Can someone please explain to me how the curves actally work

[chrisbforever]

Does it help your score or lower it? Could you please give examples...thanks.

[Aggiegrad2011]

Does it help your score or lower it? Could you please give examples...thanks.

The curve generally refers to how many questions you can get wrong and still get a 170. Thus, a particularly "hard" LSAT will have a higher value. For example, a really reputably hard LSAT, Dec 09 (PT 59) had a curve of -14, whereas an easier LSAT, PT 50, had a curve of -10 (I'm pretty sure).

LSAC "equates" the exams, to make sure that numerically there is no statistical significant variance between them.

[LSAT Blog]

Here's a series of posts about the curve.

[OSUBoy21]

Curves CAN be distracting... so I guess they could lower your score... Oh wait, wrong kind of curves...

[pseudonym1]

Curve is a very generic term, and almost a misnomer. LSAC equates the LSAT with previously administered tests in order to give a fair playing field to all test takers. Idealistically, someone taking the June test should not have any advantage or disadvantage over another individual taking the October test. In actuality, this approach is optimistic at best. There are too many variables for even the LSACs infinite wisdom to address in one, simplified, formulamatic way. To top things off, the "curve" is predetermined. Yes, that is right, LSAC has employed prophets as well.

[KevinP]

Curve is a very generic term, and almost a misnomer. LSAC equates the LSAT with previously administered tests in order to give a fair playing field to all test takers. Idealistically, someone taking the June test should not have any advantage or disadvantage over another individual taking the October test. In actuality, this approach is optimistic at best. There are too many variables for even the LSACs infinite wisdom to address in one, simplified, formulamatic way. To top things off, the "curve" is predetermined. Yes, that is right, LSAC has employed prophets as well.

Yes, LSAC does in fact hire prophets but they prefer to call them psychometricians.