How do they calculate the curve?

S.P. 170

So some people are speculating that Deccember's LSAT will be between a -10 and -12 curve. My question is, how does LSAC determine their curve? Is it arbitrary or is it based on our collective performance?

Follow-up question: Are the scaled scores pegged to a percentile score? For example, is a 160 always equivalent to an 80 percentile? Or does it vary?

stgl1230

As far as I understand it, the curve is preset, and it is not based on *our* (as in the actual people who sat for the December LSAT) performance.

The curve is predetermined based on when each section was given experimentally under another LSAT administration.

Alex

@stgl1230 said:
As far as I understand it, the curve is preset, and it is not based on *our* (as in the actual people who sat for the December LSAT) performance.

The curve is predetermined based on when each section was given experimentally under another LSAT administration.

Correct. The test isn't "curved" they use something called test equation in which they use past experimental sections to preset the "curve," if you will.