So you've taken the LSAT, and your score is lower than you had hoped. Your initial reaction may be to do the whole thing again, but before you send in that registration for the next test date, you should ask yourself the following questions--and, most importantly, answer as honestly as possible:
Were you ill, overstressed, anxious, or incapacitated during the first LSAT?
If so, taking the exam again may result in a higher LSAT score, and you can explain why your first test score differs greatly from your second in an addendum to your law school applications. If not, without a significant commitment to LSAT preparation, your score just may not change very much.
Was your LSAT score within five points of your LSAT practice test scores?
If your score was within that five point range, even up to eight points, according to Law School Admission expert Ann K. Levine, Esq., chances are you'll still score about the same again, so there is probably no need to go through the time, expense, and stress preparing for another LSAT exam.
If, on the other hand, you didn't take enough LSAT practice exams to even know what your score range was, you should consider doing some serious LSAT prep and taking the exam again.
Are you prepared to do a significant amount of LSAT prep to increase your score?
This one applies most to those who feel they performed poorly because of a lack of preparation; if you've already done lots of LSAT practice exams and worked hard at preparation, a couple more weeks of practice simply may not make a huge difference in your score. Most people who take the LSAT twice don't score significantly higher the second time, but it has happened through a lot of hard work.
Can you increase your score enough to risk applying to schools later?
Most schools have rolling admissions policies, which means that they accept students all throughout the application season. If you feel strongly that your current score won't make you competitive at the schools to which you want to apply but that you can make yourself a more attractive candidate by taking the LSAT again, then it is probably worth the risk.
Note that you can and should still send in your applications before taking the second LSAT; schools will be aware you've registered for another exam administration through your LSDAS report.
Do schools take the highest LSAT score or average all of your scores?
If the schools you're interested in take the highest score, this definitely weighs in favor of taking the test again as there is no penalty if you actually score lower. If the schools average all of your LSAT scores, though, keep in mind that you have to score significantly higher to greatly positively affect the average.
You should be able to find this information on the websites of the schools you're looking at, but if you can't locate it there, contact the schools' admissions offices.
