*This is the first of a 4-part series on the LSAT accommodations process.*Test-takers often say if they had unlimited time, they'd get 180s. Whether or not that's true, the fact remains that virtually everyone taking the LSAT would benefit from extended time on each section.
LSAC's research suggests:
LSAT scores earned under accommodated testing conditions that included extra testing time are not comparable to LSAT scorers earned under standard timing conditions as evidenced by a tendency of the former to overpredict FYAs [First-year grade point averages in law school -Steve].Source: Predictive Validity of Accommodated LSAT Scores (PDF)
(Also see: Accommodated Test Taker Trends and Performance for the June 1993 through February 1998 LSAT Administrations)
Basically this means people who take the LSAT with extra time get higher scores than they would've otherwise. Not so surprising.
Unfortunately, the time constraint is a large part of what makes the LSAT difficult, so LSAC makes it extremely difficult to get extra time.
Applying for accommodations (for extra time) is a bit like preparing for a trial where you're guilty until proven innocent. LSAC presumes that every test-taker who applies for extra time is not actually in need of it, until proven otherwise.
This blog post contains some info on how LSAC views your requests for extra time, and what to do about it:
First, the accommodations process in general:
Apply Early for Accommodations
It can take LSAC several weeks to process your request for accommodations and reach a decision. There's no guarantee that they'll process your request before your test date, but you have to register before you can apply for accommodations.
This means you have to apply for accommodations before you know whether they'll approve your request. If you apply too late, and they don't reach a decision before the test date, you'll have to take the LSAT without accommodations or be a no-show.
Fill Out All Their Forms
More on that in a bit.
Your Score Will be Flagged
Test-takers who receive extra time on the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, and TOEFL don't get a mark on their record indicating that they received extra time. LSAC is the lone holdout among them that still places the dreaded asterisk (*) next to the score on your score report to show that you received accommodations.
You Don't Have To Take A 5th (Experimental) Section
Enough said.
Factors in LSAC's Decision to Grant Extra Time / Accommodations:
Scored Decently in the Past
if you've demonstrated that you're capable of scoring better than average (an LSAT score of approximately 150), LSAC is very unlikely to give you extra time due to ADD / ADHD.
Even if you suffer from severe ADD/ADHD and would score 175+ with a bit of extra time, LSAC won't care about that if you've demonstrated that you can score decently without accommodations.
However, LSAC's definition of "scoring decently" is scoring 150+. For many test-takers, "scoring decently" means 160+ or 165+ because these are the sorts of scores required for their goal law schools.
This suggests that if you intend to apply for accommodations, you should do so before you ever get an official LSAT score on your report. Any decent score you receive can (and will) be used against you in LSAC's decision.
Medication
If you take ADD / ADHD medication (Ritalin, Adderall, etc.), this will also be held against you in your request for accommodations. LSAC operates on the assumption that the medication levels the playing field, meaning that the medication supposedly offsets any problems or disadvantages you might face.
Documentation
If you have no previous documentation of a learning disability / disorder or attention deficit disorder, it's going to make your claims appear questionable. You've got a better shot if you were diagnosed at an early age and have received accommodations on other standardized exams in the past. LSAC will request a lot of medical forms and records. Test-takers with actual learning disabilities such as dyslexia or dysgraphia are much more likely to be granted accommodations than any kind of attention deficit disorder such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, or inattention.
Most test-takers struggle with timing - it's part of the exam's challenge. LSAC isn't going to give you unique treatment if you don't have a unique issue.
Even if you hire a doctor for your desired diagnosis, LSAC may still reject your request for accommodations if the learning disability / ADD / ADHD diagnosis is recent. Do some research before shelling out big bucks on this to some kind of 'testing accommodations expert." (It'll likely run into thousands of dollars for all the medical opinions and tests. LSAC can make you go to their doctors in addition to your own.)
If you only have ADD/ADHD, you're probably better off investing your time and money in preparing for the LSAT itself. Create your own advantage through studying rather than by trying to get one from LSAC itself.
If you do decide to hire a professional to diagnose you, make sure it's someone with experience in getting test-takers accommodations for the LSAT. This person should know the difference between a clinical diagnosis and a diagnosis for the purposes of getting accommodations under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines. You need someone who will perform a comprehensive evaluation - not simply give you a bunch of forms to fill out.
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Read on for Part 2: LSAT Medical Learning Disability Accommodations Forms
Photo by tonivc / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
