April LSAT scores are out! As predicted, most everyone taking the April test received their scores at or around 9:00am Eastern on Wednesday, May 18. For all of you applying this cycle, we hope it went well! For the rest of you, did you know that you can apply with an April LSAT score? Turns out a little over 10% of the top-100 law schools accept the April LSAT.

Now let’s get into the numbers.

According to LSAC data, 9,565 test takers took the LSAT in April, a 47% decrease from 2021. This matches the broader pattern we’re seeing, with a 40% drop in testing volume for January-April this year, compared to the year before. Applying to law school in 2022 will no doubt be competitive, but 2021 was the year everyone wanted to go to law school. While the numbers have varied month-to-month, admissions officials are predicting that the final applicant pool for the current cycle could be down approximately 10% over 2021.

This is good news for most of you testing right now. If you’re planning to apply in the fall, you’ve not only gotten ahead of the admission process, but you’ll be competing against fewer applicants next year. Not only that, but the proportion of 170+ scores has dropped this year, meaning that there are dual factors decreasing the number of 170+ scores competing for spots at top schools next year. The same holds true for scores in the 160-170 range. Correspondingly, a greater proportion of test takers this cycle are scoring in the 140-160 range.

So what do all those numbers mean? Two things. First, you can feel more confident with a “good-but-not-great” score, whatever that means to you and the schools on your list. Second, it means that the value of a great score is higher than it was last year. Whether you’re looking for a reason to be done or a reason to push further, you’ll find support in these numbers and can feel good about your decision. That said, a higher LSAT score does catch attention (the good kind), so if you’ve got time and motivation to keep grinding and keep pushing your score higher, go for it! The possibility of a few more points, and the host of rewards that come with them, is often worth the effort.

April 2022 LSAT Make Up Tests Recap

The other big story about the April LSAT is the number of delays people experienced. It’s intensely frustrating when you’ve worked hard and gotten your mind right for test day, only to have delays running up to two hours or significant interruptions while you’re testing. Stay strong, LSAT warriors! For those of you who retested due to these test implosions, LSAC reported that those 1,000+ test takers who did retest saw smooth sailing the second time around. So yes, very frustrating, but you likely saw the February 2011 LSAT as your make up exam. This is an unreleased exam that has been a favorite in recent years. Some students have seen this exam readministered in 2020 (June, July, October, or November), and even as recently as January 2022.

For all of you April LSAT takers, including those of you who retested in May, congratulations on making it through! Every LSAT experience is an opportunity to learn and to improve. Now, does anyone care to comment on the ABA officially recommending the elimination of the standardized test requirement for the admission to law school?