A reader sent in an email asking about canceling scores after taking the test. Should you ever do it and how can you?

The simple answer to the first part is a qualified NO. I’ve personally tutored or taught many students who reported back to me later that they didn’t think they did very well on the test and were considering canceling their scores. I’ve always counseled my students to wait it out. Not one actually did as bad as they thought (I had one end up with a 166 who was convinced they had screwed up the logic games section and was about to cancel her score).

The LSAT is an incredibly high-pressure event in your life. It’s perfectly normal to have doubts about your performance. Given the weight that your score has on getting into the law school of your choice, it’s perfectly reasonable to want your performance to be as close to perfect as it can be. With that said, you should have a little faith in yourself. Canceling your score essentially means that you’re going to have to start all of your stressful preparations over again without any guaranteed benefit when you retake the test next time.

Ok, but I’m crazy, so what impact does cancelation have on your LSDAS report to the schools your applying to? When your LSAT scores are sent all test sittings are listed. So, if you take the June 2008 test and cancel your score, it will be listed as a canceled score on your report sent to the schools you’re applying to. What impact that has depends on the admissions office. However, just as well if you keep the score and actually do end up scoring poorly, it might not hurt you as bad as you think. Many law schools today take the your highest score when considering you for admission. On the other hand, some end up averaging your scores. I highly recommend before you make any cancelation decision that you talk to admissions counselors at the law schools you’re considering applying to. They’ll let you know what their policy is regarding multiple scores and how a cancelation might affect your application.

If you do decide to cancel there are two ways to do so. The first is to blacken in the two score cancelation bubbles on your answer sheet when you finish taking the test. DO NOT DO THIS! Take the time after the test to really think about whether you want to cancel. You have (as of the 2007-2008 test season) six (6) calendar days to request the LSAC cancel your scores. You can do so by faxing a signed letter to the LSAC at 215.968.1277 with a statement that you want to cancel your scores, your full name, your LSAC account number, LSAT test date, and center name and number. You may also mail the same request to LSAC, Score Cancellation, 662 Penn Street, Box 2000-T, Newtown, PA 18940-0995.

So, when should I cancel my scores? Easy, if you walk out of the test half-way through, vomit on the proctor before finishing, or for some other reason just don’t actually finish the test (a whole section, not just a few questions) then cancelation might be a good idea. Otherwise, relax a bit.

Bottom line, you’re almost always better off keeping the score. If it turns out being as bad as you thought (not likely), you can always take the test again. If it turns out OK (what usually happens), you can focus all of your energy into that great personal statement, finishing the perfect application, and looking forward to your first year in law school.

Have questions or want to know more about preparing for the LSAT? Email us or stop by the forums!