. Say between 141-150. This is the second time I have taken this course. I try my best to read things carefully. Perhaps its anxiety. I am not one that handles failure well but when my score goes down its hard to come back up. This time I wasn't stupid and crazy like I was last time. Yet even still my scores go down before they go up not just once but a lot of the time. I don't know how to just use strategies. I just try to read and look for things. Some days I can get up to 150 and most of the time in the 140's. I can't seem to go up on this test. I am very frustrated and Jon Denning and has lost patience with me. I don't what to do. I will try harder I guess. I know that I could perhaps memorize stuff but I dont' think that is healthy.

Hi R,

Thanks for the question! Score variance is a fact of life for everyone who takes this test, whether they are in the 140s, 150s, or 160s. Many factors play a role, including the makeup of each exam, your state of mind, test anxiety, or even whether you had coffee that day! I don't have a lot of info to go on here so I can't make a credible analysis, but when you say that "I don't know how to just use strategies. I just try to read and look for things," that's a pretty good explanation of why you might be having problems. You simply can't lose focus, and you have to keep in control at all times!

As far as memorization, you SHOULD start by memorizing things. that makes it easier to turn it into second nature later on! sure, we don't want you to be a robot, but it's like driving a car: you may need to start by memorizing the law and rules of the road, but eventually, through use and practice, they all become second nature and you don't need to memorize them—they are just a part of you!

Last, there is zero chance that Jon Denning has lost patience with you! He is incredibly patient and helpful, to a fault even, and I've known him for years and can speak with authority here. No chance at all he's frustrated with you. However, he is extremely busy, and it can be tough for him (or me, for that matter) to make replies within 1, 2, or even 5 days. I get hundreds of requests a day for help, and he does as well. Just keeping up on a week-to-week basis is a challenge, and of course we might wait to reply to someone who has received a series of detailed replies already. In other words, it seems more likely that perhaps he's just busy?

[Jon Denning]

Dave's 100% right (per usual)! I haven't lost patience at all, and in fact I appreciate the updates you've been sending my way a few times a week! I responded to the latest set last night with some brief advice of what I feel your next steps should be, and I also know that you're about to be back face to face with your instructor so my expectation is that you guys will be able to make some additional, and specific, plans asap

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help further though—always happy to!

[lang023]

Powerscore is the best!! Awesome reading these responses!! You guys rock!