I have gotten mixed advice on this so far so hoping someone with better insight can help guide me here. my goal is a T14 school ideally T6. I took the LSAT 4 times. Twice last year in 2025 (getting a 163 then 159). I had just moved to a new city for an internship, and really wanted to go KJD, and on top of that both tests were entirely self studied. Even despite that my PTs at the time were high 160s and low 170s so I knew i was capable of more. Took a break for a year to finish school, then got a 169 in April 2026. That test was fine but it was also virtual and I had PTd consistently in teh 170s. Took for a last time in August 2026 and got a 176. If it wasn't for that 159 score dip I wouldn't be worried, because then there would be only demonstrable improvement between tests, but with the dip there just wondering if an addendum is needed to address that and if basically just saying that "i didn't study the way I would have wanted to when I was starting out" is a good enough justification.
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From an admissions standpoint, I would say that it is a given to write an LSAT addenda to explain a 17 point increase! That's an easy one!
As far as the actual explanation goes, yup!, it's alright to effectively say "To be honest, I realized after my first two tests that my preparations weren't going well and that I had to reevaluate things. I did X, Y, and Z and am very proud of the 169 and 176. I believe this better reflects my abilities." Easy peasy!
@JacobBaska Thank you so much! As a follow up, do you think that my scores would hurt my chances at a t6 or t14 school? My dream schools are Harvard, NYU, and Columbia and I get the impression that get a 176 like i did typically don’t take 4 tries to get there.
@ArjanAiden I'm going to ask you a question that should help us figure out if this is a strategy question or an anxiety question:
[clears throat]
What if I were to say, "yup! you're cooked!"? Would you not even submit apps even if these are the dream schools?
[clears throat again]
Of course you would still apply! It would be bonkers to NOT apply to dream schools WHERE YOU HAVE AN LSAT OVER THE MEDIAN just because you were concerned that it took you four times to get that score. While I acknowledge that it would have been better if you had obtained this score in fewer test administrations or without that big of an increase, you have the score. It's not like you can take a time machine to go back and get this 176 on your first or second test. So you only now have the choice about whether or not to apply and - heck! - the choice seems pretty easy to me.
(And please read all of this in a "coach giving an inspiring halftime talk" voice!)
@JacobBaska HAHAHA thank you so much. Honestly reading this very much so confirms that it’s an anxiety questions. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me I really appreciate it!
Yes, I would submit an addendum, but that's not saying anything bad about your progression or application. That score jump will make an AO pause, and an addendum can only help to clear it up. Leave it VERY brief. Congrats on the score!