June 2012 Retake - Bad Curve? Forum

[lsat2011]

I've heard that June has the toughest curve. To what extent is this true? Would it be a risk to retake in June?

[timeless]

I think its probably true, since June tends to have a better group of test takers. I mean, in a sense that those better prepared for LSATs in college will take it by the time the school year is over in order to take advantage of the early rounds the following fall...Anyways just my take on it.

A good example is June 2011 test. It had the worst combination of RC possible. You can assess June 2011 thread to also see how many RC whizzes got killed on that day. People who normally would score -0 or -1 completely bombed it...guessing around 5-10 depending on each person. I personally got -8 on PT, though id usually get around -2-3.

I cant generalize from this one example (YES a FLAW!!) but still from what i recall, they didnt seem to have particularly generous curves.

[dietcoke0]

Quality of test takers isn't affecting the curve.

[noleknight16]

Quality of test takers isn't affecting the curve.

Unless the curves for June are set by June experimentals. Amirite or amirite?

[JamMasterJ]

Quality of test takers isn't affecting the curve.

Unless the curves for June are set by June experimentals. Amirite or amirite?

I'm guessing this is a joke, but exps are too random to guess.

OP, the curve is virtually set (based on previous experimental sections) before you take the test. Only minor tweaking after

[hotchkiss1]

Quality of test takers isn't affecting the curve.

I don't think LSAC use normal distrabution.

[JamMasterJ]

Quality of test takers isn't affecting the curve.

Maybe this is why highschool science and math education sucks in america. Take a statistic class lady, so you will have a better definition about "curve," and I don't think LSAC use normal distrabution.

it's not a normal curve. It's a method called equating

[soj]

Even if it's true that June tests have tended to have tough curves, you shouldn't let that fact affect your decision to retake in June 2012.

[KevinP]

Maybe this is why highschool science and math education sucks in america. Take a statistic class lady, so you will have a better definition about "curve," and I don't think LSAC use normal distrabution.

LSAT isn't curved.
Directly from a senior test developer from LSAC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... k&t=13m10s

it's not a normal curve. It's a method called equating

It is an approximately normal curve. A large portion of the statistics that LSAC uses require that the data be approximately normally distributed. They use equating in order to achieve this goal. (They tweak by throwing questions that don't meet the expected distribution out)

@OP:
If a test has a tighter curve, it is easier overall. I suspect the reason behind the curve differences has to do with LSAC trying to keep the data approximately normally distributed.
For example, here's data from 2009-2010:
June (Mean = 151.68, SD = 10.51). Approximate result: A 170 is the 95.9th percentile, ~4.1% of June test takers score a 170+.
December (Mean = 150.11, SD = 9.92). Approximate result: A 170 is the 97.8th percentile, ~2.2% of December test takers score a 170+.
When there is fewer high scorers, it becomes critical to distinguish them from each other in order to keep the data approximately normally distributed.

This is all conjecture.... the reason behind the difference in "curves" could totally be coincidence.

ETA:
What this means is: take the test in June. You are unlikely to see a difference in scores between taking a June test and taking a December test.

[lovejopd]

I prefer a tighter curve because if a test becomes too hard, it will throw me off more than I can gain from a generous curve...

[swtlilsoni]

I prefer a tighter curve because if a test becomes too hard, it will throw me off more than I can gain from a generous curve...

+1

[Gail]

I prefer a tighter curve because if a test becomes too hard, it will throw me off more than I can gain from a generous curve...

Agreed.

Easier tests build confidence in me. Making me more certain of my answers requiring me to spend less time wasting on the re-check.