While reviewing the IRR and comparing to my answer sheet, I noticed that for one of the questions, the machine scored A but the scan of my answer sheet shows bubbles for both A and B (it was a question I had been going back and forth on, and if memory serves, I think I had actually ended up filling in A, but both bubbles were probably fairly dark at that point).
I think it might be worth it to request handscoring but because I would explain upfront that I had intended to mark B as my answer choice, I’m concerned about the prospect of the handscorer deciding that neither answer should be scored and therefore I would lose a point.
Thoughts?
PS - This should probably be in the “What are my chances” threads, but since it’s also relevant to deciding whether to request handscoring, I’m a 3.2 LSDAS from a top liberal arts college in the northeast with 2+ years as a paralegal at a top law firm in NY and looking at possibly ED Penn + RD Columbia, Chicago, NYU, UVA, Duke, Nwestern, Cornell, Georgetown. Any and all constructive comments are appreciated.
PPS - This is my first time posting but I have followed this forum pretty consistently from June 9th through today. It is a fantastic group and an even better resource, so thanks to all who mod/post.
It looks like I bubbled A and/or A is much darker because the scan of the answer sheet compensates for stray marks and then (I think) darkens the shapes of the marks that were given credit as answers. I guess my assumption is that handscoring would make use of the actual sheet, which might make it more of a toss-up. I don’t disagree that it is likely a waste though. Appreciate the responses.
Based on two statements in your post that I guess I won’t quote, it sounds like you would sort of be borderline lying about your intent at the time of the bubbling, which is probably an argument against doing it.
I’ll rephrase: ‘if memory serves – which it probably doesn’t’.
On the second reference, which I assume is to “I would explain upfront that I had intended to mark B,” I guess I agree – perhaps if I were to request handscoring it would be better to just make reference to the ambiguity of having those two marks on the sheet and request that the answer sheet be reviewed to see if the bubble for answer choice B should have been the one credited. Hard to argue any intention of dishonesty there.
Full disclosure: having read the LSAC handscoring page: http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/handscoring.asp and prior posts in this and other forums’ threads, it sounds as though the more persuasive the request, the more likely LSAC/the handscorer will be to consider a favorable change in score.
I do see your point though.
re losing a point: …and since money is not an issue, I suppose I have nothing to lose by having it handscored.
So, you bubbled A. You erased B. As someone who erased the wrong answer in a section and bubbled the right one, that’s exactly how the two look. I know it’s probably darker than you remember, but that’s what it is.
However, if you’re chrometophobic, I’m sure LSAC will be glad to take some of your money from you.
…and since money is not an issue, I suppose I have nothing to lose by having it handscored.