What Is a Good LSAT Score? Numbers Behind Admissions

Did you know that more than 100,000 people take the LSAT every year, but only about 1% of them—those in the 99th percentile—score 172 or higher?

It’s one of the hardest scores to achieve across all standardized testing, and earning it is more than just a bragging right; it can be your ticket to a top law school and, eventually, your dream legal job.

That’s just an interesting fact, not something I want to make you feel bad about. A good LSAT score isn’t limited to those 1%, meaning everyone else is excluded from getting to where they want to go. So, what is a good LSAT score? Let me break it down for you.

Key Takeaways

• Competitive Test: The LSAT is a tough exam, and your score plays a huge role in law school admissions.
• Good LSAT Score: Most experts say that a good LSAT score starts around 160, but “good” is subjective. Good depends on your own goals and schools of choice.
• Score Range: The LSAT score range is 120 to 180, with an average LSAT score of 151.
• Top Law Schools: Top-tier law schools often look for a median LSAT score of 170 and above for admitted students.
• Holistic Review: Schools also look at things like undergraduate GPAs and personal statements, but LSAT percentiles carry the most weight.

What Is the LSAT and How Is It Scored?

You obviously have law school in your sights, and you know all about the LSAT, the Law School Admission Test. You could say it’s the golden ticket exam that law school applicants take as part of their law school application. The test is designed to measure your logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and reading comprehension. In other words, it’s checking to see if you can spot logical fallacy, and it’s testing to see how fast you can do it too.

The LSAT isn’t scored like your average math test. Instead, you get a raw score—that’s the number of questions you get right—that’s then converted into a scaled LSAT score between 120 and 180. The conversion is based on a score conversion chart. And then there’s a percentile ranking, which shows how your score compares to other test takers.

Feeling like you need an advanced math degree to understand how the LSAT is scored? Don’t worry, I doubt you’re alone.

What is a Good LSAT Score?

Okay, so onto the big question. What really is a good LSAT score? Well, I hate to break this to you, but there is no definitive answer. A good score is going to depend on a variety of factors, and for the most part, that’s what the school you want to get into considers to be a good score.

• The Average LSAT Score: Most LSAT takers land at around 151, based on recent admission statistics.
• Median LSAT Score for Law Schools: The median LSAT for many ABA-accredited law schools is around 155 to 160.
• Top Law Schools: If you have your heart set on a top-tier law school like Harvard, Yale, or Stanford, you’ll want a score close to 170 or higher.
• Minimum LSAT Scores: Some law schools will accept applicants with scores in the 140s, but they’re usually not law schools with a high ranking. A low score will get you into a school with a low rank, and that could limit your career prospects. Not good if you have a student loan to pay off.

And what’s the deal with percentiles, you ask? LSAT percentiles tell you the percentage of test takers you scored higher than. Or lower than. For example, a score in the 90th percentile means you outperformed 90% of test takers and scored lower than 10% of them. Either way, very impressive!

How LSAT Scores Impact Law School Admissions

When it comes to law school admissions, your LSAT score is usually the most important factor. Even more than your undergraduate GPA and your personal statement. Here’s how it works:

• Law schools that are ranked in the top tier will weigh your scaled score heavily. So if your score doesn’t meet their lofty expectations, they probably won’t give your application a second look, no matter how many hours you spent perfecting your personal statement or volunteering at a shelter.
• The median score of the incoming class will often determine a school’s status and can even impact its ranking. Meaning your low score could tank their rank, so they’re not that interested in letting you on board.
• Law school admission councils use your LSAT score report to compare you to other applicants quickly. For some, your score may be the only thing they see, so it needs to make a great first impression.

Your LSAT score is sort of like a ticket to the legal world’s most exclusive concert. Some venues (schools) have VIP sections where higher LSAT percentiles are required, while others just have something more like general admission seating. Bottom line, it’s all about finding your best seat.

LSAT Score Ranges and Percentiles

Note: Actual percentiles can vary depending on test date, so always check your own LSAT score report for the correct number.

How Do You Get a Good LSAT Score?

If you’re shooting for a high score, you can’t just rely on luck. Instead, take plenty of LSAT practice tests, and make sure you’re comfortable with as many logical reasoning and reading comprehension questions as you can cram in before your test date. The more you practice, the better your chances of improving your raw score and moving up in the percentile rankings.

And remember, while the LSAT exam is important, your law school application is looked at as a whole, and that includes your personal statement and undergraduate GPA. But getting the highest score possible never hurts!

Final Thoughts

So, what is a good LSAT score? It’s whatever score helps you reach your goals, whether that’s a personal best or a specific school. For some, that will be a score of 160. For others, the prize will be 175. No matter where you want to go, focus on making steady improvements as you prep with the LSAT practice tests, and don’t lose sight of your dream law school.

Get the high score you want with one of these recommended LSAT prep courses.

FAQs