The LSAT exam is a crucial part of becoming a law student, which means that you need to acknowledge this step from the start of law school. There are many other elements that factor into a committee’s decision regarding acceptance, including recommendation letters and GPA, but LSAT scores are also crucial to increasing your chances at acceptance.
However, there are many misconceptions and myths around the LSAT that deter people from taking them seriously. Here are some of the truths behind these erroneous beliefs to help clear things up and give you a better understanding of the LSAT, how it works, and why it’s so important.
1. You’re better off leaving questions unanswered than randomly guessing.
While there are some standardized tests out there that penalize incorrect answers, the LSAT isn’t one of those. You won’t receive any type of punishment for answering incorrectly on the LSAT. The only element that influences the final score of the LSAT is the total number of correct answers. So, in this case it’s better to guess and have one-in-five a chance of getting the question right than to skip it altogether.
In short guessing might not really help, but it certainly won’t hurt your score.
2. Law schools will only accept your highest LSAT score.
This is a popular myth concerning retakes. Before 2006, the American Bar Association made it necessary for law schools to report the average LSAT score if a student took the exam twice or more, but after 2006 some schools made changes to their policies and only accepted the highest score, while others such as New York University still averages them.
The fact that many schools still only accept averages makes it ideal to avoid taking the LSAT more than once. If you do, you’re better off if the second test score is higher than the first. You can determine if a school accepts averages or high scores by doing some research before taking the exam.
3. Admissions committees will still see your score even if you cancel it.
Should you cancel your LSAT score, your selected schools won’t see it. On the other hand, they will see that you cancelled it, which could indicate that you’re unhappy with the score and may affect their decision. Because of this, it’s best to avoid cancelling scores unless absolutely necessary. Cancelled LSATs could reveal that you don’t perform optimally under pressure, which is one of the most desired traits of an attorney.
4. Law schools don’t read the writing portion of the LSAT.
In truth, law schools will review every part of the LSAT. The 35-minute writing sample may be ungraded, but this doesn’t mean it will go overlooked. One of the most important aspects of a lawyer is his or her ability to write coherently and intelligently, which is why this is an invaluable factor when making a decision to accept a law student. Even if the rest of the exam indicates high performance, the writing portion could be the sole determinant if you’re head-to-head with another candidate in every other department.
5. It’s impossible to effectively study for the LSAT.
Some may believe this to be true, but the fact is that aspects of the exam such as logic games, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension will only get easier with increased practice and exposure. You’ll also find that the test gets easier the more you’re used to the overall format. Try to study at least three month prior to the test date and develop an effective testing plan. You may not be able to memorize specific information, you can at least familiarize yourself with the format and tone of the test as a whole.
In the end, taking the time to study and avoiding falling for these misconceptions can help you do your best on the LSAT.