LSAT Mishaps | How to "Prevent" Them

Alicia was well prepped for the LSAT. After months of studying, she was comfortably scoring within her target range. The night before the big exam, she went down the checklist that she had meticulously put together - testing ticket, check; #2 pencils, check; water bottle, check; etc. Her biggest fear was being "too nervous".
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Three weeks later, she got an email from LSAC: "Dear Test Taker". Her answer sheet had gone missing. Alicia was stunned.
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Could Alicia have done something to prevent this unfortunate outcome?

Lost (misplaced) Answer Sheet
Alicia's and 80 other test takers shared the same unlucky fate for the Dec 2015 LSAT. Somebody (either UC Santa Barbara, UPS, or LSAC) lost their exams and answer sheets (see here for more details).

This isn't the first time answer sheets have gone AWOL. In 1999, more than 280 answer sheets went missing while in transit from three testing centers to Newton, PA. And in 2012, more than 50 were lost from the University of Tampa. 

Arguably, there's nothing that Alicia and her troubled lot could have done to prevent the mishap from happening. But hindsight is 20-20. Here's what Alicia should have, could have, or would have done, if she knew this bad outcome was lurking around the corner.

Take the Test Sooner
Alicia could have taken the LSAT sooner. Students on top of their game use the December exam as a safety net. The December test is Plan B, if you faltered or messed up on the June/October exam(s).

Alicia and all affected test takers are crying a river because they waited (or procrastinated) until the last minute. One of the ugliest consequences of this event is that these students may have to wait until next year to be considered a competitive applicant.

Law school is rolling admissions - this means applicants have a better shot the earlier in the cycle they apply. The Dec test is (realistically speaking) considered the last exam that applicants take and use for applying in the same year. Evidently Alicia and her cohorts knew this (see here).

But to be fair, LSAC is really going out of its way to help Alicia and her peers as much as possible - they are contacting law schools and requesting that late applications be considered for those affected by this incident.