{"id":5545,"date":"2025-08-15T12:13:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T18:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?p=5545"},"modified":"2025-09-26T14:53:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T20:53:58","slug":"lsat-percentiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-percentiles\/","title":{"rendered":"LSAT Percentiles: How Your Score Stacks Up Against Others"},"content":{"rendered":" <p>According to the 2021 to 2024 LSAT percentile table, just over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/lsat-percentiles_2021_2024_accessible.pdf\">4% <\/a>of test-takers scored between 170 and 180, which would place them in the top tier for law school admissions. <\/p> <p>If you have a dream school or you&#8217;re aiming for a top law school, understanding LSAT percentiles and where you land can make all the difference. <\/p> <p>The Law School Admission Council (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsac.org\/\">LSAC<\/a>) \u2014 that\u2019s the group behind the LSAT\u2014doesn\u2019t just hand out scores. They also assign you a percentile rank that shows how your performance compares to other test takers. And that percentile is a pretty big deal to law school admissions committees, since it provides some context to each applicant\u2019s performance. Let me lay it all out for you. <\/p> <p class=\"custom_key\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Top Scores Are Rare<\/strong>: Only a small percentage of test takers reach the highest LSAT scores each year.<\/li> <li><strong>Percentiles Matter:<\/strong> Your percentile rank compares your score to thousands of other test takers.<\/li> <li><strong>Not Just About Raw Scores<\/strong>: It\u2019s a combination of your score and LSAT percentile that gives law schools the whole picture, something your raw score won\u2019t do. <\/li> <li><strong>Percentile Ranks Are Not the Only Factor: <\/strong>Law school admissions also consider your undergraduate GPA, personal statement, and other aspects of your application.<\/li> <li><strong>Law School Admissions Are Competitive: <\/strong>Okay, it\u2019s not like you don\u2019t already know that, but percentiles help admissions teams quickly spot top applicants.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-lsat-percentiles\"><strong>What Are LSAT Percentiles?<\/strong><\/h2> <p>First, let me get one thing straight. Your LSAT score is more than just a number that\u2019s somewhere between 120 and 180. Once you\u2019ve finished your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-exam\/\">law school admission test<\/a>, the LSAC gives you a scaled score and your percentile rank. And it\u2019s your rank that tells you the percentage of other LSAT test takers you outperformed or were outperformed by. <\/p> <p>Here\u2019s an example. Let\u2019s say you get an LSAT score of 170. That will land you at around the 96th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 96% of other test takers in the last few years.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-here-s-how-the-process-works\"><strong>Here\u2019s how the process works:<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Raw score:<\/strong> The number of questions you get right.<\/li> <li><strong>Scaled score: <\/strong>Since each test is different, there\u2019s always the chance someone gets a test that\u2019s harder or easier than someone else. Since that wouldn\u2019t be fair, scores are scaled or adjusted slightly to allow for the difference. <\/li> <li><strong>Percentile rank<\/strong>: Finally, your rank compares your scaled score to the scores of everyone else in a recent three-year period. <\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-do-lsat-percentiles-matter-for-law-school-admission\"><strong>Why Do LSAT Percentiles Matter for Law School Admission?<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Your LSAT percentile matters because it gives law school admissions offices a quick and efficient way to see your rank, and rank matters. Your percentile rank especially matters if you\u2019re aiming for a top college or the Ivy League. They\u2019ll be looking to admit students who have a better chance at success, which will boost their own rankings. The higher you rank, the better chance of that happening. <\/p> <p>Let\u2019s say you have your sights set on Harvard Law School or another ABA-accredited law school. If you score in the top 10% of test takers, maybe a scaled score between 166 and 170, there\u2019s a good chance your application will make it past their first few rounds of vetting based on score alone. But if you have a median LSAT score or below, then you\u2019ll need something to balance that out. Something like a killer personal statement or really high undergraduate GPA. <\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lsat-score-range-average-lsat-score-and-good-lsat-scores\"><strong>LSAT Score Range, Average LSAT Score, and Good LSAT Scores<\/strong><\/h2> <p>If you\u2019ve been paying attention, you know the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/lsat-score-range-percentiles\/\">LSAT score range is 120 to 180<\/a>. But what\u2019s a good LSAT score? Ultimately, that will depend on the law school you\u2019re hoping to get into. <\/p> <p>Here\u2019s a bit of a guideline to shoot for, depending on where you\u2019re aiming: <\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Average LSAT score<\/strong>: This is also called the median LSAT score, and it usually hovers a bit over 150, and anywhere from 151 to 153 is considered the 50th percentile. Meaning about half of the people taking the test did better than you, and half did worse. You won\u2019t get into the top schools like the Ivy League, but you won\u2019t get relegated to the bottom schools either. <\/li> <li><strong>Good LSAT score: <\/strong>For a lot of the upper middle of the road schools, a score in the 160s is strong. But if you\u2019re interested in a more competitive school, you\u2019ll want to hit scores in the 170s.<\/li> <li><strong>Highest LSAT score: <\/strong>The highest is 180, and only about 0.1% of all test takers get this score. If you manage 180, chances are you\u2019ll have your pick of any school you want. <\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-land-in-a-high-lsat-percentile\"><strong>How to Land in a High LSAT Percentile<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"542\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info-1024x542.png\" alt=\"Kaptest LSAT on demand\" class=\"wp-image-5546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info-1024x542.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info-150x79.png 150w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-info.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p>While not written in stone, most law school experts and admissions counselors point to the 90th percentile, or top 10, as a good benchmark for a high LSAT percentile. But hitting that rank isn&#8217;t just about working or studying hard. It\u2019s also about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/study-for-the-lsat\/\">working and studying smart<\/a>. <\/p> <p>Here are a few tips that can help you improve your percentile score:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Give yourself about <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/how-long-to-study-for-lsat\/\"><strong>three to six months<\/strong> to study<\/a> before the test, and not just once or twice a week. If possible, aim for 10 to 20 hours a week. <\/li> <li><strong>Do practice tests over and over<\/strong> again to get yourself used to the format and timing. <\/li> <li><strong>Every time you get an answer wrong<\/strong>, review it closely to spot the weak spots in your reasoning. <\/li> <li><strong>Make sure you comprehend what you\u2019re reading<\/strong> and focus on both logical reasoning and analytical skills. <\/li> <li><strong>Use a score conversion chart<\/strong> to track your progress and set goals for future test sessions. <\/li> <\/ul> <p>You know that saying, \u201cpractice makes perfect.\u201d I\u2019m not going to say all the practice I\u2019ve just suggested will lead to a perfect score, but there\u2019s a very, very good chance it will boost your scaled LSAT score and, with it, your LSAT percentile rank.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-your-lsat-percentile-mean-for-your-law-school-application\"><strong>What Does Your LSAT Percentile Mean for Your Law School Application?<\/strong><\/h2> <p>When it\u2019s all said and done, your LSAT percentile will show schools how you stack up against other applicants. As mentioned above, many schools, not the top tier, but not the bottom either, use the median LSAT percentile as a benchmark for their incoming class. But you need to be aware that your percentile is just one factor in the admissions process.<\/p> <p>If you have a dream law school you want to get into, then you need to focus on pushing your test scores as high as possible. The higher your percentile rank, the better your chances.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p>Understanding LSAT percentiles is probably one of the smartest moves you can make as you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/best-lsat-prep-course\/\">start your prep<\/a>. Your percentage gives admission teams a snapshot of how you did and shows how you compare with other LSAT takers. And if your application lands in the <em>&#8216;nope&#8217; pile or the &#8216;this deserves further investigation&#8217;<\/em> pile. My advice? Keep practicing, aim high, and don\u2019t stress if your first or your second, for that matter, isn\u2019t perfect. <\/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-1755064795678\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the 95th percentile on the LSAT?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A scaled score of about 168 will put you in the 95th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 95% of test takers.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755064800977\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is the 46th percentile good for LSAT?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A 46th percentile means your score is better than 46% of other test takers. It\u2019s below the median, so it might be a bit low for many law schools, but some may still consider applicants with this score, especially if other parts of your application are strong.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755064806190\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How rare is a 177 LSAT?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Very rare! A 177 puts you above the 99th percentile, meaning you\u2019ve scored higher than 99% of LSAT takers. This is a score that can get you into just about any law school.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755064810646\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is a top 10% LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The top 10% of LSAT takers generally have a scaled score of about 166 or higher.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755064816007\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is an acceptable LSAT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/good-lsat-score\/\">acceptable LSAT score<\/a> depends on where you want to attend law school. Many ABA-accredited law schools accept scores in the mid-150s and up. Top law schools usually expect a score of at least 160 to 165, and the most competitive schools want a score of 170 or above.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the 2021 to 2024 LSAT percentile table, just over 4% of test-takers scored between 170 and 180, which would place them in the top tier for law school admissions. If you have a dream school or you&#8217;re aiming for a top law school, understanding LSAT percentiles and where you land can make all [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,245],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5545","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\/08\/LSAT-Percentiles-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 v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>LSAT Percentiles: How Your Score Stacks Up Against Others<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare your LSAT score with other test takers. 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