From 1st Practice Test to the Final LSAT Forum

[sjalpert]

How much do LSAT scores typically rise from the first practice test to the final exam? I took a practice test tonight with no prior prep and got a 160. What should I expect, considering that I was not extremely focused tonight and have had no practice before, and that I typically test much better under pressure?

[shoop]

My diagnostic was 162. After 3 months of study, my last 10 PTs were all above 174, except for one, and averaged between 175 and 176.

[budafied]

If that's a completely dry 160, then you should be able to top 170 after a couple months of prep. Though test day can change everything ,as a lot of people here are learning right now, lol.

[thechee]

It can very tremendously.

My first diagnostic was 151, scored 164 after a few months of prep. Most of my improvement was on LG. Studied a bit more, and got a 170. Probably could have done better, given that my last 3 PTs were 179, 180, 180...oh well....

That said, getting a 160 on a cold diagnostic, assuming you were rigid about the timing, is a great place to be starting out. Where did you miss most of your questions? LG/LR/RC?

[kayljsh]

Happily my first diagnostic, totally cold, was a 175. I'm not totally sure how that happened, as I took it on a Saturday morning, proctored, but hungover.
I know a test day drop from PT averages is normal, but how normal is a drop from your first, cold, PT?