LSAC recently released a report on LSAT performance, including performance based on geography as well as gender, race/ethnicity and gender and race/ethnicity. Last week’s posting looked at differences in LSAT test scores based on geographical location; today we will look at the differences in scores based on gender and next week we will examine the data on test results based on race/ethnicity. As already noted, the statistics are based on voluntary reports and test takers’ own identification with respect to gender and race/ethnicity.
When looking at results based on gender, LSAT focused solely on test takers from the United States (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands). There is no specific reason cited for this, however it can be assumed that given the small numbers of people taking the LSAT outside the US, LSAC did not have a large enough sample to use for the data.
In the testing year 2005-2006 (an LSAT testing year begins with the September/ October LSAT and runs through the June exam) just over 679 more males than females took the LSAT. In 2006-2007, 366 more females than males took the exam. For the year 2007-2008 about 60 more females than males took the LSAT. In the testing years 2008-2009 through 2011-2012, the number of males taking the test was greater than the number of females, with significant differences in the numbers (the differences were 2734 more males than females in 2008-2009; 3834 more males than females in 2009-2010 and 2914 more males than females in 2010-2011). The difference was not so significant for the year 2011-2012 when the number of males taking the LSAT was 856 more than the number of females taking the test.
Overall, the scores of male test takers were consistently higher than female test takers. Throughout the years examined, on average, the LSAT scores of males were roughly 151, while females taking the LSAT scored 149.In 2005-2006, the difference in scores based on gender was 2.37 points; this decreased a bit from 2007-2009 and rose again. In 2009-2010, the difference was 2.33 points while in 2010-2011 the difference was 2.39 points. Testing year 2011-2012 saw a 2.57 point score difference.
LSAC offered these statistics without consideration of whether or not a test taker prepared for the exam on his/her own or with help. The full report can be seen here: http://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/research/tr/pdf/tr-12-03.pdf
