Ethical dilemma? Forum

[WeightliftingThinker]

If you practice taking the LSAT in the room and test center where you will be at for the real exam, are you violating LSAC rules?

[somethingElse]

Nope.

[BasilHallward]

I did this without knowing it. I had two undergrad classes in the room where the LSAT took place. I took practice tests in this room as well. No one cares. And if someone cares or thinks it is unethical, that person is a douchebag.

[RamTitan]

How do you figure out what room it's going to be in?

[WeightliftingThinker]

How do you figure out what room it's going to be in?

A professor at the law school it will be held in has been running his own prep program for years.

[WeightliftingThinker]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

[somethingElse]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

[WeightliftingThinker]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

They suggested that you cannot go there by yourself to practice. If you are part of a prep program that happens to practice there and you are enrolled in it, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, no.

[somethingElse]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

They suggested that you cannot go there by yourself to practice. If you are part of a prep program that happens to practice there and you are enrolled in it, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, no.

When they said "cannot go there by yourself" were they referring to the exact room or the overall location (e.g. college campus)?

[kellyfrost]

Jesus Christ.

[WeightliftingThinker]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

They suggested that you cannot go there by yourself to practice. If you are part of a prep program that happens to practice there and you are enrolled in it, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, no.

When they said "cannot go there by yourself" were they referring to the exact room or the overall location (e.g. college campus)?

Not exactly sure. I am confident they meant you cannot go to the exact room. As for the overall location, I would say they likely included that since it is the test center.

The best place is to study in a library.

[somethingElse]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

They suggested that you cannot go there by yourself to practice. If you are part of a prep program that happens to practice there and you are enrolled in it, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, no.

When they said "cannot go there by yourself" were they referring to the exact room or the overall location (e.g. college campus)?

Not exactly sure. I am confident they meant you cannot go to the exact room. As for the overall location, I would say they likely included that since it is the test center.

The best place is to study in a library.

What if you wanted to study at your testing center's library?

[WeightliftingThinker]

UPDATE: I contacted the LSAC and they said that one is not allowed to go to the test center to practice individually unless one is in a prep program that is held in the test center.

LOL really?? Did they specify if you can be at the same location but in a different room?

They suggested that you cannot go there by yourself to practice. If you are part of a prep program that happens to practice there and you are enrolled in it, then it's acceptable. Otherwise, no.

When they said "cannot go there by yourself" were they referring to the exact room or the overall location (e.g. college campus)?

Not exactly sure. I am confident they meant you cannot go to the exact room. As for the overall location, I would say they likely included that since it is the test center.

The best place is to study in a library.

What if you wanted to study at your testing center's library?

Do NOT take my word for it, but I don't see how that's an issue unless the test will be administered in the library.

[emkay625]

Is this real life?

How on earth are you supposed to know? At my undergrad, the test is always administered in one of the largest classroom buildings on campus. Lots of people also study in that building. Furthermore, the specific classrooms used to administer the test change from administration to administration. I would bet 95% of test takers have no idea where the test is administered until they register, and thus many of them have studied for the LSAT in a room that will be used on test day.

This rule seems both stupid and unenforceable.

[WeightliftingThinker]

Is this real life?

How on earth are you supposed to know? At my undergrad, the test is always administered in one of the largest classroom buildings on campus. Lots of people also study in that building. Furthermore, the specific classrooms used to administer the test change from administration to administration. I would bet 95% of test takers have no idea where the test is administered until they register, and thus many of them have studied for the LSAT in a room that will be used on test day.

This rule seems both stupid and unenforceable.

Contact the LSAC to make sure. Examples where the library is IN a test center or the library IS the test center are different from my experience.

[somethingElse]

Agreed. I mean I see where they are coming from (it could be considered a slight advantage to study in the exact room), but it just isn't realistic most of the time. Once you have your registration ticket you'll know which room it'll be in, but that isn't until just a few weeks before the test IIRC (that you receive your ticket).

[pancakes3]

I don't see where the LSAC is coming from. They're clearly not opposed to studying in the room since they allow test-takers who are enrolled in very specific test-prep classes to study in there. What the LSAC is doing seems unethical or at least unfair.

[WeightliftingThinker]

I should clarify that they did not say that the necessary condition for practicing in the actual room/test center is being part of a test prep. They emphasized that you are not allowed to go there and practice by yourself. Thus, I will be studying at a library and not going there.

[somethingElse]

Oh wait so if you're with a prep company you can be in the exact room?? If so yeah that's some shit.

[WeightliftingThinker]

Oh wait so if you're with a prep company you can be in the exact room?? If so yeah that's some shit.

I told them I went there last summer as part of a prep program. They had no problem with that. Now if I start going there every Saturday to practice by myself, then there's a problem.

[emkay625]

This just does not make sense to me. The majority of test centers are university buildings. Presumably students are prepping for the LSAT all the time in these buildings.

OP, how exactly did you frame your question/what wording did you use?

[somethingElse]

This just does not make sense to me. The majority of test centers are university buildings. Presumably students are prepping for the LSAT all the time in these buildings.

OP, how exactly did you frame your question/what wording did you use?

Yeah I'm starting to think that the bolded is very relevant. We NEED a FULL transcript of the conversation please, OP. Include the greetings and goodbyes and such.

[WeightliftingThinker]

Update: To make things less confusing, here is my final communication:

Me: "I received an email earlier today that read, ‘LSAT registrants are not to contact the test centers, or go to the test centers prior to the date of the exam, for any reason.’ Because of this information and my commitment to integrity, I decided to change my test center since I was part of a LSAT prep program last summer which was held at the test center where I will be at in September 2016. I believe the test prep, which included timed, simulated conditions for testing, was sometimes held in the actual room where the test will be administered. I have not visited the test center since then (September 2015). In order to change my test center, I had to pay a $90 fee. I called 215 - 968 - 1001 today around 2:10 PM ET to see if I could get a fee waiver. I spoke to a customer representative who spoke with their supervisor. He told me that my previous contact with the test center was acceptable since I was part of a LSAT prep program. He noted that it would be unacceptable for me to go to the test center on an individual basis to practice there. This information relieved me of my concerns. Thus, I will practice at a library and I will take the real exam at the test center I was at for the LSAT prep program. I am contacting for an email confirmation of this information. Thank you."

Them: "Thank you for your inquiry to LSAC: What you were told by the phone representative and supervisor is correct."

[somethingElse]

PM me for information. I am not posting email information here.

Update: To make things less confusing, here is my final communication:

Me: "I received an email earlier today that read, ‘LSAT registrants are not to contact the test centers, or go to the test centers prior to the date of the exam, for any reason.’ Because of this information and my commitment to integrity, I decided to change my test center since I was part of a LSAT prep program last summer which was held at the test center where I will be at in September 2016. I believe the test prep, which included timed, simulated conditions for testing, was sometimes held in the actual room where the test will be administered. I have not visited the test center since then (September 2015). In order to change my test center, I had to pay a $90 fee. I called 215 - 968 - 1001 today around 2:10 PM ET to see if I could get a fee waiver. I spoke to a customer representative who spoke with their supervisor. He told me that my previous contact with the test center was acceptable since I was part of a LSAT prep program. He noted that it would be unacceptable for me to go to the test center on an individual basis to practice there. This information relieved me of my concerns. Thus, I will practice at a library and I will take the real exam at the test center I was at for the LSAT prep program. I am contacting for an email confirmation of this information. Thank you."

Them: "Thank you for your inquiry to LSAC: What you were told by the phone representative and supervisor is correct."

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[WeightliftingThinker]

PM me for information. I am not posting email information here.

Update: To make things less confusing, here is my final communication:

Me: "I received an email earlier today that read, ‘LSAT registrants are not to contact the test centers, or go to the test centers prior to the date of the exam, for any reason.’ Because of this information and my commitment to integrity, I decided to change my test center since I was part of a LSAT prep program last summer which was held at the test center where I will be at in September 2016. I believe the test prep, which included timed, simulated conditions for testing, was sometimes held in the actual room where the test will be administered. I have not visited the test center since then (September 2015). In order to change my test center, I had to pay a $90 fee. I called 215 - 968 - 1001 today around 2:10 PM ET to see if I could get a fee waiver. I spoke to a customer representative who spoke with their supervisor. He told me that my previous contact with the test center was acceptable since I was part of a LSAT prep program. He noted that it would be unacceptable for me to go to the test center on an individual basis to practice there. This information relieved me of my concerns. Thus, I will practice at a library and I will take the real exam at the test center I was at for the LSAT prep program. I am contacting for an email confirmation of this information. Thank you."

Them: "Thank you for your inquiry to LSAC: What you were told by the phone representative and supervisor is correct."

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

I specifically mentioned that for a reason.