Understanding LSAT Scoring: A Comprehensive Guide

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a crucial step for anyone aspiring to attend law school. Understanding how the LSAT is scored is essential for proper preparation and interpreting your results. This article breaks down the LSAT scoring system, explaining everything from raw scores to percentile ranks, and offering insights into what constitutes a good score.

LSAT Scores as Estimates of Proficiency

LSAT scores are estimates of a test taker’s actual proficiency in the skills tested. Since the estimate of proficiency provided by a given LSAT score is not perfect, LSAT scores are reported to law schools along with a score band. Because a test taker’s actual proficiency in the skills tested on the LSAT may be slightly higher or slightly lower than that reflected by the score received on an officially administered LSAT, the score band indicates a range of scores, including scores slightly higher and slightly lower than the score received. The value used to determine the score range is based on a psychometric statistic called the standard error of measurement (SEM).

Raw Score Conversion

Your LSAT (or LSAT-Flex) score is based on the number of questions you answered correctly - your “raw score.” All test questions are weighted exactly the same. The total number of questions you get right is what matters for your score, not which particular questions you get right or wrong. There is no deduction for incorrect answers. To make it easier to compare scores earned across different LSAT administrations, your “raw score” is converted to an LSAT scale. This is the score you receive in your score report. This is like converting a number grade into a letter grade, except it is translating from one number into a more meaningful number. The LSAT decides which raw score is going to correspond to which scaled score (on a scale of 120-180) based on a variety of factors, like the total number of questions on the test and the overall difficulty of the questions. This is similar to converting a number grade into a letter grade, except in the case of the LSAT it’s translating from one number (your raw score) into a more meaningful number (your LSAT scaled score).

The LSAT Scale: 120-180

The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score. There are 61 different possible score outcomes for the LSAT within the 120-180 range.

Deciphering Your LSAT Score Report

After taking the LSAT, you will receive a score report; this will be a document that reports your final results to keep in your own records and to provide to your prospective law school program(s). Your LSAT Score Report includes:

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Your current score.
Results of all reportable tests - up to 12 - including absences and cancellations for standard LSAT takers and cancellations only for LSAT-Flex takers due to challenges related to COVID-19. An LSAT (or LSAT-Flex) result is reportable for up to five testing years after the testing year in which the score is earned. For information about how many times a test taker may sit for the LSAT, please see Limits on Repeating the LSAT. LSAT testing years run from July 1 through June 30.
Your percentile rank, which reflects the percentage of test takers whose scores were lower than yours during the previous three testing years. A percentile rank is reported for each of your scores. Note that percentiles for all reported scores will be updated every year by the end of July.
Your score band.

LSAT scores earned prior to June 2020 are not considered valid for law school admission and are not included in your score report. All test takers will receive their scores on the score release date associated with their test date, provided they have an approved writing sample on file and do not have any holds on their account. Your writing sample must be processed and approved before it can be added to your LSAC file. Please note that processing can take up to three weeks from the date you complete LSAT Argumentative Writing, depending on volume and any flagged issues.

Understanding Percentile Rank

Each score places a student in a particular relative position compared to other test takers. Your LSAT percentile score is the percent of test takers who scored lower than you on that particular exam. For example, if you scored in the 99th percentile (173), that means 99% of other LSAT takers scored at or below that level. The percentile indicates where the test-taker falls in the overall group of test-takers.

The Significance of the Score Band

Many who take the LSAT are confused by the score band and what it means. The score band is a range around your scaled score that indicates where your true score most likely lies.

LSAT Score Validity and Reporting

All of your LSAT (or LSAT-Flex) results will be reported to the law schools to which you apply if earned in the current testing year or if earned in the prior five testing years. (Note that LSAT results include scores, cancellations, and absences. LSAT-Flex results include only scores and cancellations, due to the challenges related to COVID-19.) Beginning with the 2021-2022 testing year, LSAT testing years run from July through June. For information about how many times a test taker may sit for the LSAT, please see Limits on Repeating the LSAT.

For example, if you apply to a law school in January 2026, any LSAT scores you earn in the July 2025-June 2026 testing year will be reported. Any scores you earned during the following testing years will also be reported:

July 2024-June 2025
July 2023-June 2024
July 2022-June 2023
July 2021-June 2022
June 2020-June 2021

If you took the LSAT in June 2020, you could use this score to apply to law school through June 2026.

Score Preview and Cancellation Options

LSAT Score Preview is available to test takers who wish to see their score before deciding whether to keep it as part of their LSAC file and report it to schools. Score Preview will cost $45 if you sign up prior to the first day of testing for a given test administration, or $85 if you sign up after testing has concluded. Test takers who sign up for Score Preview will receive their scores at the same time as other test takers (assuming they have an approved LSAT Argumentative Writing sample on file and have no holds on their accounts), and will have six (6) calendar days from the date their score is released to decide if they want to cancel or keep their score.

Yes. Should you decide to cancel your LSAT score, you must do so within six (6) calendar days of your test date. You can also have your score released to the prelaw advisor at your undergraduate school. Things happen during tests. It’s entirely possible you might end up with an LSAT score you don’t like. Fortunately you can definitely cancel your LSAT score. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to see your test score before you cancel. If you do go that route, however, your would-be score won’t be released to schools but your score report will show that you canceled your score. The downside is that you might end up scrapping a potentially amazing score.

What is Considered a Good LSAT Score?

Everyone who takes the LSAT has their own idea of what a good score is, and it is important to establish realistic and achievable goals that allow you to achieve your law school aspirations. However, there is a universal sense of what constitutes success on the LSAT exam. If you are wondering what a good LSAT Score is, there is no failing or passing score on the LSAT.

The average LSAT score is around 151. Because the range of scores is so small, minor improvements in your test performance can greatly increase your score and percentile ranking. While examining your raw score, remember that law schools are looking at your scaled score. Most law schools will release the average scaled scores of their incoming students. If you remain among the average, that means you are competing with a majority of students with the same scores. Each law school requires a specific average range, some being more competitive than others, and with that, those same schools are ranked the best. So, be sure to take your time researching which schools you would like to apply for as well as their requirements and score standards.

The approximate average score on the LSAT is 150 for the scaled score, which translates to a raw score of around 60. In other words, the average test taker gets approximately 60 of the 100 questions correct. An above-average score is typically considered 160 or over, which indicates a raw score of around 78. Of course, a low score is anything below 150, and the percentile rank drops significantly with each point below 150. In fact, a score of 145 will likely fall around 25 percent.

As mentioned, an above-average score on the LSAT is considered by most to be 160 or above. In general, however, the majority of top-tier schools consider applicants with above-average scores more strongly than those with average to slightly above average scores. You can also research your desired school to see what score might be ideal. Good LSAT scores are more relative than absolute, especially given that nearly all law schools will take your highest LSAT score, rather than average your scores (if you’ve taken the LSAT more than once and have multiple scores). When determining what LSAT score you should shoot for, base your decision on the average LSAT scores of the law schools you’re applying to.

Understanding the "Curve"

The LSAT is graded on a “curve” so that even if a test was relatively easy or difficult, a 160 on any given test is equivalent to a 160 on any other test. The LSAT decides which raw score is going to correspond to which scaled score (on a scale of 120-180) based on a variety of factors, like the total number of questions on the test and the overall difficulty of the questions. When test takers talk about the "curve" of an LSAT, they’re usually talking about the number of questions you can get wrong and still get a 170. So, if you're reading about LSAT chatter and someone says, "Oh, that was a really hard test.

Optional Score Audit Service

LSAC routinely conducts multiple procedures to ensure the accuracy of all test response data before scores are released. Because we go to these great lengths as part of our normal processes, the possibility of finding any scoring errors on computerized tests is extremely small. However, in response to requests from test takers, LSAC is providing an optional Score Audit service. This service costs $150 (or $75 if you’ve been preapproved for a fee waiver which is noted on your LSAC JD Account). You may request a score audit after you have received your LSAT score.

Strategies to Maximize Your Score

To maximize your score on the LSAT, you should focus your efforts on your weakest section. Thus, if you’re weak in one area, hammer that section in your studies. If your goal is to reach a score of 170 on the LSAT, the maximum number of questions you can answer incorrectly is 11. Avoid impulse or random guessing. Instead, eliminate unlikely answer choices first. Once your choices are narrowed, make your best educated guess. Sometimes you might just get a feeling about one of your remaining answers. It is perfectly ok to “go with your gut”.

There’s only one way to increase your LSAT score: LSAT prep. You’ll need to put in the work to see the results. It’s the reason why homework and drills are a huge part of the Blueprint curriculum, and it pays off-Blueprint students see an average 15-point score increase from their first practice test.

You can always retake the LSAT, whether or not you choose to cancel. Law schools don’t view multiple negative LSAT scores as a negative. You don’t want to make the same mistakes again, so it’s necessary to know what areas need improvement. Additionally, you might need to need to switch up your test prep. If you took a class, working with a private LSAT tutor can help you identify new strategies to overcome any obstacles on test day.

The Holistic Review Process

There are no minimum LSAT scores for law school applicants. A quick search will yield law schools’ median LSAT scores of their incoming classes, but they are by no means an ironclad requirement for acceptance. And it's important to remember that these median scores reflect these applicants' highest LSAT score, since law schools almost never average LSAT scores when applicants have multiple scores on their score report. However, don’t forget the law school application review process is holistic and your GPA, resume, and references will all play significant roles.

The Importance of Test Preparation

There is a correlation between time spent studying and how well the individual performs on the LSAT. Taking the LSAT and then anticipating receiving your score results can be daunting for even the most skilled test-takers. Not only does so much go into studying for the LSAT itself but there are also several things you need to know surrounding the test. If your scores are not where they need to be, then do not give up hope.

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