Dave Killoran

Founder and former CEO/Director of PowerScore and TestMasters (LA), author of the LSAT Bibles, former cohost of the PowerScore LSAT PodCast. LSAT Enthusiast.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

The new LSAT without Logic Games is top-loading scores at an alarming rate.

The following graph shows the percent increase in each scoring range compared to last year. The black line is the overall increase in applicants (20.3%):

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@ETTC19 That's a nice improvement there, for sure!

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

If you want to take a look at the new LSAT testing interface that will be used beginning with the August LSAT, it is up on Lawhub.

Definitely a cleaner, more pleasing look. But, I see some changes I don't love, such as the bottom question slider only showing 10 questions at a time. Not sold on the highlighting or flagging functions yet, either.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@BillFromIraq That probably will still be allowed. There are some exceptions allowing remote testing (military bases and such).

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

The biggest news LSAC announced today is that the LSAT is moving away from remote testing starting with the August LSAT. This is being done to counter the rampant theft of LSAT content.

By moving away from remote testing, the ability of cheaters to steal LSAT questions will be drastically limited. Some remote testing will still be allowed for those with medical issues or who are a long distance from a center.

Overall, a necessary move by LSAC to shut down the superhighway of cheating.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

LSAC has announced the new 2026-2027 LSAT cycle dates today. Registration will then be available sometimes in May. Test dates:

2026 (second half)

August 5-8
September 9-12
October 7-10
November 11-14

2027 (first half)

January 13-16
February 12-13
April 8-10
June 9-12

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

If you weren't aware, later today at 8 PM Eastern on @netflix, Alex Honnold is free soloing the Taipei 101 skyscraper (1,667 feet).

He's extraordinary, and I wrote about him in relation to the LSAT here (and although I no longer work at @PowerScore, it's a good article!):

https://t.co/x6jwKlZ1sD

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@morethanhabits It was unfair to not announce this beforehand for sure 🙄

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

BREAKING: Some LSAT RC Sections Do Not Have Comparative Passages

There have been reports today of LSAT takers not receiving a comparative reading passage (the two passages on the same topic) in their scored RC section. They are not lying.

I just spoke to LSAC, and they have determined there is no difficulty or scoring difference in having these passages, and so some test takers will get them and some won't. It doesn't mean anything if you do or do not receive one. This is a permanent change and will happen going forward as well.

There was no announcement posted beforehand for some reason (would have been nice, right?). I'll try to find out why.

In the meantime, if you haven't taken the LSAT yet, don't be surprised if you get just four single passages in a section.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@SamuelCenter18 Yeah it would be nice if things didn’t just change without warning.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

Check out my latest article: The LSAT Cheating Scandal, Parts 3 and 4: Law Schools and LSAC https://t.co/VY4uSNXXGv via @LinkedIn

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

Check out my latest article: The LSAT Cheating Scandal, Parts 1 and 2: Cheating in Mainland China https://t.co/NkT8pyHja4 via @LinkedIn

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

For those asking, the school is Cornell.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

There are reports that the cheating software used to hack the LSAT has now been used at a T14 School to cheat on a law school exam during this finals period.

This is no longer limited to just standardized tests and is moving into law schools. If someone cheats on the LSAT, chances are high they will want/need to cheat in law school. LSAC has to stop this at the start of the chain by stopping online testing.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@SeanNewsNow Couldn’t agree more!

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

There are reports that the cheating software used to hack the LSAT has now been used at a T14 School to cheat on a law school exam during this finals period.

This is no longer limited to just standardized tests and is moving into law schools. If someone cheats on the LSAT, chances are high they will want/need to cheat in law school. LSAC has to stop this at the start of the chain by stopping online testing.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

I don't think it's nearly that high but it is confirmed to be higher than in prior years. For example, in 2018-2019 there were around 8,000 accommodation requests; in 2022-2023 there were about 25,000 requests (and I'd expect higher now). Only about 60% of those 25k took the LSAT though.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

Best wishes to everyone receiving November LSAT scores this morning—I hope you absolutely crushed it!

Please let me know how things turned out, and hopefully you are done with the LSAT and can focus on applications😀

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

Early Cycle Law School Admissions Update

We are about a quarter of the way through the cycle.

Current law school applicant volume is UP 21.2% compared to last year and UP 50.6% compared to two years ago. As predicted, these numbers have dropped from earlier this cycle (33.5% and 66.1%, respectively).

LSAT scores from 160 to 180 continue to trail the increase in applicants:

160-164: UP 12.9%
165-169: UP 16.1%
170-174: UP 15.5%
175-180: UP 19.3%

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

About 7,500 students will take the LSAT today, the smallest of the four "main" administration days for the November LSAT.

So far a lot of new content is in use, as expected.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

After yesterday's low volume in-person only start of about 2,000 LSAT takers, today's test volume jumps up into a more normal range: about 8,000 LSAT takers.

About 58% will test in person, and about 42% will test remotely online.

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

@KevinSabellico I hope it went well!

[Dave Killoran @DaveKilloran]

Today's November LSAT start is an odd one: only in-person, no online exams. And it is quite small, about 2,000 people today. The rest of the test days this week jump back up to normal numbers.