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*please don't quote

i am in a dilemma regarding whether to take the test this Saturday. i had been scoring at my target of 173 in the retakes of the tests. the retakes are not representative but i was almost out of fresh tests. but on the only 2 fresh tests that i did this year in the last 2 weeks, i was much below the target, mainly due to rc. i also missed some silly points on lg so i think i can go near perfect on a normal lg section.

pt 72: -18, 166,
rc -9,
lr1 -0,
lr2 -4,
lg -5

pt 75: -13, 168,
rc -6,
lr1 -2,
lr2 -2,
lg -3

I'm kind of dealing with the same issue as you are. If you absolutely want to get higher than a 168, then I would suggest postponing. If a 168 could still get you to your goals, then I would go ahead and take it. You shouldn't test until you are ready, but at the same time from now until December you wouldn't have fresh tests. You really need to evaluate whether or not you think you can improve in two months even without the fresh PT.

For myself, I took the whole summer off to study and just started working full time at a stressful job. I know that I won't have quality time to study for the next two months except for on the weekend. I also think having the time to take several practice tests a week has gotten me into good test taking habits. Over the next two months, I only would've been able to take 1 or 2 tests a week and they wouldn't be fresh, so I chose to go ahead for October. I wanted a score of 175+ and my last 3 PT were 172, 174, and 170. I've scored at my target and above on older tests though too so that helped.

I work with a couple associates whose scores were in the 163-167 range and they graduated from t14 schools. However, if you’re dependent on a tuition discount then you’ll need to aim for 170 or better (with a high gpa). If your goal is simply to get into a top law school, your current score should get you there.

twenty 8 wrote:I work with a couple associates whose scores were in the 163-167 range and they graduated from t14 schools. However, if you’re dependent on a tuition discount then you’ll need to aim for 170 or better (with a high gpa). If your goal is simply to get into a top law school, your current score should get you there.

It is impossible to know that without knowing the OP's GPA and race.

that is pretty much the issue. I don't think 168 will do and I just can't seem to have a way to improve rc without fresh tests.

If you could still do several retakes a week over the next couple of months and find fresh study books then you might be able to improve. There a few Indian LSATs out there too I think. As long as you can keep up a consistent study schedule and actually put in a good amount of work, I don't think it will be likely that your score would decrease. It would either stay the same or improve. It depends too on when the first take was...I did retakes of tests that I took about a year ago and I really remembered nothing from the first take.

Just try to set aside all other factors and considerations and think to yourself- Will my score improve in two months or will it not?

There are a lot of external motivations like finally being done with the test and having more of a social life or just not dealing with the stress but I had to block all of these out and ask myself if I really thought I could do better in the next couple of months given how much I would be working and what materials I would have left to use.

appind wrote:that is pretty much the issue. I don't think 168 will do and I just can't seem to have a way to improve rc without fresh tests.

What is your gpa? If it's high, welcome to the t14. If its just ok, you're probably looking at a 20-30 ranked school (or lower if you're wanting a discount).

is the RC in the indian LSATs as difficult as modern RC? i'd heard indian PTs have lesser answer choices and easier questions.

the only thing i think needs to be improved at this point is rc for me, but have no idea how considering i have used up all known material.

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does withdrawing count as 1 take toward the limit of 3 takes in 2 years or show up on the lsac report? could someone cite the source link?

i can't seem to find anywhere at LSAC.org that it doesn't.

No withdrawing does not count or show up. Don't know the link for that though

Are there any law schools that still "average" scores? Most (if not all) don't punish you for it if you have a lower one, they just use the higher one. Why cancel once you realize that?