Last updated: July 7, 2013
Definitely in June or October following your junior year, and I strongly recommend the June session. A strong competitive pressure builds up between law school bound students that reaches a peak the week before the LSAT. If you take the test in October in a room surrounded by your friends, you risk having a distractive, competitive feeling that is natural during such an important test. On the other hand, if the test is taken at home in the summer, you will probably not know any people in the room and can concentrate on the test. Another reason the June date is better is that you are not likely to have burdensome scholastic or social obligations around the time of the test that could interfere with your frame of mind. In October, one might have midterms or papers due immediately prior to the test which would require a great deal of energy (and late hours) when the candidate should be rested. Also, on weekends during the year students frequently have social obligations that might take their minds off the test. Still another reason for the June session is that you will receive your score in late August and will be able to apply in September. If you really screw up the test and feel that a second administration will be worthwhile, you'll be able to register for the October session. But if the October test is ruined, your only recourse will be the December test, which will probably be too late. I strongly feel that the June date is preferable to October, and reject the contention that people's "minds aren't as sharp in the summer as in the fall." That's ridiculous.
Retaking the LSAT
A student should plan to take the LSAT only once. If, however, the score is unacceptable or considerably below predicted performance, the student should consult with the pre-law advisor about taking the test again. The student should realize that in most cases, though not all, law schools are not very impressed with multiple scores. Though the official LSDAS policy is to average multiple scores, and send this average, along with all scores. New policies concerning what information law schools have to report to the ABA give the schools the option of considering only the highest score. However, individual schools may differ on how they look at multiple scores.
Should I Take One Of The Commercial LSAT Preparation Courses?
Neither Law Services nor this office sponsors or recommends any particular commercial prep course. Students who have taken such courses point out that these courses do familiarize the test taker with the format of the test and that taking full advantage of these courses may reduce the anxiety factor. Law Services does provide old tests and other preparation materials which may be equally helpful if they are dealt with seriously.
If a student chooses to take one of these courses, he or she should take it as near to the time of the actual test as possible.