{"id":4898,"date":"2025-05-28T17:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T01:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/sabe-careers-education\/?p=4898"},"modified":"2025-05-28T17:30:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T01:30:10","slug":"good-lsat-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/good-lsat-score\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s a Good LSAT Score? Real Talk for Law School Hopefuls"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly<a href=\"https:\/\/report.lsac.org\/TestTakers.aspx?Format=PDF\"> 150,000<\/a> law school candidates take the LSAT exam every year. That&#8217;s a lot of competition, and one way to stand out and boost your odds of acceptance into your dream school is to nail it.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s be real\u2014this isn\u2019t just about bragging rights. Your score plays a <em>huge<\/em> role in law school admissions, and knowing what counts as \u201cgood\u201d can help you set realistic goals, track your progress, and figure out where you stand compared to other test takers.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, I\u2019ll break down LSAT scoring in plain English, from raw scores and scaled scores to percentiles, and explain what you really need to shoot for.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Average LSAT = 150\u2013152<\/strong>: That\u2019s the middle of the road. Higher scores open more doors.<\/li> <li><strong>170+ = Top Law Schools<\/strong>: You\u2019ll be in the running for elite programs with a score in the high 160s or above.<\/li> <li><strong>Percentiles Matter<\/strong>: Your score tells you more when you know how it stacks up to other test takers.<\/li> <li><strong>Your Target = Your Dream School<\/strong>: A \u201cgood\u201d score is one that matches or exceeds the median at your top-choice schools.<\/li> <li><strong>Strong Apps Are Balanced<\/strong>: Even a high LSAT score won\u2019t make up for weak grades or sloppy application materials.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lsat-scoring-what-are-we-working-with\"><strong>LSAT Scoring: What Are We Working With?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before we talk \u201cgood\u201d vs \u201cnot-so-good,\u201d here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-lsat-scoring-works\/\">how the LSAT is scored<\/a>:<\/p> <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Your answers are first totaled into a raw score (how many questions you got right\u2014no penalty for wrong answers).<\/li> <li>That raw score gets converted into a scaled score, which ranges from 120 to 180.<\/li> <li>LSAC (the Law School Admission Council) then places you into a percentile, showing how your score stacks up against other test takers.<\/li> <\/ol> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when someone says they got a \u201c170,\u201d they mean their scaled score, and it puts them around the 97th percentile\u2014aka higher than 97% of test takers.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-average-lsat-score\"><strong>What\u2019s the Average LSAT Score?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s get some perspective. The <strong>average LSAT score hovers around 150\u2013152<\/strong>, depending on the test cycle. That\u2019s smack in the middle of the score range, and it gives you a decent shot at some regional or unranked law schools, especially if your undergraduate GPA is strong.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a quick look at LSAT score ranges and what they usually mean:<\/p> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-61_22092-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-61\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-61 { ... } #supsystic-table-61 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-61 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-tables-wrap thead th { font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; 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} .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-61_22092\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-61\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"61\" data-view-id=\"61_22092\" data-title=\"What\u2019s the Average LSAT Score\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Scaled Score\" data-order=\"Scaled Score\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Scaled Score <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"LSAT Score Percentile\" data-order=\"LSAT Score Percentile\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >LSAT Score Percentile <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"What It Means\" data-order=\"What It Means\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >What It Means <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"170+\" data-order=\"170+\" >170+ <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"97th+ percentile\" data-order=\"97th+ percentile\" >97th+ percentile <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Competitive for top law schools like Harvard, Stanford, Yale\" data-order=\"Competitive for top law schools like Harvard, Stanford, Yale\" >Competitive for top law schools like Harvard, Stanford, Yale <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"160\u2013169\" data-order=\"160\u2013169\" >160\u2013169 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"80th\u201396th percentile\" data-order=\"80th\u201396th percentile\" >80th\u201396th percentile <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Strong score, opens doors to many ranked law schools\" data-order=\"Strong score, opens doors to many ranked law schools\" >Strong score, opens doors to many ranked law schools <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"150\u2013159\" data-order=\"150\u2013159\" >150\u2013159 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"44th\u201378th percentile\" data-order=\"44th\u201378th percentile\" >44th\u201378th percentile <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Average to slightly above average\u2014still accepted at plenty of schools\" data-order=\"Average to slightly above average\u2014still accepted at plenty of schools\" >Average to slightly above average\u2014still accepted at plenty of schools <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Below 150\" data-order=\"Below 150\" >Below 150 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Below 44th percentile\" data-order=\"Below 44th percentile\" >Below 44th percentile <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"More challenging admissions path, but not impossible with other strong factors\" data-order=\"More challenging admissions path, but not impossible with other strong factors\" >More challenging admissions path, but not impossible with other strong factors <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-61.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-median-lsat-score-for-law-schools\"><strong>Median LSAT Score for Law Schools<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Law schools don\u2019t just look at whether you got a \u201chigh LSAT score.\u201d They care how your score compares to their median LSAT score\u2014that\u2019s the score at which half their admitted students scored above and half scored below.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Yale Law<\/strong>: Median LSAT ~175<\/li> <li><strong>NYU Law<\/strong>: Median LSAT ~172<\/li> <li><strong>University of Michigan<\/strong>: Median LSAT ~171<\/li> <li><strong>Average ranked law schools<\/strong>: Median LSAT usually around <strong>160\u2013165<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That median is a big deal for law school applicants. Schools want to maintain or raise their rankings, and their incoming class&#8217;s median score is part of that equation.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-score-should-you-aim-for\"><strong>What Score Should <\/strong><strong><em>You<\/em><\/strong><strong> Aim For?<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-1024x768.png\" alt=\"LSAT exam score range\" class=\"wp-image-4900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-150x113.png 150w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-info.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s where the \u201cgood\u201d gets personal. A good LSAT score depends on your law school goals:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Aiming for T14 (top 14 schools)<\/strong>? Shoot for <strong>170+<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Targeting one of the top 50 law schools<\/strong>? Aim for at least <strong>160\u2013165<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Considering regional or less competitive schools<\/strong>? A <strong>150+<\/strong> might be enough, especially with a solid GPA or unique background<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some schools even go test-optional or weigh your GPA heavily, but the LSAT is still a major factor for most applicants.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-a-high-lsat-score-guarantee-admission\"><strong>Does a High LSAT Score Guarantee Admission?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nope\u2014but it definitely helps. A 175 with a low GPA and weak personal statement might raise eyebrows, but it won&#8217;t carry your whole app. On the flip side, a balanced application\u2014with a competitive LSAT, strong GPA, thoughtful essays, and solid recs\u2014is what admissions teams love.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-lsat-score-reports-work\"><strong>How LSAT Score Reports Work<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After you take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/what-is-the-lsat-exam\/\">LSAT<\/a>, you\u2019ll get a score report about three weeks later. It includes:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Your <strong>scaled score<\/strong><\/li> <li>Your <strong>percentile rank<\/strong><\/li> <li>Your <strong>score history<\/strong> (if you\u2019ve taken it more than once)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Law schools will see all of this, though many only consider your highest score when making admissions decisions.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-if-you-get-a-bad-lsat-score\"><strong>What If You Get a \u201cBad\u201d LSAT Score?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okay, so let\u2019s say your score comes back and it\u2019s&#8230; not what you were hoping for. First of all, don\u2019t panic. One score doesn\u2019t define you, and it definitely doesn\u2019t mean law school is off the table.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ve got options. Many law schools ranked lower or regionally still accept students with LSAT scores in the 140s or low 150s, especially if your undergraduate GPA is strong, you\u2019ve got great recommendation letters, or a killer personal statement. Schools like Southern University Law Center, Appalachian School of Law, and Texas Southern University are known to give applicants with lower scores a shot. And more importantly, you can retake the LSAT. Plenty of test takers improve significantly on their second (or third) attempt, especially with targeted prep and better time management.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-schools-know-how-many-times-you-ve-taken-the-lsat\"><strong>Do Schools Know How Many Times You&#8217;ve Taken the LSAT?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, they absolutely do. When you send your LSAT score report, law schools can see:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>All your <strong>LSAT scores from the past five years<\/strong><\/li> <li>The <strong>number of times<\/strong> you\u2019ve taken the test<\/li> <li>Any <strong>canceled scores<\/strong> or absences<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So if you took the LSAT three times to hit a 170, admissions officers will see that progression.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-taking-the-lsat-multiple-times-hurt-you\"><strong>Does Taking the LSAT Multiple Times Hurt You?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily. Most schools, including some top law schools, say they focus on your highest score when making decisions. However, context matters:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>A clear upward trend<\/strong> (like 157 \u2192 164 \u2192 170) can work in your favor. It shows growth, commitment, and improvement.<\/li> <li><strong>Flat scores<\/strong> or <strong>lots of attempts<\/strong> without much gain might raise some flags\u2014or at least questions.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you&#8217;re right\u2014some elite schools like Harvard or Yale might be less forgiving. They\u2019ll still look at your full testing history, and while they won\u2019t outright reject someone for needing a few tries, a first-attempt 170 might be more impressive than a third-time 170 if the rest of the application is equal.<\/p> <div class=\"bottom-line\"> <h3>Bottom Line?<\/h3> <p>You\u2019ve got some room to improve without penalty, but it\u2019s smart to treat each test like it counts. Aim to hit your target within two attempts, if possible. If it takes more, just be ready to show growth and keep the rest of your app airtight.<\/p> <\/div> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the day, a \u201cgood\u201d LSAT score isn\u2019t just about hitting a certain number\u2014it\u2019s about aligning your score with the kind of schools you want to attend. A 170 might open Ivy League doors, but a 155 paired with the right application materials can still launch you into a solid legal career. The law school admissions process looks at the whole package, and your LSAT is just one (very important) piece.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, whether you\u2019re aiming for the top or just want to get your foot in the door, know that improvement is always possible. Prep smart, understand the LSAT score ranges, and don\u2019t let one number define your potential. You\u2019ve got this.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748414742382\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is a good LSAT score for top law schools?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You\u2019ll need at least a 170+ to be competitive for top 10 schools like Harvard, Columbia, or Stanford. The higher the better.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748414746620\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How does the LSAT compare to other standardized tests?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The LSAT doesn\u2019t test knowledge\u2014it\u2019s all logic, reading, and critical thinking. No math, no vocab lists, just pure reasoning.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748414750738\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can a strong undergraduate GPA offset a low LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Sometimes, yes. If your GPA is excellent and the rest of your application is strong, some law schools will weigh that heavily. But a low score can still hurt you.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748414755152\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do all law schools look at the highest LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most do, yes. Always check the policy at each school you apply to.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748414763837\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is the median LSAT score the same as the average score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not quite. The median is the middle score of accepted students at a school, while the average is the national average of all test takers.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roughly 150,000 law school candidates take the LSAT exam every year. That&#8217;s a lot of competition, and one way to stand out and boost your odds of acceptance into your dream school is to nail it. Let\u2019s be real\u2014this isn\u2019t just about bragging rights. Your score plays a huge role in law school admissions, and [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4899,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,245],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-law"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/What-is-a-Good-LSAT-Score-feature-image-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What&#039;s a Good LSAT Score? 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