Harm in cancelling score? Harm in scoring lower on retake?

[HotTubber]

Is there any harm in cancelling one's score? I'm registered for the July Flex, and am not scoring where i'd like to be... (I previously scored a 172 years ago, and am retaking it to bump it up; however, all my PTs of late have been averaging around 172, and i know i'm not where i need to be to make the increase i'd like).

On a related note, is there harm to retaking and scoring lower? I.e., will schools consider lower scores that come in after previously higher score, or will they disregard them in favor of the higher score?

Thank team

[Dave Killoran]

Hi HotTubber,

Thanks for the message! The answers here are no and no.

Since the Flex doesn't count against yearly retake limits, there's currently no harm in taking and cancelling. No one knows why you cancelled so it's neutral.

Schools use only the highest scores, so a later, lower score is irrelevant. They don't use that one for reporting to the ABA.

Thanks!

[HotTubber]

Thank you Dave!!!

One follow up. Yale is bar none my top choice. I was waitlisted there this year, which is why i decided to retake the LSAT. Does the same analysis apply to them? (their website emphasizes that they consider all test scores holistically, and i can't tell how serious they mean that...).

-nico

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Nico,

The cancel is irrelevant at all schools, so that stays the same.

As far as Yale and a later lower score, I've seen people get in with that configuration. So, it's not fatal to your chances. that said, it's Yale, and you want to be as unblemished as possible for them. So, in a perfect world I'd rather have a single LSAT take and that's its. But, if not, you can survive it—just realize that Yale, along with Harvard and Stanford, can be very hard to read so no one really knows how they figure some of these aspects.

Thanks!