After many years of LSAT takers bemoaning the fact that they were unable to see their scores before deciding whether or not to cancel them, LSAC has finally addressed their concerns. LSAC now offers a new “score preview” option solely for first-time test takers who would like to see their scores before deciding whether or not to cancel.

How does it work?

First-time test takers who sign up for Score Preview receive their scores at the same time that everyone else does. Upon receiving his/her score, the first-time test taker will have six (6) calendar days to decide whether or not to cancel that score. If he/she takes no action, then the score will be added to the LSAC transcript and released to schools.

LSAC.org expresses that this is available only to first-time test takers since the goal is to “reduce test anxiety for first-time test takers” [especially in the time of COVID] while also avoiding “score shopping,” where multiple-time test takers might try to take advantage of the system and test repeatedly in order to hit a particular score goal.

How can first-time test takers preview their score before deciding whether or not to cancel?

For those test-takers that sign up for “Score Preview” BEFORE the first day of testing for a given administration, the fee will be $45. This means that even if you are taking the LSAT-Flex exam on one of the later days the exam is offered, the deadline to sign up for Score Preview is the day before the FIRST test session of that given LSAT-Flex exam, NOT the day before the specific day you are taking the exam.

For those test-takers that sign up for “Score Preview” during a specified period AFTER their given test administration, the fee will be $75.

*Important Note* LSAT Fee Waiver recipients receive Score Preview free of charge.

What are the benefits of cancelling your score?

If you choose to cancel your score then the score will not be reflected on your LSAC transcript and will not be reported to law schools, but you will receive a note that reads “Candidate Cancel” on your LSAT transcript, just as you would have in the past for any cancellations.

Since LSAT-Flex administrations are currently not being counted towards the maximum amount of times you can take the LSAT, the cancellation of such score through Score Preview will not count against your lifetime test limit of 12 official sittings - but who honestly tortures themselves with that many administrations :) ?

The Verdict:

If you’re a first-time test taker AND can stomach the extra $45, we think it’s a good idea to sign up for Score Preview

Posted: 7-17-2020