Re-taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT): How Many Times is Allowed?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized exam that forms a significant part of the application process for law schools. If you don't meet your desired score on your first attempt, you might wonder how many times you can retake the test. This article explores the rules surrounding LSAT retakes and the implications of taking multiple exams.

The LSAT: An Overview

The LSAT is not just a test of legal knowledge but also a comprehensive assessment of reasoning and critical thinking skills. It consists of five short reading comprehension passages, an analytical reasoning section, and two logical reasoning sections. Each section tests a different type of analytical and reasoning ability.

How Many Times Can You Retake the LSAT?

There are some specific rules regarding the number of times you can take the LSAT:

One-year limit: You can take the LSAT up to three times in a calendar year. Five-year limit: Over a five-year period, you can take the test up to five times. However, this does not mean that you can take it five times in a single five-year window; you must have a one-year break between tests. Total limit: You can take the LSAT up to seven times in total, accounting for the one-year break between tests.

These limits are in place to encourage you to perform your best on the first attempt and to discourage multiple re-takes solely for the sake of improving scores. It's important to note that these limits apply to any combination of test days, regardless of how many times you take the test.

Why the Limited Number of Retakes?

The rules surrounding the number of test retakes are designed to:

Encourage preparation: With a limited number of attempts, students are motivated to invest more time and effort in studying. Ensure fairness: By limiting the number of test attempts, law schools can ensure that all applicants are evaluated fairly on a level playing field. Prevent abuse: Too many retakes could give an unfair advantage to those who manipulate the system, while also prolonging the admissions process.

Will Law Schools Accept My Lowest Score?

Law schools are not likely to accept your lowest score or to consider any scores that fall outside the five-year limit. Admissions committees typically use the highest score from the five-year period as the primary score for evaluating your application. However, it's important to note that:

Improving scores are appreciated: If your scores improve over time, law schools will favor your highest score. Multiple tests can show effort: Taking the test multiple times can demonstrate your commitment to your legal education and your willingness to excel.

What if I Fail the LSAT?

The term "failing" the LSAT is a misnomer because the test is not pass or fail. Instead, it provides you with a score that ranges from 120 to 180, with 150 being the midpoint. While there is no official pass or fail threshold, each law school has its own score requirements based on the distribution of LSAT scores among their enrolled students.

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), nothing bad will happen even if you don't perform well on your first try as long as you improve your score on subsequent attempts. Law schools value consistent improvement, so it's in your best interest to retake the test if you feel you can do better.

Conclusion

While there are limits to the number of times you can retake the LSAT, the LSAC aims to ensure that all applicants have fair and equal opportunities to demonstrate their potential. By following the guidelines and focusing on improvement, you can increase your chances of admission to your desired law school.