How Hard is the LSAT Really?

The key thing to realize about the LSAT is that there are no subscores for the different sections, unlike the SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc. That’s because the makers of the LSAT think they’re measuring one thing, and one thing only: reasoning skills.

So whether it’s Reading Comp or Games or whatever section, it’s just different wrapping paper, but the same underlying skills being tested. Each point feeds into the LSAT’s overall score, regardless of section. The final score doesn’t care where the points came from.

That matters a LOT for prep. We’re normed from those other tests to care about subscores. So if Games is your hardest section, the instinct is to double down on practicing Games. That doesn’t make sense for the LSAT, though.

No law school admissions officer is going to see subscores, because they’re not broken out on the score report. They don’t exist officially. All points count towards the final score regardless of section.

So better to max out points in the sections that are easier for you and then worry about the section that’s hardest for you. It’s counterintuitive when your prior tests have caused you to care a lot about the optics of subscores.

The LSAT measures a very narrow bandwidth of skills, so if that’s not in your sweet spot, it can kick your butt even if you’re a very smart person. Other tests measure a wider range, so you have more wiggle room on those to excel.

In my opinion, it’s the hardest of the standardized tests. (Your mileage may vary.) I’ve seen people get very high scores on the GMAT and not be able to exceed 165 on the LSAT, even with prep. It happens. And the GMAT is not an easy test.

By the way, the conversion tool that ETS makes to “convert” GRE scores into LSAT scores (concordance) is bonkers, and wildly inflates the value of a given GRE score. That makes sense because ETS makes the GRE. It's easy enough to check when you compare the scores/percentiles of people who have taken both.

I’ve seen law schools apply a much higher standard for GRE percentiles than they do for LSAT percentiles. Not only is the LSAT a harder test, but because the GRE is used for a dog’s breakfast of masters programs, the pools of people taking them aren’t the same.

And if you’re wondering why law schools haven’t gone test optional the way colleges have, that’s because the American Bar Association still requires a standardized test for accreditation, and also because studies have shown a correlation between LSAT score and bar passage rates. No admissions officer at a legitimate law school wants to admit people who aren’t going to be able to pass the bar.

The practice of law is a legal cartel. You’re not allowed to do it if you can’t pass the bar. That makes it very different from admitting a person for a bachelors or an MBA. You don’t have this licensing hurdle at the end of your program (some exceptions for some undergrad).

Long story short: the LSAT breaks a lot of hearts. And if you are having trouble getting a good score, it’s not crazy to worry if you’re going to be able to pass the bar exam. That’s a wild investment of time and money if you can’t even practice after all that.

LSAT prep can make a big difference for a lot of people. A good course can pay for itself many times over. Not fair, I know.

Oh and I’m glad I never have to take the damn thing again. ??

P.S. Before you take the GRE for giggles, be aware that some law schools like NYU make you report your GRE scores even if you also have LSAT scores and had no intention of using your GRE scores. (Your LSAT scores automatically get reported via LSAC when you’re applying to law school.)

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