Do Raw Score-Scaled Score Gaps Matter? Forum

[P.J.Fry]

I couldn't think of the best way to phrase that, but what I'm referring to are on some tests, there are no raw scores that will translate into a particular scaled score. For instance, on PT35 a raw score of 94 will scale to a 174 and a 95 will get a 176. There was no possible way to score a 175 on that test.

When applying for law schools, does this cause the 174 scorers to be at any disadvantage against applicants who took a different test and scored a 175? Did the 176 scorers gain any kind of advantage?

Or is this all totally irrelevant?

ETA - my reason for thinking it matters is because if you took all the 175'ers from the previous test for example and forced them to write PT35 instead, about half of them would score 176 and the other half would score 174. At least in theory. As well all know, 1 point on the LSAT can make a difference between an admit and a deny, or $ vs no $. This doesn't seem trivial to me.

[KDLMaj]

I couldn't think of the best way to phrase that, but what I'm referring to are on some tests, there are no raw scores that will translate into a particular scaled score. For instance, on PT35 a raw score of 94 will scale to a 174 and a 95 will get a 176. There was no possible way to score a 175 on that test.

When applying for law schools, does this cause the 174 scorers to be at any disadvantage against applicants who took a different test and scored a 175? Did the 176 scorers gain any kind of advantage?

Or is this all totally irrelevant?

In theory, it doesn't matter. In practice it can. But keep in mind most competitive schools only take the last three years of tests. So they are aware of the tests with gaps.

Honestly though, by the time you get to those scores, you are probably not being rejected because someone else has one extra point. And if you are, it's because they are REALLY under target or they are really just looking for something to differentiate. Those aren't common scenarios honestly: it's really tough to find yourself in a situation where you can't justify a 174 but can justify a 176. Mostly if you have a mid 170s score, you're getting in unless you screwed up royally somewhere else on your application.

[P.J.Fry]

In theory, it doesn't matter. In practice it can. But keep in mind most competitive schools only take the last three years of tests. So they are aware of the tests with gaps.

Honestly though, by the time you get to those scores, you are probably not being rejected because someone else has one extra point. And if you are, it's because they are REALLY under target or they are really just looking for something to differentiate. Those aren't common scenarios honestly: it's really tough to find yourself in a situation where you can't justify a 174 but can justify a 176. Mostly if you have a mid 170s score, you're getting in unless you screwed up royally somewhere else on your application.

I'd think it would matter for HYS, or splitters at CCN and some lower. It could certainly matter for scholarships.

I'm not worried about this by any means, as it is undoubtedly a rare occurrence and in all likelihood will not affect me whatsoever. Just something mildly interesting I was curious about.

[rebexness]

It shouldn't matter because at that point you are above 75th percentile everywhere.