The LSAT "Curve" Explained

A lot of test-takers believe that the LSAT is "curved", meaning that you should try to figure out which month's exam will have the greatest percentage of low-scorers and take it with them. It's not curved, It's equated: The equating process assures that a particular LSAT scaled score reflects the same level of ability regardless of the ability level of others who tested on the same day or any slight differences in difficulty between different forms of the test. Scores have to be meaningful and consistent. The LSAT is a standardized exam. This means that a 160 on the Feb 2020 LSAT should be equivalent to a 160 on the June 2020 LSAT, which should be equivalent to a 160 on the October 2020 LSAT, etc. LSAC creates different exams for each released test administration and makes them of relatively equal difficulty. A 160 on one LSAT (aka "test form") needs to be equivalent to a 160 on any other LSAT. While your LSAT score is supposed to be consistent, there is an element of randomness involved, which means it's often worth retaking. Law schools don't average multiple LSAT scores - they only consider the highest. So if you retake, by luck alone you could do a few points better, leading to more scholarship money and/or getting into a better law school - well worth it.