Can you improve your LSAT score by 20 points?

Asked by: Clyde Johnston  |  Last update: March 9, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (19 votes)

Yes, improving your LSAT score by 20 points is achievable, especially if your starting score is lower (e.g., 130s-150s), but it requires significant, focused effort, typically 10-20 hours of study weekly for several months, involving consistent practice tests, deep analysis of mistakes, and mastering specific question types like Logic Games (LG) and Logical Reasoning (LR) through dedicated drilling and strategy, rather than just taking more tests. Success hinges on realistic goals, a structured plan, and identifying/drilling weak areas until concepts are solid.

Is it possible to improve LSAT score by 20 points?

Above average students in this cohort made it through the Blueprint Live Course and saw their scores skyrocket well past the 15-point mark. 19% of students in this summer 2021 cohort in our study saw a monster increase of 20 or more points.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed to have been very high, likely in the 170-175 range, to gain admission to Harvard Law School with a relatively low undergraduate GPA. Analysts suggest he needed a score in the top percentiles (perhaps 94th-98th) to overcome his lower GPA and secure a spot at the prestigious institution, indicating a strong performance near the perfect 180 score. 

Can I increase my LSAT score by 10 points in 2 months?

With enough time, patience, and practice, you should see improvements in your LSAT score every week or two. You should give yourself at least three months to see the most overall improvement from your diagnostic score.

Can you retake the LSAT to get a better score?

How likely is my LSAT score to improve if I retake the LSAT? Many test takers increase their score on the second test. However, some test takers' scores do not change, and some even experience a score decrease.

How to Improve Your LSAT Score by 20 Points

21 related questions found

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.

How to improve LSAT fast?

7 Tips to Improve Your LSAT Speed

  1. Don't rush to answer every question. ...
  2. Work quickly on easier questions. ...
  3. Skip harder questions (or leave them for later) ...
  4. Move on when you're stuck. ...
  5. Don't rush to read the answer choices. ...
  6. Set realistic pacing goals for each section. ...
  7. Practice!

Is a 147 a bad LSAT score?

A 147 LSAT score is considered low but not impossible, often falling below the average (around 150-151) and near the cutoff for many ABA-approved law schools, making admission difficult without a very high GPA or significant score improvement, though it's a decent starting point for potential improvement with dedicated study. 

Which month has the hardest LSAT?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

How rare is a 172 on the LSAT?

A 172 LSAT score is extremely rare and elite, placing you in roughly the top 3% (97th percentile) of test-takers, meaning you scored better than over 97 out of 100 people, making it a very strong score for even the most competitive T14 law schools. While common on law school forums, it's statistically exceptional, outperforming most applicants for top programs, though some extremely selective schools have medians even higher. 

What LSAT did Elle Woods get?

Elle Woods scored a 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of a perfect 180, after going from a 143 on a practice test to achieving this near-perfect score by studying intensely for Harvard Law School. Her remarkable score, combined with a 4.0 GPA, secured her admission to Harvard Law.
 

Did Michelle Obama ever pass a bar exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
 

What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?

Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
 

What is an impressive LSAT score?

A good LSAT score depends on your target law school, but generally, 160+ is competitive, 170+ is strong for top-tier schools (T14), and 175+ is excellent, with the national median around 152-155; check your desired schools' median scores to set your specific goal.
 

How to improve your LSAT score in 2 weeks?

Tackling the LSAT Crash Course with Limited Time

In general, if you are short on available time in the coming two weeks, focus on watching the Magoosh lessons, completing at least three to four practice sections a week reinforcing the lesson content, and taking one practice test a week (in one sitting).

How rare is it to get a 170 on the LSAT?

A 170 LSAT score is very rare, typically placing you in the top 2-3% (around the 97th percentile) of test-takers, though this can fluctuate slightly by year, with some recent data showing it around the 95th percentile or even higher in terms of number of test-takers achieving it due to increased preparation, making it an exceptional score for law school admissions. 

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

Indeed, Kim revealed on Nov. 8 that she sadly did not pass the all-important exam, but she wasn't calling it quits, either. "Six years into this law journey, and I'm still all in until I pass the bar," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories.

What LSAT score is a 70%?

A 70th percentile on the LSAT means you scored better than 70% of test-takers, which typically translates to a scaled score around 157-159, often requiring roughly 55-56 correct answers out of the scored sections, putting you in a competitive range for many law schools. This score shows strong performance above the national median (around 150-152) and is competitive for many regional and mid-tier law programs.
 

What is a mediocre LSAT score?

For example, to get into a top-ranking law school, you'll probably need an LSAT score of at least 160 or above, while a score in the mid-150s is often acceptable at many excellent law schools. A top 10 law school typically requires a 170 or above.

Should I cancel my 149 LSAT score?

First we should state that, in general, we do not recommend canceling your LSAT score. Canceling has very few benefits—the test still counts toward your allotted 3 takes per cycle (and 5 takes per 5-year period, and 7 takes total), and it doesn't remove the test administration from your record.

How many mistakes for 165 LSAT?

On a four section LSAT, you can miss roughly 18 questions and get a 165. On a three section LSAT, you can miss roughly 13 questions and get a 165.

Can I increase my LSAT score by 20 points?

The Short Answer Is

Ultimately, most people improve by 10–20 points or more, but there are outliers who will improve by a lot more (and also, unfortunately, by a lot less). This is not to say that a target score that is 30+ points higher than your current range is utterly unrealistic—it's just exceptionally ambitious.

What is the easiest section of the LSAT to improve?

The Easier LSAT Section: Reading Comprehension. I found the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT to be a bit easier than Logical Reasoning – but it's also the section that most students find difficult to prepare for!

How many hours should I study for the LSAT per day?

The second tip is to aim for 250–300 hours of LSAT preparation. They say that 20 hours per week over a three-month period is a great goal for most students. Ben and Nathan both respond that 20 hours per week is too much—that's 3 hours per day, every day of the week, with no days off for three months.