{"id":5425,"date":"2025-08-01T08:35:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T14:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?p=5425"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:15:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T23:15:28","slug":"lsat-score-range-percentiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-score-range-percentiles\/","title":{"rendered":"LSAT Score Range and Percentiles"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re applying to law school, your LSAT score is likely top of mind. After all, there are roughly<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/legalindustry\/law-school-applicants-rose-nearly-6-this-year-2024-08-26\/\"> 65,000<\/a> law school applicants every year\u2014that&#8217;s a lot of competition! But what does that LSAT score actually mean? How is it calculated, and how do you know whether your score is good enough for your dream school\u2014or even competitive at all?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you need a 95th percentile score to grab a seat at a top-tier school or you just want to beat the average, this guide is for you. I\u2019ll break down whatg every law school applicant needs to know about LSAT score ranges, how they&#8217;re determined, and what score you need to help you stand out from the crowd (and snag a spot at your dream school).<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>LSAT Score Range Is 120\u2013180<\/strong>: Most law schools consider scores in the 150\u2013160+ range competitive.<\/li> <li><strong>Percentiles Matter<\/strong>: Your score percentile shows how you stack up against other test takers and matters to admissions officers.<\/li> <li><strong>Top Schools Require 170+<\/strong>: If you&#8217;re targeting elite programs, aim for the 75th percentile or higher.<\/li> <li><strong>Median Scores Are School-Specific<\/strong>: A 155 might be strong for some programs, but low for others.<\/li> <li><strong>Retaking Can Help<\/strong>: Most schools look at your highest LSAT score, so improvement is always worth striving for.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-the-lsat-score-range\"><strong>Understanding the LSAT Score Range<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the organization that administers the LSAT, scores the test on a scaled score between 120 and 180. A score of 120 represents the lowest possible score, while 180 is the highest LSAT score a student can achieve. There\u2019s no \u201cfailing\u201d the LSAT, but there are certainly scores that can limit your options.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each question you answer correctly on the multiple-choice sections adds to your raw score. Your scaled score is drawn from this raw score using a process called equating, which adjusts for minor differences in difficulty across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-exam\/\">LSAT test versions<\/a>.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The median LSAT score is around<a href=\"https:\/\/www.princetonreview.com\/law-school-advice\/lsat-scores\"> 152<\/a>, but getting into a competitive law program often requires much more than that.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scaled-scores-vs-percentiles\"><strong>Scaled Scores vs. Percentiles<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"LSAT score range percentiles\" class=\"wp-image-5427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-info.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your scaled score tells you how many questions you got right, but your LSAT score percentiles show how well you did compared to other people who took the test.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>A <strong>170<\/strong> places you roughly in the <strong>95th percentile<\/strong>, meaning you scored better than 95% of test takers.<\/li> <li>A <strong>160<\/strong> is usually around the <strong>75th percentile<\/strong>, still quite competitive.<\/li> <li>A <strong>153<\/strong> is near the <strong>50th percentile<\/strong>, right in the middle of the pack.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Percentiles can be just as important as the raw number on your LSAT score report, especially when law schools want to report high averages for rankings purposes.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-a-good-lsat-score\"><strong>What\u2019s a Good LSAT Score?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer depends on your goals. For law school admissions, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/good-lsat-score\/\">good LSAT score<\/a> is one that gets you into the kind of school you want to attend.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how that typically breaks down, using<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/lsat-percentiles_2021_2024_accessible.pdf\"> LSAC<\/a> percentile ranges from 2021 to 2024:<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-border-color has-black-border-color has-fixed-layout\" style=\"border-width:1px\"><thead><tr><th><strong>LSAT Score<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Competitiveness<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>170\u2013180<\/td><td>Top ~5% \u2013 Elite Law Schools<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>160\u2013169<\/td><td>Top 25% \u2013 Strong Candidates<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>150\u2013159<\/td><td>Top 60% \u2013 Competitive at Many Schools<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>140\u2013149<\/td><td>Bottom 35% \u2013 Below Average<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>120\u2013139<\/td><td>Bottom 10% \u2013 Unlikely to Be Accepted<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s say you&#8217;re aiming high, and you want a spot at the most recognizable law school in the country: Harvard Law School. What is the average LSAT score for accepted students? A<a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/jdadmissions\/apply-to-harvard-law-school\/jdapplicants\/hls-profile-and-facts\/\"> 174<\/a>, which is in the 98.7th percentile.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, you don&#8217;t need an astronomical score if you just want a &#8220;good&#8221; school. A score between 155 and 160 can get you into nearly<a href=\"https:\/\/www.juriseducation.com\/blog\/lsat-scores-for-law-school\"> half<\/a> of the top 100 law schools, which ranges between the 60th and 75th percentiles (a <em>lot<\/em> more achievable).<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lsat-scores-for-law-school-admissions\"><strong>LSAT Scores for Law School Admissions<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each law school has its own standards, but nearly all publish three key LSAT metrics for their incoming classes:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>25th Percentile Score<\/strong>: The cutoff for lower-end admitted students.<\/li> <li><strong>Median Score<\/strong>: The score at which half the students scored higher and half scored lower.<\/li> <li><strong>75th Percentile Score<\/strong>: The benchmark for top scorers at that school.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These numbers matter a lot in the law school admissions process. Schools are ranked partly based on the median LSAT scores of their students, so they\u2019re incentivized to admit applicants with higher numbers.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-many-points-do-you-need-to-improve\"><strong>How Many Points Do You Need to Improve?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re early in your LSAT preparation, don\u2019t panic if your initial score isn\u2019t where you want it to be. It\u2019s common for students to improve 10 or more points with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/study-for-the-lsat\/\">right study strategy<\/a>, especially if you\u2019re using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/best-lsat-prep-course\/\">high-quality study materials<\/a> and practice tests.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a quick rule of thumb for target setting:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>If you\u2019re scoring 140\u2013150, a 10-point boost can dramatically increase your school options.<\/li> <li>If you\u2019re already in the 160s, small gains (2\u20134 points) may still open doors to top law schools.<\/li> <li>The jump from 170 to 175+ is very difficult\u2014but it\u2019s what separates top applicants from the rest.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-your-score-in-context\"><strong>Your Score in Context<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, the LSAT score is only one part of your application. Law school admissions teams also evaluate:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Your undergraduate GPA<\/li> <li>Letters of recommendation<\/li> <li>Personal statement<\/li> <li>Resume and work experience<\/li> <li>Any addenda or diversity statements<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, your LSAT is the most objective, standardized piece of the puzzle\u2014and often the one given the most weight.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-retaking-the-lsat-worth-it\"><strong>Retaking the LSAT: Worth It?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many students take the LSAT more than once. The LSAC allows you to take the test up to <strong>three times in a single testing year<\/strong>, <strong>five times within the current and past five testing years<\/strong>, and <strong>seven times total in a lifetime<\/strong>.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schools typically consider your highest LSAT score, but some may also see all of your past scores. So if you&#8217;re thinking of retaking, aim for clear improvement. However, generally speaking, it\u2019s pretty safe to retake\u2014plus, a small score increase means more scholarship money, better odds of getting an acceptance letter from your dream school, and, overall, creating a stronger foundation for your law career. It\u2019s definitely worth the extra effort now for those major bonuses down the line.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One test taker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/LSAT\/comments\/11lbwm6\/what_score_is_retaking_frowned_upon\/\">writes<\/a>,<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-small-font-size\"><blockquote><p><em>\u201cI&#8217;m retaking a 171 and I could not care any less if they &#8220;frown&#8221; on it. It is ultimately our heads on the chopping block b\/c we&#8217;re losing scholarship money with every point we leave on the table + the possibility of getting into better schools\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it does seem like a score of 175 or higher seems to be the threshold where you shouldn\u2019t retake afterwards, unless it\u2019s to compensate for a lower GPA.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The LSAT scoring scale may look simple\u2014120 to 180\u2014but the competition is anything but. Your LSAT scores for law school admissions can make or break your application, especially if you&#8217;re hoping to attend a top program.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with a diagnostic test, build your skills with a proven prep strategy, and don\u2019t get discouraged if your average score isn&#8217;t where you want it yet. With time and the right prep tools, big improvements are possible.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>And remember: law school admissions don\u2019t just care about where you start\u2014but where you <\/strong><strong><em>finish<\/em><\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/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-1753946287470\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the average LSAT score for the first try?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The average LSAT score for first-time test takers is around 152, which places you near the 50th percentile. It\u2019s enough for some schools, but not all.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753946293877\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">To be competitive at Harvard Law, aim for a 174, which is the school\u2019s median score. Anything lower puts you in the bottom half of admitted students. An upper 160 score is the absolute bare minimum.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753946298917\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the lowest acceptable LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Technically, 120 is the lowest possible score, but most schools require at least a 140+ to consider your application seriously.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753946305214\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What&#8217;s a good LSAT score to get into most law schools?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A score of 155 or higher is considered solid and makes you competitive at a wide range of law schools across the country.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753946313257\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How rare is a 180 LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Extremely rare. A 180 places you in the top 0.1% of test takers nationwide, making it one of the most elite standardized test scores possible.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re applying to law school, your LSAT score is likely top of mind. After all, there are roughly 65,000 law school applicants every year\u2014that&#8217;s a lot of competition! But what does that LSAT score actually mean? How is it calculated, and how do you know whether your score is good enough for your dream [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,245],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5425","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.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/07\/LSAT-Score-Range-feature-img-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>LSAT Score Range and Percentiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how LSAT scoring works, what a good score is, and how your percentile impacts law school admissions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-score-range-percentiles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"LSAT Score Range and Percentiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how LSAT scoring works, what a good score is, and how your percentile impacts law school admissions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-score-range-percentiles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; 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