New LSAT Retake Limit from LSAC

I don't like the new limit, but I want to be clear about what it involves - the 3 attempt limit is only limiting you to 3 attempts in a single testing year (June-May). You can take 5 times in 5 years, which is plenty!

As unpopular as it is (and deservedly so) I suspect it'll have a negligible impact on the typical test-taker or on the # of high scorers overall.

It'll more likely affect when people take the LSAT - people may postpone / withdraw when they otherwise would've taken only to cancel.

The biggest impact it may have (I hope) is to get pre-law advisors to stop telling people to take the LSAT "just to see how they'll do!"

More thoughts below, as well as the text of the new LSAT retake limit announcement from LSAC.

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I actually think that to create "a fair and equitable testing program," they should lower their prices and allow unlimited retakes (at least until you get a 180) - that'd be a better way to level the playing field and allow anyone to achieve their fullest potential.

Your LSAT score is the biggest factor in determining your financial aid. To impose this kind of limit privileges those who don't need the financial aid and will lead others to take on massive loans for law school.

Also, for anyone taking for the 3rd time in a cycle, this adds enormous unnecessary stress - to know it's your last time for a while. Especially for those who got bad advice from a pre-law advisor to take it just to "see how you'll do."

Seems kinda strange to add all these additional test dates and limit retakes. Do they want to increase access or not?

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"Law School Admission Council, Newtown, PA 18940

Dear LSAT registrant,

You are receiving this communication because you have taken, or have registered to take, the LSAT in the 2019-2020 testing year. We want you to know that LSAC is committed to providing a fair and equitable testing program and maintaining the integrity of the LSAT. We will be updating our test-taking limit policy later this summer and it will go into effect with the September 2019 LSAT administration. We are still finishing up the final details of the new policy, but we know that there has been a lot of conversation on social media recently, so we wanted to share the basic elements in an effort to reduce the speculation and any anxiety. Based on our estimates, this policy will impact a small number of people – less than 1 percent of all LSAT test takers.

In effect starting with the September 2019 test administration, test takers would be permitted to take the LSAT:

• Three times in a single testing year (the testing year goes from June 1 to May 31).
• Five times within the current and five past testing years (the period in which LSAC reports scores to law schools).
• A total of seven times over a lifetime.
• This policy is forward-looking, not retroactive. Tests taken prior to September 2019 will not count against these numerical limits.

In addition, test takers would not be permitted to retake the LSAT if they have already scored a 180 (perfect score) within the current and five past testing years, the period in which LSAC reports scores to law schools. This policy will be applied retroactively.

There will be an appeals process for test takers who have special circumstances and want to request an exception to this policy.

We hope that this helps to address many of the questions. We will provide more detail in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, please reach out to us at 215.968.1001 or at LSACinfo@LSAC.org if you have additional concerns regarding our test-taking limit policy.

Sincerely,

The Law School Admission Council"