Should You Cancel Your LSAT Score?

Deciding Whether or Not to Cancel

Making the decision to keep or cancel can be very stressful. However, there are several situations where cancellation might be a good option for you.

1. Test anxiety: you suffered from extreme anxiety during the exam, sometimes manifesting as distraction, panic, cold sweats, nausea, etc.
2. Lack of preparation: you took the exam “cold” or didn’t prepare very well.
3. Falling ill: you were ill during the exam or became ill during it.
4. Failure to finish: you were unable to complete the test or had to leave during it.
5. Gut instinct: you’re convinced that something went very, very wrong during the test.

The situations that can lead you to consider cancellation vary. One of the first things students should do is evaluate their performance. With careful analysis, it’s possible to put together relatively accurate best- and worst-case scenarios about LSAT performance.

Evaluating Your Performance

Analyze the LSAT you just took very carefully

This can be difficult immediately after the test but is very useful. Write down your sections in order and recall how many questions you confidently answered versus guessed. Identify difficult sections or question types, and analyze objectively without letting feelings cloud your judgment.

Try to determine the experimental section

This is often possible. Learn how to identify the experimental section here.

Create a best-case and worst-case scenario

Once you evaluate each section, translate your feelings into numerical score ranges:

• Best-case scenario: For each section, count confident answers and partially confident answers. Add the confident number plus 75% of the partially confident number for each section to get a raw best-case score.
• Worst-case scenario: For each section, add 75% of confident answers plus 50% of partially confident answers for a raw worst-case score.
• Convert raw numbers into LSAT 120-180 range using historical ranges here.

Think about how you did on your practice tests

Compare your past practice performances to your feelings about the real LSAT. Be objective. Determine whether the test was harder, easier, or similar to practice and adjust your best/worst-case scenarios accordingly.

Consider which scores you would feel comfortable with

Identify the LSAT score ranges needed for your target schools. Check past percentiles here. Decide which scores improve your chances of admission and align with your goals.

Don’t forget to think about your past LSAT performances

If you have multiple cancellations or absences, consider how an additional cancellation will look to admissions committees. Evaluate how your new score will affect your overall Score Report, positively or negatively.

Make a final decision

After completing these steps, you have six calendar days from your test to notify LSAC if you want to cancel. Consider your best/worst-case scenarios, past performances, desired scores, and current Score Report. Follow LSAC’s official guidelines for cancellation.

You’re Going to Cancel. Now what?

To cancel your score, notify LSAC by completing a score cancellation form or sending a signed fax/overnight letter. LSAC does not accept email or phone requests. Requests must include:

• A statement that you wish to cancel your LSAT score
• Your name, LSAC account number, and last four digits of your Social Security Number
• The test date, test center number, and test center name
• Your signature

Read the procedures carefully. For questions, call LSAC at 215-968-1001 instead of emailing.

FAQ

• Will schools see that I canceled my LSAT score? Yes, it will show on your Law School Report.
• Can I get a refund if I cancel my score? No. LSAC gives no refunds for canceled scores.
• If I cancel, will I still know my score? No, you will never know your actual score.
• Will I get a copy of test questions if I cancel? If it was a non-disclosed test, no. For disclosed tests, yes, but you won’t receive your answer sheet.
• What if LSAC doesn’t cancel my score after I requested it? LSAC mails a confirmation. If not received within four days, contact LSAC immediately and keep proof of timely submission.

Score Cancellation Resources

• LSAC.org Your LSAT Score
• LSAT Score Cancellation Form
• PowerScore Historical Range of LSAT Scores
• PowerScore LSAT Experimental Section Breakdown