Recently, LSAC has mandated in-person testing, unless exempt. Even if exempt for virtual testing, you now have to have TWO cameras on you. Your laptop webcam, and a camera facing your computer. To anyone who knows someone that cheated .. we know exactly why this requirement came up specifically for virtual test takers
Leading to the question, how many were cheating? Well lets take a look at the hard evidence. Here are the facts:
The number of LSAT Applicant tests have increased by 30% 2022 to 2026
The LSAT Median (155-159) has increased similarly at 26% .. so far so good, normal distribution with added applicants.
An !!!!!! 85% !!!!! increase in (175-180) scorers. Nearly DOUBLING the top line.
Any addition, or subtraction, from applicants STATISTICALLY SHOULD result in the same distribution range. We know LSAT has been very fair with creating a system for their two LRs and one RCs to keep an even playing field for all applicants. Even with the dropping of logic games, an ALMOST DOUBLING on the top line would be unheard of.
My Thesis:
LSAC realized what was going on too late, and now the cheating scores are still applying for Law School slots. It will be many years before they are all taking in, and we see the medians drop back down. LSAC will not admit that is the reason for the rule change, as that will open up scrutiny on their monopoly for the test for entry to Law School.
13 comments
I think another huge thing is that the number of people intentionally seeking out accommodations has increased significantly as well. It is impossible to deny that the test is radically different if you have extra time or one less section to sit through. There are some people that truly need them but seeing how I got an ad on YouTube the other day for a service to "help" get me accommodations, it is definitely a problem that skews the fairness of the test, especially since law schools never know if you had accommodations or not.
I agree. Plus have to consider that for each person who has been diagnosed with something like ADHD, there must be several others with it who are going through life undiagnosed. With the LSAT that would mean a lot of people with ADHD who go in without accommodations, max out at 150 and just assume they're bad at taking tests. Meanwhile thousands of others who had the privilege of access to doctors (legitimate or a paid online service) who are willing to fill out the LSAC forms get extra time and are deemed to be more competent.
Puts LSAC in a tricky situation since they justify their exam by claims its predictive of 1L performance. If, hypothetically, a significant portion of the current 1L class at HLS cheated on their exam, but are now performing well enough in class that the school doesn't notice any difference between them and their peers who didn't cheat... What does that say about the test?
The Covid bubble that are on YouTube now bragging about their scores and offering to "teach" others smh.
That's kind of annoying that we have to compete with cheaters.
maybe schools will be more inclined to look favorably on all of us now who are taking it in person or under stricter remote conditions, like they might view a post august 170 as more telling than a pre august 170, of course medians are medians but it might be a sort of extra soft factor
@Jdunni truly wishful thinking
@KM i think that's what happened with GRE
@Jdunni the flaw is that the author denies the argument on the basis that insufficient evidence has been provided.
@KM i think if I was an AO looking at two applicants with similar numbers, one who had taken during COVID bubble and another who had just taken post remote, I would look more favorably on the recent one - especially if we see a stark drop in average scores going forward now that remotes done. Im sure the people in admissions offices are well aware of all this recent controversy and COVID score inflation.
@Jdunni the law school just wants the highest number possible to boost their ranking, they don’t care
@SirHarvey like i said originally medians are medians but of course there are other factors than just LSAT score, like if two applicants have the median GPA and have the same LSAT score do you think the AO just picks one of them at complete random? Im not saying getting a 165 today will get you accepted over someone who got a 170 during covid, im saying a 170 today might have an edge over a 170 from covid in the eyes of some admissions officers because they know the scores from then were affected by widespread cheating.
I like how no tutors comment cuz it hurts their job outlook