Do law schools care about old LSAT scores?
Asked by: Natalie Beahan | Last update: October 24, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (49 votes)
The LSAC states that your LSAT score remains valid for a period of five years. It is crucial to verify the policy of each law school, as some may only consider scores from the past three or four years.
Do law schools look at old LSAT scores?
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.
Do law schools care if you take the LSAT more than once?
Fortunately, there is no longer a penalty for taking the LSAT more than once. Law schools typically take an applicant's highest score. Still, there are downsides to retaking the test, like lost time and the risk of a lower score that could make your highest score look like a fluke.
Does your LSAT score ever expire?
LSAT scores remain valid for 5 years after your test date. This will give students who need some time off a chance to keep their LSAT score without having to stress over taking it again so soon.
How long are LSAT scores valid for law school applications?
Your LSAT score will remain valid for 5 testing years from the test date. This means that the LSAC will report your score to law schools only if you have completed the test within 5 years. For example, if you took the test on June 8, 2024, this score will be reported until June 8, 2029.
Why do law schools *say* they average multiple LSAT scores?
How bad is a 155 on the LSAT?
According to U.S. News, law school admissions experts recommend striving for at least a 150; however, for a top-ranking law school, you should aim for a 160 or better. For a Top 10 law school, a 170 or more is desired. Of course, this all depends on which schools you are applying to.
How long are LSAT scores valid in Canada?
How long is an LSAT test score valid? Test scores are valid for five years prior to admission.
Is 172 a good LSAT score?
On the other end of the spectrum we can consider an LSAT score of 172. An LSAT score of 172 means the student scored better than about 99% of applicants.
Do law schools see cancelled LSAT scores?
The cancellation will still be visible to any schools you apply to, but your score will never be released (not even to you). LSAT scores can be canceled through your LSAC online account or by contacting LSAC directly.
Is the LSAT no longer required in 2025?
The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.
Should I cancel a 153 LSAT score?
If you don't have strong reason to believe you've done poorly, and retaking will delay your applications, you probably shouldn't cancel. Don't forget that rolling admissions rewards earlier applications.
How many people get a 180 LSAT?
The LSAT is scored on a bell curve, ranging from 120 to 180. On recent tests, the hump of the curve has centered around 153. Percentiles vary slightly between tests, but generally around 25% of test-takers score 160 or higher, 5% score 170 or higher, and 1% score 175 or higher. Only one in 1,000 test-takers scores 180.
Should I retake a 165 LSAT?
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Some people would say “yes”, and that is fine. But if you have an above-average score, say, between 165-170, retaking the LSAT seems like overkill at that point.
Should I retake the LSAT if I got a 160?
If you're somewhere within the 25th to 75th percentile, then a retake may not even be necessary—especially when you consider the time and money it'll cost you. If you're one of the lucky few that scored a 170 or higher on the first try, then there's really no point in retaking it at all.
What is the hardest year of law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
What's the lowest LSAT score that is acceptable by law school?
The below table shows the schools that accept the lowest LSAT scores. This shows that the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 139. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that you want to at least break 140 to make taking on the cost of law school economically feasible. You can get into a law school with a 140 LSAT score.
Is it bad to cancel LSAT score twice?
Canceling your LSAT score once is not a big deal. Most law schools understand that there are many reasons that students might have for canceling an LSAT score. However, canceling your LSAT score more than once might not be the best look for your overall application.
What is a bad LSAT score?
What Is The Lowest Acceptable Score? A 144-145 is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable score to attend law school. The median LSAT score is around 151-152, so 144-145 is significantly lower than this. As such, the majority of law schools will not accept scores below this.
Do LSAT scores expire?
How Long Do LSAT Scores Last? If you're worried about losing your LSAT scores, don't sweat it. That LSAT score from the exam you crushed a few months ago will be kept by LSAC for five years after your test date. So, if your test date was June 8, 2024, your score will be removed from LSAC on June 8, 2029.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.
How rare is a 175 LSAT?
For a top five law school, an LSAT score of 175 and above increases your chances of being admitted and being awarded a full scholarship by the school. Such a score also puts you in the 99th percentile of LSAT takers, making you a rare and highly coveted law school candidate.
How bad is a 149 on the LSAT?
Moreover, if the student with an LSAT score of 149 fell at the 25th percentile at their law school, that institution would be labeled “high risk” or “serious risk,” whereas if the student with an LSAT score of 150 fell at the same percentile at their law school, that institution would be labeled “modest risk.” LSAC has ...
Can I get into law school with a 155 LSAT Canada?
To be competitive in the admissions process, you should have at least a “B+” average (GPA of 3.5) in the top 2 years of your undergraduate degree program at a full course load, along with an LSAT score of at least 155. We may consider other evidence of academic ability in addition to these academic standards.
Should I keep a 152 LSAT score?
A 150 is a decent LSAT score, but if we're getting specific, 151-152 is better, as this is the average LSAT score. You'll meet the LSAT requirements for many accredited law schools with a score in this range.
What is the easiest law school to get into in Canada?
University of New Brunswick – Faculty of Law: Located in Fredericton, UNB Law primarily offers the JD and the MBA/JD programs. With its high acceptance rate, lower LSAT and GPA requirements, but a smaller number of first year students, these make UNB Law one of the easiest law schools to get into in Canada.