Quick Tip

Skips Aren’t Scary

Believe it or not: even scorers in the 99th percentile will skip questions! Even for the highest scorers, sometimes a question just doesn’t make sense at first. Based on my experience—and the experience of my 7Sage tutor colleagues—this happens with regularity. Adding some distance between your first attempt and a later attempt can be useful, allowing you to approach it with a fresh perspective. Sometimes this will help you see things you missed otherwise. So, if it’s not making sense, don’t keep staring! Instead, don’t be embarrassed to skip it and come back.

Discussion

Taking versus Delaying Your Test 

Probably the single most common question I get as a tutor is when to sit for the exam. Students will wonder if they should sit for the exam and, if not, at what point they should feel “ready enough.” Closely related to this is the idea of whether or not it’s a bad thing to take the test multiple times versus taking it once to “get a feel” for the real LSAT. 

My advice is to only take it once you’re ready. What determines if you’re ready? Your Prep Test (PT) average over your last 5-10 tests should be at or above your target score. I say above because, unfortunately, most people experience a slight (1-3 point) test-day penalty on the real test, so you’ll want to shoot slightly above your target score. 

One question I often hear concerns whether or not it will hurt someone to have multiple tests or to have a lower score. Law schools primarily consider your highest score, since that’s what gets reported for the purpose of determining a school’s LSAT median. So, the highest score is what counts and you should never feel compunctions about retaking. However, a retake is not a no-cost option. Aside from the time, stress, and money involved, you only get a finite number of tests in a given cycle. And many schools will request an addendum if you take it multiple times. Some admissions officers have also noted that they frown upon applicants taking it an unusual (4+) amount of times, since it makes it harder to determine which score truly represents the applicant’s aptitude. So, don’t feel worried if you have to retake it, but don’t view a take as a completely zero-cost option either. 

I’ve heard many reasons people feel rushed to take the test before they’re ready, but the most common one goes as follows: “I won’t be able to apply in time this cycle.” So for some applicants, there are barriers that would prevent them from applying in a later cycle; that’s a personal decision, of course. However, all things being equal, your scores should determine your timeline for when you apply, and your timeline should not determine your scores. The LSAT is the single most important part of your application, and it’s important you maximize it! If you need to wait a cycle to get a score, say, 5 points higher, that could be tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship you’ve just earned.

The bottom line? Take the test when you feel ready to take it. We’d recommend targeting the time when your PTs are at or above your target score. Then, you can go in confident that your chances are solid.