Canceling my score? Forum

[Beasty0219]

Can someone provide me with a link or some general thoughts re: canceling my score? In all my practice tests I've relied on my reading/games sections (-3/4, -0/1 on average, respectively) to keep my score up as I continued to push my way through args. Thus, today's test was devastating in that I felt relatively ok with args, baffled by a couple of the readings, and utterly demoralized by the last game (and also possibly the first game in which I was/still am nearly certain was missing a premise). Even if the consensus is that it was difficult and will have a generous curve, I'm not sure I should stick around for the result. What would look worse to admissions officers - a canceled score (this was my first time taking) or a potentially nasty blemish of 150 something (I've been consistently scoring mid-high 160's)?

I'm determined to regroup and shake this test off, but I need to act fast as a cancellation must be received within 6 calendar days. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[aguij]

Logic games were my strength too and I bombed that last game.
I just say Que Sera, Sera. I am banking on the curve, and personally
I want to know how I did. A 154 and then rapid improvement on a retake
should not be too hard to explain even in the worst case scenario. I
think law schools are reasonable enough to know when one was just
having a bad day due to illness, etc. If they aren't, then that is not
reasonable. And if they aren't reasonable, then they aren't worth going
to.

Unnecessary Assumption Question.

[uptheirons1992]

I know how you feel man. Have been scoring in the same range as you in practice. Man, I was so dejected about my lg performance and a rc (that I think is experimental) that I immediately filled in he bubbles and signed off on my score cancellation. Reflecting during the writing sample, I decided not to cancel and see what happens. Went up proctor after and furiously erased the two bubbles, signature, and date. I'm so dead right now that I'm even questioning whether or not I actually erased the cancel form effectively. Back to your question, I could have sworn reading that one cancellation might not be too bad, although repeated cancellations will be inquired. Nevertheless, if you're applying in the fall like me, I would personally suggest that you don't add to the september stress by having it be the only score you have right as application opens.

P.S.: Anyone know of a way for me to appease my paranoia by somehow confirming that my score DOES NOT get cancelled

[Calbears123]

I know how you feel man. Have been scoring in the same range as you in practice. Man, I was so dejected about my lg performance and a rc (that I think is experimental) that I immediately filled in he bubbles and signed off on my score cancellation. Reflecting during the writing sample, I decided not to cancel and see what happens. Went up proctor after and furiously erased the two bubbles, signature, and date. I'm so dead right now that I'm even questioning whether or not I actually erased the cancel form effectively. Back to your question, I could have sworn reading that one cancellation might not be too bad, although repeated cancellations will be inquired. Nevertheless, if you're applying in the fall like me, I would personally suggest that you don't add to the september stress by having it be the only score you have right as application opens.

P.S.: Anyone know of a way for me to appease my paranoia by somehow confirming that my score DOES NOT get cancelled

e-mail LSAC asap right now sounds like your best option

[Beasty0219]

Let's say worst case scenario: most of my guesses were wrong (was so upset with reading that I stumbled through the hard args immediately proceeding it), and I end up getting a 155. You're saying a 155 and then, say, 166 in September is better than a cancelled June score and 166 as my only reported score??

[xylocarp]

Can someone provide me with a link or some general thoughts re: canceling my score?

Here's a link from Spivey on the subject, hope it helps http://spiveyconsulting.com/blog/should ... sat-score/

[BDD2317]

I'm in that same boat unfortunately. Took the LSAT in December and got a 158 (which was above my average PTs), then have been working hard to improve and consistently scoring mid-160s with near perfect LG sections for each PT. Yesterday I was pretty neutral during the test, feeling neither great nor terrible...that is, up until that crazy LG section. I'd be confident saying I guessed on about 1/2 that section (I got hung up on one of the easier problems, and skipped ahead to save time only to come face-to-face with the dreaded game everyone is hinting at). Leaving the test I was demoralized and immediately wanted to cancel, but swallowed my pride and slept on it.

Now I'm wondering, should I...
A) Cancel, study my butt off all summer to redeem myself, and work on applications simultaneously.
or
B) Take a Vegas-gamble on my performance on the rest of the test and keep my score, then cross my fingers for July 3rd. Best-case scenario, there is some magic curve and my score goes up. Worst-case I drop 5-10 points and cry a little inside but then, as I said before, study my butt off all summer to redeem myself and work on applications simultaneously.

I think either way, you can argue your score/cancel with admissions and if you take the September test and knock it out of the park, they probably won't care as much about one blemish on your record. Thoughts...?

[Beasty0219]

Can someone provide me with a link or some general thoughts re: canceling my score?

Here's a link from Spivey on the subject, hope it helps http://spiveyconsulting.com/blog/should ... sat-score/

Thanks for this.

[Beasty0219]

For anyone who's in the same boat: just spoke with my course instructor (Harvard grad, runs a great course in nyc) who advised me to cancel, which actually makes sense at this point. You can't take a "Vegas-style" gamble when it comes to your score. I know I struggled with one of the games and one of the readings, so I don't think it's wise to assume I'll get even half of my
guesses correct. Basically, if your gut reaction immediately after the test was similar to mine - "it didn't feel as good as my practice tests, not even close" - then why risk having a bad score on file? Even if my retake is a 170 in sept, admissions officers may be more impressed with that sole number vs a 170 next to a 158.

Of course if I cancel and there ends up being a ridiculous -14 curve and percentiles reflecting how much the general test taking population struggled, I'll be upset but oh well.

[Atmosphere]

For anyone who's in the same boat: just spoke with my course instructor (Harvard grad, runs a great course in nyc) who advised me to cancel, which actually makes sense at this point. You can't take a "Vegas-style" gamble when it comes to your score. I know I struggled with one of the games and one of the readings, so I don't think it's wise to assume I'll get even half of my
guesses correct. Basically, if your gut reaction immediately after the test was similar to mine - "it didn't feel as good as my practice tests, not even close" - then why risk having a bad score on file? Even if my retake is a 170 in sept, admissions officers may be more impressed with that sole number vs a 170 next to a 158.

Of course if I cancel and there ends up being a ridiculous -14 curve and percentiles reflecting how much the general test taking population struggled, I'll be upset but oh well.

My only concern with canceling is that it counts as one of your takes. We don't know how September's test will be. What if it's harder and 2/4 games are ridiculous? I think I'd rather learn of a dismal score and be able to see where I really messed up

[Clyde Frog]

http://lawschooli.com/do-law-schools-co ... at-scores/

[Beasty0219]

My only concern with canceling is that it counts as one of your takes. We don't know how September's test will be. What if it's harder and 2/4 games are ridiculous? I think I'd rather learn of a dismal score and be able to see where I really messed up[/quote]

But that's exactly what I'm going to work on over the next few months: adaptability. These games, when I take a minute to reflect, really weren't a harder collection of games than any other (sure, some tests had easier ones but these certainly weren't the hardest I've seen).

I think I read someone else's post which mentioned our reliance on issues falling neatly into our strategies, and the subsequent consequences if our assumptions/expectations aren't precisely met. Just as an attorney could be blindsided with never before seen evidence in court, lsac can present us with a seemingly atypical game when in reality it has the same set of issues as any other, weighted differently and perhaps diagrammed in an unorthodox way.

This is all by way of saying that I don't care about the cancellation being one of my three tests: this was my first go, and I wasn't light enough on my feet when it came time to establish a set-up for my troublesome game. No point in gambling on my score to be as high as I'd like when I know that a) it felt worse that my practice tests and b) I'm going to approach my studying efforts from a more versatile angle so as to be able to adapt and take even the most confusing passage/Arg/game in stride.