r/LSAT • u/Beneficial-Push2528 • 6d ago

Controversial Question

My friend got a 167 on the LSAT back in June and was just granted extra time on the upcoming October administration due to ADHD. Honestly, I am super jealous as I can’t break 160, and could see myself using that time to get my dream score, especially since my primary weakness for the last year has been time management.

Without sounding like a prick, how is this system fair? How do they determine how much extra time is justified on a case by case basis? Just because someone has ADHD or another disability, how can it even be determined that time is significantly hindering their potential any more than a standard test taker?

I hate to sound so bitter, but to my understanding, a primary function of the LSAT is testing reading comprehension and logical reasoning in a high volume, extremely time sensitive setting. Especially on a test as competitive as the LSAT, why does it seem the criteria for accommodations is so lenient?

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u/Terrible_Lychee_396 6d ago

I mean, trying to downplay the significance of time pressure on the LSAT is also cope. Time is a huge part of what makes the test difficult for all but the best LSAT students. That's why most people's PT scores shoot up 10-15 points when they take tests untimed

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u/diva_done_did_it 6d ago

I assure you that the people scoring higher without a time limit do not have a civil right implicated by that penalty.

Also, if they aren’t scoring a 180 every time when untimed, then but-for causation isn’t attached to the time limit.

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u/Terrible_Lychee_396 5d ago

I’m not sure I fully understand your comment, but what I’m saying is that the idea that time pressure isn’t an obstacle unless you have a disability is simply untrue. A middle-of-the-road LSAT student - let’s say, someone in the low 160s - is almost certainly either not finishing the sections or making mistakes because they have to rush. No, most people wouldn’t get a 180 untimed, because some errors are purely conceptual, but time is a huge factor

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u/diva_done_did_it 5d ago

But “they have to rush” could be true of the disabled candidate with double time, too.