What Is A Good LSAT Score for US Law Schools?

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Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 5/30/24

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Are you beginning your law school journey and wondering what LSAT scores you should aim for? Read on to find out what is considered a good LSAT score.

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As you work towards becoming a lawyer, you’ll see the word LSAT everywhere—probably even in your dreams or, perhaps more fittingly, in your nightmares.

Since this test is one of the most important requirements of your law school application, you’re probably wondering what LSAT score will maximize your chances of getting into your dream law school.

Read on to have all of your burning LSAT score questions answered! 

How Is the LSAT Scored?

The LSAT is administered in two parts. The first part consists of four 35-minute sections and the second part consists of an unscored section.

The multiple-choice section will look as such:

• (2) Logical Reasoning questions that test your ability to evaluate and complete arguments.
• (1) Reading Comprehension question that tests your ability to read and understand complex material.
• (1) Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension that tests your ability to evaluate and complete arguments or your ability to read and understand complex material.

The LSAT consists of 100-101 questions overall. Your mark reflects how many correct answers you got (your raw score), which is then converted on the LSAT score scale from 120 to 180. All test questions are weighted the same, and incorrect answers are not deducted from your score.

Stephen

Admissions Counselor, Harvard Law School

Stephen's LSAT Score Strategy:

Here's what Stephen says about LSAT scores:

• The LSAT is based on a scale from 120, which is the lowest score you can get, to 180, the highest score you can get. The score ranges scale upward, so the distance between a 180 and a 177 is pretty small in terms of answer choice correctness, as opposed to the distance between a 120 and a 123.
• All questions carry equal weight, so that's something you should really keep in mind throughout as you're taking the test. The logical reasoning question in front of you is the same as the analytical reasoning question or the reading comprehension question before you. Making sure that you're strong and prepared for each section is vital for optimizing your score.
• One helpful feature of the LSAT is the option to cancel a score if you don’t like it. This allows you to go into the first test with a lot less stress because you know that, at the end of the day, a law school won't see a low score if you choose to cancel it. This feature can be especially useful if you want to avoid having multiple low scores on your record.

• The LSAT is based on a scale from 120, which is the lowest score you can get, to 180, the highest score you can get. The score ranges scale upward, so the distance between a 180 and a 177 is pretty small in terms of answer choice correctness, as opposed to the distance between a 120 and a 123.
• All questions carry equal weight. Ensuring you're strong and prepared for each section is vital for optimizing your score.

One helpful feature of the LSAT is the option to cancel a score if you’re unhappy. This might help your mindset as you write the test since law schools won’t see your score if you cancel it.

Tips to Improve LSAT Score

Here are some tips to help you improve your LSAT score. 

Use Official LSAT Prep Materials

Using official LSAT prep materials is an effective way to prepare for the LSAT. These materials, provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), offer invaluable insights into the test's format, content, and question types. They include official practice tests, test prep books, and online resources. 

These resources allow for targeted practice and better self-assessment, ultimately leading to improved LSAT scores and a more confident, prepared approach to the exam.

Take Practice LSAT Tests

Taking LSAT practice tests is a fundamental component of LSAT preparation. These mock exams not only simulate the actual test but also serve as crucial tools for assessing if you’re ready. Regularly timed practice tests help you build test-taking endurance and identify areas that need improvement. 

Analyzing your performance on these tests, especially focusing on questions you got wrong or struggled with, allows you to pinpoint weaknesses and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Focus on Weaknesses

Focusing on weaknesses is a pivotal strategy for improving your LSAT score. By identifying and addressing your weaknesses, you can systematically improve your performance. Whether it's honing logical reasoning skills or enhancing reading comprehension, targeted practice and review in your weaker areas can lead to significant score enhancements. 

Recognizing these shortcomings and dedicating extra effort to overcome them is a proactive approach that can ultimately translate into an even higher LSAT score.

Ready to take the LSAT? Find out in just 5 minutes with our free LSAT Readiness quiz.

Reach out to LSAT Tutors

Preparing for the LSAT and performing well can be overwhelming, and even the best test-takers often have trouble acing every section. However, studying for the LSAT with a tutor can drastically improve your chances of getting a great score. 

If you feel like you’re struggling to make it past a certain score, or if you don’t even know where to begin, Juris Education can help! Our top-scoring LSAT tutors have achieved scores of 173 or higher. We're committed to helping you reach your goal of 165 or above through tailored strategies and one-on-one guidance.

LSAT Percentiles

The LSAT is scored on a scale from 120 to 180, but your raw score alone doesn’t tell the whole story. What truly matters is your LSAT percentile, which indicates how your score compares to other test-takers. Understanding LSAT percentiles can help you gauge your competitiveness in law school admissions.

Your LSAT percentile rank represents the percentage of test-takers who scored higher than. For example, since 153 is the median LSAT score, this will put you at the 50th percentile rank, meaning you’ve scored higher than 50% of the other applicants.

These percentile ranks are important because they help law schools compare students by seeing who has outperformed the other test takers.

Another form of LSAT percentiles to keep in mind is the LSAT admission percentiles of your desired school. These percentiles are different because they only compare the LSAT scores of applicants. These percentiles show the percentage of students admitted to the program based on their LSAT scores.

To gain a better visual of how the overall percentile rankings work, check out the most recent scores below:

This table should give you an idea of the LSAT score you must achieve to remain competitive as an applicant. 

FAQs: What Is a Good LSAT Score?

In case you still have questions about what is considered a good score on the LSAT, here are some frequently asked questions that might give you answers.

1. Is a 150 LSAT Score Good?

A 150 LSAT score is considered decent, meaning it's not "bad" but may not be sufficient for highly competitive law schools. It's generally considered a good score for standard law schools, but if you want to apply to top-tier institutions, you should aim higher, around 160 or above.

2. Is a 162 LSAT Score Good?

Yes, a 162 LSAT score is considered a good score. This score will look strong on an application to one of the top 25 law schools. However, this score will not suffice for a top-10 law school.

3. What Is a Decent LSAT Score?

A decent LSAT score is 150-155. If you receive this score, you’ll meet the LSAT requirements for a good number of accredited law schools.

4. How Many Times Can I Take the LSAT?

You can take the LSAT five times within the current reportable score period and seven times in your lifetime. You can't retake the LSAT if you've already scored a perfect score in the current score period.

5. If I Retake The LSAT, Will My Score Improve?

Yes, you can possibly improve your score if you retake the LSAT. However, this is not guaranteed; most students only see an increase of a few points, and significantly raising your score requires dedicated study and a change in test strategy to address areas where you struggled previously.

6. How Important Is the LSAT?

The LSAT is extremely important in the application process. Almost every law school requires an LSAT score, and it is weighted heavily in the admissions decisions. One potential reason the LSAT is so important is that it has consistently proven to be an accurate predictor of academic law school success.

7. What Is a Perfect Score on the LSAT?

The highest LSAT score is 180. However, this is extremely difficult to achieve, so ensure you study hard and review LSAT prep books to ace the exam! 

8. What Is the Max LSAT Score?

The maximum LSAT score a person can achieve is 180, while the lowest is 120.

Final Thoughts

The LSAT is undoubtedly a stressful test, especially since it’s not the only score you have to keep in mind during the lengthy law school application process. But, by knowing what LSAT score you should aim for, you can set realistic, clear goals for yourself to get one step closer to becoming an amazing lawyer.