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Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:23 am
by Superwoman
This is crazy we have to wait 3+ weeks to see the results of the test...so many are literally on pins and needles. Needless to say the first time I took it it was quite difficult to take my mind off of waiting for my scores.
However, if they moved it to a CBT we can instantly get our results and they can cut down on the over head costs because they could have one test proctor for the whole test facility such as a Prometric test center.
Just a thought!!!!!

Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:25 am
by 58932ugahoige
Disagree!
The amount of circling, marking, drawing, crossing out, etc I do on the paper increases my score by enough that the wait is worth it.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:26 am
by 2Serious4Numbers
O rly
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:27 am
by ren2011
NOOOOOO. I'm so glad the LSAT is still a written test.
Although apparently giving us room to diagram is too much to ask...maybe they're transitioning to CBT?
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:10 am
by angua
.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:37 am
by ilove_toshop
RC was hell when I took the GRE. All of the passages were about 80 lines of death and you had to scroll to read the entire..thing...I definitely prefer the paper version!
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:16 am
by flannelman
ren2011 wrote:NOOOOOO. I'm so glad the LSAT is still a written test.
Although apparently giving us room to diagram is too much to ask...maybe they're transitioning to CBT?
no believe it or not this has always been this way and it is for the same reason as when the test started. LSAC actually expects people to do Logic games in there head. And there are people out there who do it that way. Over the years however it has been proven that diagramming is a better way to do it even vs the super geniuses. But the reason LSAC could care less about the amt of space they leave is for that reason alone.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:22 am
by sundance95
flannelman wrote:LSAC actually expects people to do Logic games in there [sic] head.
And that's why they suggest you make a diagram in the test instructions themselves...

Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:26 am
by invisiblesun
I would be in favor of this given that they provide scratch paper/ scratch booklet. Waiting for your LSAT score is really unnerving.
ren2011 wrote:NOOOOOO. I'm so glad the LSAT is still a written test.
Although apparently giving us room to diagram is too much to ask...maybe they're transitioning to CBT?
ZOMG is that a self tar?!!1?!?1
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:48 am
by jump_man
One HUGE advantage of CBTs like the GRE is that they are offered year-round. I would much rather have the option of taking the LSAT at the time of my choosing, rather than during the one day in June/October/December/February the test is offered.
Otherwise, I agree that I would rather have the option of writing on my test than being forced to answer on a computer.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 2:51 am
by TheTallOne0602
Not that it matters since I will never be taking the test again, but people tend to read around 25% slower on a computer screen (I know I do; I have tested myself). They could add more time I suppose, but does anyone really want the LSAT to be even longer than it already is, without the added benefit of there being extra time becaue you are spending it all reading more slowly?
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:26 am
by serdog
I don't underline for RC and I still find I lose alot of points when I do question on my Ipad
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:48 am
by FlanSolo
flannelman wrote:
no believe it or not this has always been this way and it is for the same reason as when the test started. LSAC actually expects people to do Logic games in there head. And there are people out there who do it that way. Over the years however it has been proven that diagramming is a better way to do it even vs the super geniuses. But the reason LSAC could care less about the amt of space they leave is for that reason alone.
Lolwut?
Directions: Each group of questions in this section is based on a set of conditions. In answering some of the questions, it may be useful to draw a rough diagram...
Sure doesn't sound like they "expect" people to do it in their head to me...
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:14 am
by kkklick
invisiblesun wrote:I would be in favor of this given that they provide scratch paper/ scratch booklet. Waiting for your LSAT score is really unnerving.
ren2011 wrote:NOOOOOO. I'm so glad the LSAT is still a written test.
Although apparently giving us room to diagram is too much to ask...maybe they're transitioning to CBT?
ZOMG is that a self tar?!!1?!?1
... Poor girl, I have a feeling she will be this administration's Eit.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:16 am
by kkklick
serdog wrote:I don't underline for RC and I still find I lose alot of points when I do question on my Ipad
I don't make a single mark on an RC passage, and almost never refer back to the passage unless I know exactly where the answer I'm looking for is. I find it way too distracting and wastes too much time.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:21 am
by Grond
Superwoman wrote:This is crazy we have to wait 3+ weeks to see the results of the test...so many are literally on pins and needles. Needless to say the first time I took it it was quite difficult to take my mind off of waiting for my scores.
However, if they moved it to a CBT we can instantly get our results and they can cut down on the over head costs because they could have one test proctor for the whole test facility such as a Prometric test center.
Just a thought!!!!!

http://www.lsac.org/LSACResources/Resea ... -05-01.pdf
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:25 am
by invisiblesun
kkklick wrote:invisiblesun wrote:I would be in favor of this given that they provide scratch paper/ scratch booklet. Waiting for your LSAT score is really unnerving.
ren2011 wrote:NOOOOOO. I'm so glad the LSAT is still a written test.
Although apparently giving us room to diagram is too much to ask...maybe they're transitioning to CBT?
ZOMG is that a self tar?!!1?!?1
... Poor girl, I have a feeling she will be this administration's Eit.
it was a joke, look at her profile
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:27 am
by kkklick
But you did check out her profile, lol.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:33 am
by masochist
Superwoman wrote:This is crazy we have to wait 3+ weeks to see the results of the test...so many are literally on pins and needles. Needless to say the first time I took it it was quite difficult to take my mind off of waiting for my scores.
However, if they moved it to a CBT we can instantly get our results and they can cut down on the over head costs because they could have one test proctor for the whole test facility such as a Prometric test center.
Just a thought!!!!!

+1000
They could even make the test shorter without losing reliability if they bothered to use test theory from the 1980s rather than the 1950s in the design of the CBT.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:41 am
by 2014
If I had to do RC on the computer my score would drop significantly.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:56 am
by stargazin
I guess I'm one of few who says bring on the LSAT CBT! For all of the LSAT's insane rules (like not allowing mechanical pencils while allowing snacks, coats, etc in the room), it's still not as secure as a CBT. With a CBT (like the GMAT), you put all your stuff in a locker outside the room. Your jacket must be left outside. They check your pockets. The only thing you can bring in with you is
the plastic scratch pads they give you. There are cubicles separating people seated next to each other, etc.
There's plenty of space on the scratch pads for diagramming/notes, and it's a dry erase marker so you can erase whatever you're done with. Not being able to mark directly on the test might be harder (I would definitely have a harder time with RC also), but it would be harder for everyone. One thing that is easier is you don't have to worry about the time because the time left on a section is accurately displayed at all times. If you want to change an answer, you don't have to worry about erasing a bubble, leaving smudges, etc. You don't have to worry as much about misbubbling since the answer choices are right next to the bubbles you click on. And the obviously the writing sample would be easier to do.
Given some of the horror stories here about testing conditions, the biggest advantage of the CBT at a place like Prometric is the standardized, controlled testing conditions. You get headphones to block out any noise. It also starts right away after you get there so you're less likely to be tired from waiting 3 hrs for the test to start. Since everything's computerized, all you do when you get there is sign in with your name, take a picture, and you go in and start the exam. You skip all the personal/test information bubbling in the beginning.
However, this is probably not going to happen because I don't know how Prometric sites will be able to accomodate so many people at the same time for a test administered 4 times a year. The GMAT can be administered almost every business day because it varies the kind of questions you get depending on your performance during the exam...for example, if you get a question right, you'll get a harder question next, if you get one wrong, you get an easier question, so since no one gets the same exam, they don't release prior tests like the LSAT does. Since LSAC releases all prior tests, it's impossible to administer the test every day, which means it's impossible to fit everyone into the Prometric sites with only a few administrations a year. Yes, I've thought a lot about this topic.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:01 pm
by jump_man
stargazin wrote: Since LSAC releases all prior tests, it's impossible to administer the test every day, which means it's impossible to fit everyone into the Prometric sites with only a few administrations a year. Yes, I've thought a lot about this topic.
That's a really good point . . . I'd much rather have the option of seeing all the previous exams
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:02 pm
by kkklick
To be honest, I find the way the LSAT is administered today is fine. Of course I haven't been exposed to terrible testing conditions like others but there's always those types of risks. I doubt they'll change it.
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:04 pm
by krad
kkklick wrote:To be honest, I find the way the LSAT is administered today is fine. Of course I haven't been exposed to terrible testing conditions like others but there's always those types of risks. I doubt they'll change it.
+1
Re: Can LSAT please consider a CBT
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:09 pm
by invisiblesun
kkklick wrote:But you did check out her profile, lol.

I "check out" the profiles of most posters i haven't seen before