This June test was my first-ever LSAT, and it was a horrible experience. I was constantly interrupted by proctors throughout the exam.
Right after Section 1 began, which was my only RC, the proctor told me she couldn't see my shoulders and asked me to adjust my camera. The timer was not paused. I adjusted the camera and was told everything looked fine. However, despite not changing the camera angle afterward, I kept getting interrupted during the section and was repeatedly told to adjust it again. Since I was using a laptop with a built-in camera, I eventually had to tilt my screen so much that it became uncomfortable to read.
I think I was interrupted at least five times during that first section. Then, during Passage 4, the proctor interrupted me again and said, "This is the last warning, please cooperate." That completely threw me off. I had been cooperating the entire time and was doing everything I was asked to do. At that point I was so stressed that I wanted to cry.
I adjusted the camera again and asked whether my shoulders were visible. The proctor responded, "No." I adjusted it again and asked once more, and she replied with just "." That interaction made me genuinely worried that I would be removed from the exam. I completely lost focus and feel like that RC section was ruined.
Sections 2 and 3 were somewhat better, but I was still interrupted multiple times. Before every section, I specifically asked the proctor whether my shoulders were visible and was told everything was fine. Yet a few minutes into the section, I would be told to tilt the camera further. Every time a new proctor took over, I seemed to get different instructions.
By Section 4, my screen was already tilted to an uncomfortable angle. The proctor had confirmed before the section that everything looked good, so I thought I was finally done with the interruptions. Then THE SAME PROCTOR who had repeatedly interrupted me during Section 1 came back (I remembered her name) and told me to tilt it even more. Just seeing her message pop up again was distracting because I was worried another interruption was coming. So my last section didn't really go well either.
After the exam, I checked my camera. It was showing my entire chest. I even returned it to the angle I had started with, and my shoulders were clearly visible.
I've spent the last two days agonizing over whether to request a retest. Today I submitted a complaint but decided not to retest. I've spent the last six months studying for this exam, and honestly, I just wanted a break. I'm scared about how much the interruptions affected my score because I feel like I completely lost my focus during my only RC section. At the same time, I don't even remember enough of the test to judge how I actually performed.
I'm not sure if I made the right decision not to retest... At this point, I'm just hoping I somehow did better than I think... If not I'll focus on August. I really wanted June to be my last LSAT, so that's really sad...
12 comments
A message for you <3. Hang in there.
@MichaelWright Wow!! Thank you so much!!
I just saw the video today since I've been taking a little break from the LSAT to recharge. I was genuinely surprised and so grateful that you took the time to make a video response for me.
As someone who has always appreciated your detailed explanations of PT questions, it's honestly such an honor to hear your thoughts! XD
It's also really reassuring to hear that many people's first LSAT experience is similar to mine and that I'm on the right track. The June test was definitely a learning experience, and your perspective helped me feel much better about it.
I'm going to keep working hard and do my best to be fully prepared for August. Thank you again for your time, encouragement, and kind words. They truly meant a lot to me and were exactly what I needed to hear.
My proctor also interrupted me several times.....it was beyond frustrating. The first one was during the first RC passage, and they interrupted to tell me to reposition my camera. I filed a complaint and am seeking to re-test in person. I had no idea the proctors would be that annoying! Anyways, I feel your frustration.
@DanielJ1 They should be banned from interrupting in the middle of RC😢 Good luck on your retest!!
Prometric fucking sucks- I also considered retesting bc of bullshit from my proctor so I really empathize with you. I also felt like I couldn't realistically judge my performance after all that and didn't want to cancel a score that might have been fine anyways 😭 So fingers crossed for both of us!
@books8272 I know! Wish they let us know the score right away lol. Fingers crossed!!
As someone who earned a 515 on the MCAT (approximately the 91st percentile) and a 170 on the LSAT (approximately the 96th-97th percentile), I want to tell you that your experience sounds genuinely awful, and I can understand why you're second-guessing your decision.
I've taken high-stakes standardized exams myself, and one thing people who haven't been through them often underestimate is how much concentration matters. On both the MCAT and the LSAT, a single interruption can break your train of thought, especially during Reading Comprehension/CARS passages where you're actively building a mental model of the text. Being interrupted once is distracting. Being interrupted repeatedly throughout a section is something else entirely.
I also dealt with proctoring issues during both exams. During the MCAT, there were multiple disruptions at my testing center that pulled me out of focus during critical portions of the exam. During the LSAT, I experienced proctor-related difficulties that made it difficult to settle into a rhythm and stay fully engaged with the test. Neither situation was ideal, and I remember leaving both exams wondering how much those interruptions had affected my performance.
What stands out to me about your situation is not just the number of interruptions but the inconsistency. You were repeatedly told everything looked fine before sections began, only to be interrupted again minutes later and given different instructions. The fact that one proctor told you, "This is the last warning, please cooperate," despite your repeated attempts to comply would have rattled almost anyone. Then asking whether your shoulders were visible and receiving "No" followed by "." is the kind of interaction that could easily make a test taker worry they were about to be removed from the exam.
The part that really resonates with me is your uncertainty afterward. After a difficult testing experience, it's natural to replay every interruption and assume it must have destroyed your score. But the truth is that immediately after an exam, our perception is often unreliable. I've seen people walk out convinced they bombed a section and later discover they performed far better than expected. Adrenaline, stress, and exhaustion distort our ability to evaluate how we actually did.
Given everything you described, I think submitting a complaint was absolutely reasonable. You documented what happened and preserved your concerns. As for declining the retest, I can understand that decision too. Six months of preparation is a long time. Sometimes the idea of immediately gearing up to take another full LSAT is emotionally exhausting. Choosing not to retest wasn't necessarily the wrong decision—it was simply a tradeoff. You chose certainty and recovery over putting yourself through another administration right away.
If I were in your position, I would try not to assume that the RC section was ruined just because it felt ruined. Those are not always the same thing. You may have lost focus at moments, but that doesn't mean you suddenly lost all of the skills and preparation you built over six months. People are often far more resilient during an exam than they realize.
At this point, the complaint has been submitted and the exam is over. There's nothing left to change about June. What you can do is give yourself permission to step away from the LSAT for a little while. If your score ends up where you want it, then June can be your last LSAT after all. If it doesn't, August is still there, and you'll be approaching it with the benefit of having already experienced a real administration.
Most importantly, don't interpret your uncertainty as evidence that you performed poorly. The fact that you can't accurately judge how you did is completely normal after a stressful testing experience. Right now, all you really know is that the administration was far more disruptive than it should have been. You don't actually know what score those interruptions translated into.
For now, I'd try to give yourself the break you've earned. You spent six months preparing for this test. The score is already determined. Whatever happens, you'll deal with it when the results arrive. Until then, there's no reason to assume the worst.
@PrateekDevulpally Thank you, I really needed to hear this. I've been replaying the interruptions over and over and convincing myself they must have ruined my score, even though I have no way of knowing that right now.
I also appreciate your perspective on declining the retest. I've been second-guessing that decision a lot, so it helps to hear from someone who's been through both the MCAT and LSAT. Thanks again for taking the time to write such a thoughtful response. :)
If you do plan on retaking, you may have a better experience with the in person exam. I also agree that being proctored over a computer is super annoying when you keep getting interrupted, and it can slow you down a lot causing you to make mistakes that could have been avoided. I think in person, you have a higher likelihood of not being interpreted as much, since they are not monitoring you over a computer, but at a testing center. If you feel you missed questions that you would have not missed if you were not interrupted, I would highly recommend a retake.
@IsabelleThieme I already chose not to retest (the retest I get from complaint) but I think I'll definitely take the test again on August. Hope the in person one on August goes well. Thanks!
I was interrupted a few times. One was for my shoulders and the other times was because they disconnected. I had to wait 30 minutes both times. This was the last remote testing for everyone. Chances are they dont have the staff. The Proctor that did my checkins were kids. Cant expect kids to have discipline today. Not without a tip jar in front of them.
@CoreyBarry Yeah, it seemed like they weren't really well instructed or prepared to administer the test smoothly.