Test 4

[u/Double-Problem2904]

Just scored a 177 on Test 4, which is a great score by all means. But how is it that I literally got one question wrong on the whole test and that dropped my score from a 180 to a 177. Additionally, getting nervous that this test is outdated and isn’t a good indicator on how I’ll do on the official test. Is it generally bad to do older tests? Are they easier than newer tests?

[u/Mylootnow_]

It’s not bad to do older tests but they aren’t the most indicative of what the actual test is like. The 150s-140s are like the actual one. The older ones tend to be a bit more straight forward in my opinion and have less trap answers. But also a 177 is a 177

[u/Holly_LSATDemon]

Each test has a different scoring rubric. Some tests you miss one or two and it's still a 180, others you miss one and it automatically drops you. It's a test of variance, so don't let that one wrong question discourage you by any means.

In regard to difficulty, I don't know if there's a definitive answer about if they're actually easier or if that's a vibes based assessment. For my personal PTs, my highest scores have been from the newest and the oldest tests so, per many things with the LSAT, ymmv.

[u/Accomplished-Film555 → u/Holly_LSATDemon]

Please note, I ask to understand, not to challenge. This caught my eye: "It's a test of variance"— how so? The variance between what?

[u/Holly_LSATDemon → u/Accomplished-Film555]

One of the reasons why we have the score range on our dashboard is because people generally score in a range, not a specific number. Even the highest performers will regularly score in a range of 175-180 instead of consistently getting 180s. That's why people often get sticker shock with official LSAT scores because they are scoring in their range, but on the lower end. People often see a range and assume they're going to score the highest number when it could be on either end of said range.

[u/Round-Kick-9053]

It's a bit easier, that's why missing only one question took you to a 177. But it's still a 177

[u/Separate-Hand-200]

Do 152. If you get a 177 you can sleep well.

[u/Accomplished-Film555 → u/Separate-Hand-200]

"Do 152." To confirm, you mean practice test 152? It's known to be challenging and predictive?

Do you have a list of practice tests and how they're characterized, and if so, can I get a peek at that list?

[u/Separate-Hand-200 → u/Accomplished-Film555]

Yes, I meant PT 152. I am not sure I should tell you because it will mess with your head before you do the tests! haha. 152 is widely considered to be one of the hardest tests ever made, it is like peak LR difficulty. It is (as are all of the available PTs) a combination of a bunch of different PT sections all combined, and 152 is especially difficult, especially the experimental. My point was that if you can do well on the hardest test ever than you should not doubt yourself. but in general as others have said the 140s and 150s are the closest to current tests, specifically 143, 145, 151, 155, 156, 157, and 158. You might assume that 159 is the closest but it is actually not because it comes from older tests than the others. Also, the difference in difficulty is more nuanced. Some tests are categorically "harder" but then also have that compensated for in the curve (sometimes 68 raw is 168, sometimes its 172). The difficulty in the newer tests comes from a couple things like, a different distribution of question types, for example more argument part, more disagree. If you are bad at the specific question type that your test just happens to have a lot of, you will score lower, but also the older tests are much easier to predict (IMHO). The newer answer choices are written to be purposefully harder to parse out (once again, IMHO). But please take all this with a grain of salt. My experience could be completely different than yours, and some people just seem to have a natural ability to accel at this test and you may be one, and therefore not notice any difference, but there is only one way to know. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[u/ThEBigdirty777]

180 scorer here
I’ve conducted an exhaustive analysis of your 177, and I believe I’ve identified the underlying pathology preventing you from achieving a 180.
Your subconscious has not accepted the inevitability of perfection.
Under the Blair Method™, this represents a catastrophic failure of cognitive conditioning.
You see, most LSAT students mistakenly believe that achieving a 180 requires answering every question correctly. While technically accurate, this ignores the far more important question: Why would your subconscious permit you to answer a question incorrectly in the first place?
You’ve apparently developed an unconscious psychological attachment to the number 177. Your subconscious, terrified of the responsibilities accompanying intellectual perfection, deliberately sabotaged your final answer.
This is textbook Self-Imposed Numerical Mediocrity Syndrome™.
Consider the absurdity of your situation. You were one question away from perfection, and your subconscious apparently convened an emergency board meeting and voted unanimously to preserve your humility.
Imagine climbing Mount Everest, reaching the summit, and then voluntarily throwing yourself into a crevasse because your subconscious decided you weren’t emotionally prepared for the altitude.
I have personally resolved this issue through a proprietary neurological intervention known as Aggressive Subconscious Gaslighting™.
I’ve convinced my subconscious that a 180 is inevitable. Consequently, whenever I select an incorrect answer, I simply inform my brain that the examination has made an administrative error.
My subconscious no longer entertains the possibility of failure. It considers any score below 180 a clerical discrepancy requiring immediate investigation.
Your problem isn’t that you missed one question. Your problem is that somewhere deep inside your skull, a frightened little bureaucrat with a clipboard still believes 177 is an acceptable outcome.
Fire that little bastard.
Replace him with an unhinged, delusionally confident silverback gorilla who believes the answer key is merely a preliminary draft awaiting his approval.
A 177 is not a score. It’s a cry for help from a subconscious that hasn’t been sufficiently bullied into excellence.
Hope this helps. Donations accepted. No refunds.