Does LSAT scores determine success in your first year?
Exam: LSAT Test - Law School Admission Test: Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning
Scoring high in the LSAT is critical to a law student. To get into some of the top-rated law schools, one has to perform well and get a high score. The LSAT score is one of the important factors that are considered in student admission. Students fear failing the LSAT since they know that they might not get into a good school. The good thing is that most top rated schools do not only check your LSAT score but also your GPA score. You may not have a high-LSAT score but have a very high GPA and still get into a good law school. One of the common things that people believe is that the LSAT score determines how you will perform in your first year in law school. This is a wrong misconception which is misguiding many pre-law students out there. Measuring intelligence by use of one standardized test is not enough to gauge one's capability and ability. Law schools only use the LSAT score report as a cut off benchmark when admitting new students. Getting a low score should not mean that you will fail in your first year as a law student.
Statistics has proven that some students, who perform low on the LSAT, may end up performing well once admitted to law school. Sometimes the score does not matter; all that matter is the ability and knowledge that the student has. The LSAT scores are imperative still, and to understand how one should perform, you need to have an overview of what is required of you in the LSAT exam.
All about the LSAT scores
To understand more on the scores of LSAT, let's have a look at each section and what it requires from the student:
- Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Reading Comprehension
- Analytical Reasoning
- Un-scored Variable Section
- Writing Sample/ Essay
The LSAT comprises of two Logical Reasoning parts. The LR section assesses the applicants' ability to analyze and dissect arguments. The two Logical Reasoning sections each comprise of between 24 and 26 questions. The questioning each question starts off with short cases and also a set of facts. The candidate is allocated a total of 345 minutes in each section.
This section requires the candidate to determine what the main idea that the author is trying to pass through and also to outline key points in the passages, plus also provide and describe the structure of the passages. This section has a total of four passages, each of between 400 and 500 words. Each passage has 5 to eight questions, and the whole Reading Comprehension has a total of around 26 to 28 questions. The candidate is allocated a duration of 35 minutes.
Currently, the LSAT is made of one section for Analytical Reasoning. This section is normally referred to as logic games section. It practically contains four games. Each of the logic games has a total of between 22 and 254 questions. The questions are unique and the examiner require a lot from the candidate. This section is also given a duration of 35 minutes.
This is a section of the LSAT that is mainly concerned with experimental questions. This used to test for new questions in next exams. The score that the candidate gets in this part is not added to the overall score report. |Not at all times does the applicant know which is the experimental section, but since 2011 in October, the experimental section is usually after the first three parts. In short, the experimental section can be any of the three main sections, which is the logical reasoning or the Analytical Reasoning. It is usually awarded a total of 35 minutes. There is usually a total of between 22 and 28 questions in this section.
This is the final part of the exam. The essay question is usually provided as a form of decision prompt. The applicant is provided with a problem and tow ways of making a decision. When writing the essay, the candidate must write on which way is ideal in making a decision. This part is similar to the experimental section, and it is not scored. One is awarded 35 minutes to complete the essay. A few law schools use the writing sample to evaluate their students before admitting.
These are the main section soft h LSAT. By understanding each part, you will not be able to get a high score, and if you do get a score that will not get you in a good law school, do not lose all hope, there is still an excellent chance that you will perform well.
How the LSAT score is calculated
The criteria of how the LSAT is marked is not that hard. The LSAT final score is calculated from the total number of corrected answered questions in either four or five of the sections. The experimental and essay part are not part of the score. Questions that have been answered incorrectly earn zero points while correct answers earn you one point. The sum of the total score earned is referred to as one raw score. The raw score is then translated into a scaled score that will range between 120 and 180. The mean score is 150. Getting a 150 ensures you are an average student, so one should target getting above 150. If one does not score this, it does not mean that their law career is at a standstill. You may be surprised that during the first year, you will improve and perform better that you hard in your LSAT. So, do not let your LSAT determine your performance in law school, whether its top rated or a middle leveled school.