October LSAT

[deke97]

Hi,

I'm registered for the August LSAT with the thoughts that if I don't do as well on it, I can study some more and be better prepared for the October LSAT and just be done with LSAT regardless of what I get in October. However, I see that the deadline to register for the October test is before I will know what my scores will be from the August test. Should I just register for it anyway and then withdraw if I do as well as planned or just try to retake the test in November? I'm applying for the 2021 application cycle of law school so I want to have my scores as soon as possible so I can apply early to these schools and just get it all out of the way before the year ends. Please tell me your thoughts. Thank you!

[Luke Haqq]

Hi deke97!

Great question. Given your situation and goals, it seems like it would make the most sense for you register for the October test.

On the one hand, as you rightly note, you unfortunately wouldn't be able to have your August LSAT score in hand by the time that you'd need to be registered for the October exam. If you hopefully scored as you wanted on the August exam, then the main downside is that you would be out the cost of the extra test registration--but that added cost ex ante could definitely be worth it, as it provides you with assurance that you have the option to take it at the next available test administration. If you felt confident enough after taking the August exam, you'd also even have a brief window after taking the test to get a partial refund for the October test.

On the other, I think it's worth emphasizing that you should approach the August exam with the mentality that it's the only time that you'll need to take it. I often speak with students who are determined to take it twice but for reasons that sound like they are not committed to putting their all into the exam the first time that they take it. It often makes good sense for test takers to take the LSAT in two successive administrations of the test--for example, if the person was sick during the first test, forgot to do one of the logic games, etc. But what is especially important to realize is that a score increase on the second test generally requires an equal or greater level of intensity in studying. It is certainly possible that someone would get a higher score the second time around without studying between the exams, but this tends to be uncommon just because gaining those extra points on the exam depends not just on understanding the test, question types, etc., but also on being in the regular practice of executing the tips, tricks, and strategies for getting to the right answers within the very limited allotted time. Staying in that regular, rigorous practice is critical in that month between the exams if you do end up taking both.