June LSAT: unforgiving curve?

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• 2 Likes

  LSATcantwin Alum Member Sage ⭐

  January 2018 13286 karma

  https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/help/correct_targeted.cfm

  Nope, seems fairly average to me. Use the 170 as the curve predictor.
• _oshun1_ Alum Member

  January 2018 3652 karma

  When I took it last June it was a pretty forgiving curve
• goingfor99th Free Trial Member

  January 2018 edited January 2018 3072 karma

  June '17 was a tough curve for high scorers and much more forgiving for everyone else. Not sure if this is indicative of an overall pattern, though.
• Seeking Perfection Alum Member

  January 2018 4428 karma

  @benhancock68 said:
  Is it true that the June LSAT has the most unforgiving curve?

  No. The curves vary, but are unrelated to the month the test is offered or which people take the test in which month. Instead, the curve is related to the actual difficulty of the test questions. The idea is that equal scaled scores from any two tests will represent equal ability. Obviously, some tests will happen to play to your individual strengths or weaknesses, but this is not related to the month that the test is offered.

  Since month doesn't matter to the difficulty of the test you should take it when you are ready. If that is June great, but any of the dates will give you an LSAT with an equal expected difficulty.
• TheMikey Alum Member

  January 2018 4196 karma

  Curves vary.
• Return On Inference Alum Member

  June 2018 503 karma

  @"surfy surf" said:

  When I took it last June it was a pretty forgiving curve

  Really? I just took the June '17 PT and thought the curve was brutal. -5 gets you a 174...

  @"Seeking Perfection" said:

  instead, the curve is related to the actual difficulty of the test questions. The idea is that equal scaled scores from any two tests will represent equal ability.

  Do you think that this holds up for the upper 170s curve? According to 7sage analytics PT81 has an average section difficulty of 2.5, the same as many other exams, but the curve is absolutely brutal with a -2 equivalent to a 178 and -5 equal to 174. PT77 has the same average difficulty at 2.5 but a -2 on that PT nets you a 180. PT76 actually has a lower average section difficulty at 2.25 but the curve is much more forgiving.

  The curve at the upper 170s seems much more like guesswork than an exact science to me, just looking at analytics.
• Seeking Perfection Alum Member

  June 2018 4428 karma

  @"Return On Inference" said:
  @"surfy surf" said:

  When I took it last June it was a pretty forgiving curve

  Really? I just took the June '17 PT and thought the curve was brutal. -5 gets you a 174...

  @"Seeking Perfection" said:

  instead, the curve is related to the actual difficulty of the test questions. The idea is that equal scaled scores from any two tests will represent equal ability.

  Do you think that this holds up for the upper 170s curve? According to 7sage analytics PT81 has an average section difficulty of 2.5, the same as many other exams, but the curve is absolutely brutal with a -2 equivalent to a 178 and -5 equal to 174. PT77 has the same average difficulty at 2.5 but a -2 on that PT nets you a 180. PT76 actually has a lower average section difficulty at 2.25 but the curve is much more forgiving.

  The curve at the upper 170s seems much more like guesswork than an exact science to me, just looking at analytics.

  I think they probably try to make it hold for all ranges of the curve. But it is hard to know if they succeed. I did find my scores to be fairly consistent while scoring in the 176 to 178 range even when the curve was stricter or more generous as far as misses went. But that could vary by person.

  What I am certain of is that it doesn't vary based on what month's test it is. The June curve won't be harder or easier at the top of the score range or otherwise because it is the June test. It could randomly be harder or easier though.
• brigitte Free Trial Member

  June 2018 432 karma

  @"Return On Inference" said:
  @"surfy surf" said:

  When I took it last June it was a pretty forgiving curve

  Really? I just took the June '17 PT and thought the curve was brutal. -5 gets you a 174...

  @"Seeking Perfection" said:

  instead, the curve is related to the actual difficulty of the test questions. The idea is that equal scaled scores from any two tests will represent equal ability.

  Do you think that this holds up for the upper 170s curve? According to 7sage analytics PT81 has an average section difficulty of 2.5, the same as many other exams, but the curve is absolutely brutal with a -2 equivalent to a 178 and -5 equal to 174. PT77 has the same average difficulty at 2.5 but a -2 on that PT nets you a 180. PT76 actually has a lower average section difficulty at 2.25 but the curve is much more forgiving.

  The curve at the upper 170s seems much more like guesswork than an exact science to me, just looking at analytics.

  How is 7sage's difficulty rating determined? That could be unreliable if it doesn't distinguish difficulties enough.