Cancel or not? Forum

[Alex.M]

I just completed my first LSAT (LR-LG-LR-RC-LR) on June and felt quite frustrated. It is said that RC was quite easy, 2 LRs were at similar levels and LG was not too hard nor easy. When I took the test, I felt quite uncertain for the first three sections: I did not have time for around 3-4 questions per section and just chose a random answer. The remaining last two sections were fine (completed on time with a little spare).

Most of my PT were not so good either even though I have prepared since January. Very frustrated. Considering I am thinking about applying for the 2020/2021 and have enrolled for the October LSAT, I am seriously considering canceling this June one to avoid bad record because I am really uncertain and insecure about my scores. I prefer having a decent score for T14 JD otherwise I may not apply for JP programs. Much appreciate if you guys let me know whether I should cancel. Thanks in advance!

[Art_Vandelay_]

I believe the deadline to cancel scores for the June LSAT has already passed.

[HopefulSplitter0000]

I am really uncertain and insecure about my scores.

Most schools, except perhaps Yale, only check your highest score. So if you're uncertain, you could always wait and see. Then, if your score isn't high enough, you can retake. That's what I'll be doing.

[Alex.M]

I took the exam on June 23 therefore there are around 4 days left for me to consider whether to cancel or not. Looking forward to your further advice. Thanks a lot!

[Alex.M]

I am really uncertain and insecure about my scores.

Most schools, except perhaps Yale, only check your highest score. So if you're uncertain, you could always wait and see. Then, if your score isn't high enough, you can retake. That's what I'll be doing.

Thanks for your reply! But i am still wondering whether it would be better to have “one cancel-one decent score (maybe? > <)” than “one sad score-one decent score(maybe?> <)”. Appreciate if you have further insights. Thanks!

[QContinuum]

I am really uncertain and insecure about my scores.

Most schools, except perhaps Yale, only check your highest score. So if you're uncertain, you could always wait and see. Then, if your score isn't high enough, you can retake. That's what I'll be doing.

Thanks for your reply! But i am still wondering whether it would be better to have “one cancel-one decent score (maybe? > <)” than “one sad score-one decent score(maybe?> <)”. Appreciate if you have further insights. Thanks!

Nope. Law schools don't care. They look only to your highest score, as that is the only score they need to report for rankings purposes. Pretty much the only reason to cancel is if you know - with 100% certainty - that you bombed the exam, because you misbubbled an entire section or were extremely ill on the day of the exam and could barely focus or something major along those lines. So long as there is a chance you did well, there is no good reason to cancel.

Keep in mind that it's almost impossible to have a "perfect" test day so it is pretty much never a reason to cancel just because you think you may have messed up on a single passage or gotten stuck on a single logic game.

[HopefulSplitter0000]

Keep in mind that it's almost impossible to have a "perfect" test day so it is pretty much never a reason to cancel just because you think you may have messed up on a single passage or gotten stuck on a single logic game.

I agree with QContinuum here. Do not cancel your score unless you seriously failed on the exam.

Anecdotally speaking, I have one cancelled LSAT on my record. I was sick on exam day and missed an entire reading comprehension passage and logic game (about 14 questions total). The proctor actually said "five minutes remaining" as I began answering the questions for passage three. Since I knew I needed a 172+ for my goals and did not finish two sections, I cancelled.

That said, I also took the June 23 exam. I struggled with two of the reading comprehension passages. Consequently, I made educated guesses on 5-7 questions. However, this does not warrant cancellation in my opinion, since there is a possibility that my educated guesses were correct, and I can always retake later. Moreover, post-test anxiety might have shaped my self-analysis.

The first situation is an example of bombing the exam, and the second is an example of having an imperfect test day.

Edit: I should note, my suggestion assumes that if your score isn't acceptable, you will retake. However, if you will apply after receiving your score, regardless of what it is, then this advice is inapplicable.

[Alex.M]

But it is said that it will be better to consistently hit your target scores(within a range) before you take the actual test. However I was not able to reach my target score in any PTs. Though I encountered similar situations in GRE (not doing good in practice tests but made a nice score in the real test), I doubt whether I am going through similar situations in LSAT. Unlike GRE, schools do see all your tests and may think about your potentials based on the trend. That’s part of the reason why I am seriously considering. (Sigh...)