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I have noticed people seem to do better on the December test. Not sure if it is because most people retake later during the cycle. But it looks like the lsac likes trying new lsat tricks on the june test.
Is this correct?

Harvette wrote:I have noticed people seem to do better on the December test. Not sure if it is because most people retake later during the cycle. But it looks like the lsac likes trying new lsat tricks on the june test.
Is this correct?

No.

June historically has a tougher "curve" than the other administrations (especially December), but the final distribution of scaled scores is the same.

Sometimes I miss Julie Fern.

ScottRiqui wrote:June historically has a tougher "curve" than the other administrations (especially December), but the final distribution of scaled scores is the same.

Mmmmmm, I'm not even sure if this is correct. At least over the past 4-5 years, there has been a 2-3 question gap with the tougher curve coming in December. (This is, of course, if we're defining the 'tougher' curve as the one where you can drop more questions and still walk away with a 170.)

June 2010: -12
December 2010: -14

June 2011: -11
December 2011: -14

June 2012: -10
December 2012: -12

June 2013: -11
December 2013: -14

LeeAllen wrote:

ScottRiqui wrote:June historically has a tougher "curve" than the other administrations (especially December), but the final distribution of scaled scores is the same.

Mmmmmm, I'm not even sure if this is correct. At least over the past 4-5 years, there has been a 2-3 question gap with the tougher curve coming in December. (This is, of course, if we're defining the 'tougher' curve as the one where you can drop more questions and still walk away with a 170.)

June 2010: -12
December 2010: -14

June 2011: -11
December 2011: -14

June 2012: -10
December 2012: -12

June 2013: -11
December 2013: -14

I think they mean that June is tougher in that you have to get more questions correct in order to get a higher score.

Granite wrote:

LeeAllen wrote:

ScottRiqui wrote:June historically has a tougher "curve" than the other administrations (especially December), but the final distribution of scaled scores is the same.

Mmmmmm, I'm not even sure if this is correct. At least over the past 4-5 years, there has been a 2-3 question gap with the tougher curve coming in December. (This is, of course, if we're defining the 'tougher' curve as the one where you can drop more questions and still walk away with a 170.)

June 2010: -12
December 2010: -14

June 2011: -11
December 2011: -14

June 2012: -10
December 2012: -12

June 2013: -11
December 2013: -14

I think they mean that June is tougher in that you have to get more questions correct in order to get a higher score.

Ah, my apologies.

I've usually understood that the more difficult (i.e. tougher) tests are the ones which have more generous curves. The more generous curves are given on the grounds that the test was more difficult, right? Or have I just been totally understanding this backwards? lol

Every LSAT is supposed to be the same difficulty.

RZ5646 wrote:Every LSAT is supposed to be the same difficulty.

Well, yes.

But isn't the reason for equating the tests because some administrations may be more difficult than the norm? Perhaps not intentionally, but, I can't really imagine why they would have different curves if not to compensate for variations in the level of difficulty.

If the curve compensates, then who cares? They're effectively all the same... hence "equating."

June has the least forgiving curve because it is "easier."
December has the most forgiving curve because it is "harder."
With equating, it really doesn't matter and you should just take when you're ready.

RZ5646 wrote:If the curve compensates, then who cares? They're effectively all the same... hence "equating."

Oh I don't know that anyone cares, OP was just asking if the June test is inherently more difficult than other administrations. I was just saying that I don't think that's the case because the curve is more generous for December than it is for June.

With that said, yes, equating effectively cancels the differences.

Thanks all! I was referring to the number of questions one can miss and still get a 170. I thought one had more room in dec vs June. But did not realize this happens on tougher tests. I always thought the test was harder in June.

Harvette wrote:Thanks all! I was referring to the number of questions one can miss and still get a 170. I thought one had more room in dec vs June. But did not realize this happens on tougher tests. I always thought the test was harder in June.

The June test is intentionally made harder because only the lazies who can't get out of bed on time for a 9:00 am test take it. HTH!

hereisonehand wrote:

Harvette wrote:Thanks all! I was referring to the number of questions one can miss and still get a 170. I thought one had more room in dec vs June. But did not realize this happens on tougher tests. I always thought the test was harder in June.

The June test is intentionally made harder because only the lazies who can't get out of bed on time for a 9:00 am test take it. HTH!

Lol I actually heard it was harder because most people who take it in June are gunners.
Took PT69, -4 =177 then PT 65/dec, -3 = 180
As someone who struggles mostly with speed, this makes me pause.

i think so