In any given year, law school applicants will take the LSAT at different times and some of these tests might be easier than others. If the test were scored simply as a function of the number of correct answers given, applicants who took a more difficult LSAT would be at a disadvantage. In order to level the playing field, the makers of the LSAT, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), curve the test.

This means that the score law schools care about does not correspond to a certain number of questions students get right, but rather to a percentile. For example, two people who took the LSAT at different times and both received a score of 153 did not necessarily answer the same number of questions correctly. Rather 153 correlates to a percentile (currently, the 55%), so both people who got this score did better on the test they took than 55 out of 100 people, and worse than 45 people. The number of questions a person would need to answer correctly in order to do better than 55% of the other test takers would be different for each of these exams depending on its level of difficulty. So, assuming that the body of test takers as a whole is equally skilled for each of the four LSATs given each year, you should get roughly the same score, no matter which test you take.

It's clear that the LSAC's method of adjusting for easier or harder tests has been generally effective, because when students take LSATs from different years they usually get roughly the same scaled score. Until recently, that is.

Rougher Curves



Above are overlayed curves for each of 2005's released LSATs and the curve for the Dec. 2002 LSAT. One can see a clear progression, especially in the middle of the curves, where more correct answers are required to attain the same scaled score.

Whereas in the December 2002 LSAT, 72 right answers were required for a score of 160, in the December 2005 LSAT, 79 right answers were required. This means that test takers had to get 7 more questions right (out of 100) on the more recent test to get the same score. That's a massive variance compared with the 1 or 2 questions that LSATs have historically varied. Bottom line: The curve is getting more difficult. You need to get more questions right than previous test-takers to get the same score.

Running to Stand Still

Because the scaled score is determined by how well or badly the test takers as a group perform on a particular test, at least two interpretations of this data present themselves.

First, it might be the case that Law Services is simply making easier LSATs than they were in the past. This seems unlikely, as Law Services has an interest in preserving the continuity of the LSAT throughout multiple administrations. Furthermore, the more recent curves are so harsh that some scores are unattainable because the curve rises so quickly. In December 2005, for example, there was no 177, 175, or 173 because the curve rose so sharply at the top. It's unlikely that Law Services would intentionally make an LSAT so easy that it strained their own point system.

A second interpretation is that the test takers are getting better. It's not that the test is getting easier, it's that the people taking it are better at the LSAT. With more test preparation programs offering longer courses and more rigorous curricula, it might be the case that many students are far better prepared than their predecessors. Assuming that the people who do not take test preparation courses are no better prepared than their predecessors, this second hypothesis suggests that the gap between those with preparation and those without it is increasing significantly.
Consider the following analogy. Imagine a group of people who don't exercise. Then imagine that half of these people join a gym and exercise two days a week. Further imagine that half these gym goers get really motivated and start going 6 days a week and hire personal trainers to help them with their diets and workouts.
If you were in the second group and assumed that by exercising two days a week you'd get an edge on other people, you'd be in for a rude awakening. Not only would you merely be keeping pace with the other people who work out moderately, but you'd be falling behind those who are exercising more.

Those who do not exercise at all are analogous to the students without any test preparation, those who work out two days a week may be likened to students who prepare moderately with courses, and the health nuts are comparable to the LSAT nuts that now avail themselves of extensive LSAT preparation courses.

Whatever the cause, the practical fact remains: the LSAT is getting harder, and it's happening quickly. So if you want to throw your hat into the law school admissions ring, be ready to roll up your sleeves and put in a considerable amount of time studying.

This article has been updated.