Do law schools look at highest LSAT score?

Asked by: Beaulah Reichel  |  Last update: July 30, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (24 votes)

Read: How to Weigh LSAT Test Prep Options. ] Now, some law schools commit outright to considering an applicant's highest score only, while others claim to look at all scores. Effectively, however, law schools take your highest score no matter how many times you take the test.

Do law schools look at your highest LSAT?

You will find that most law schools look at the higher or highest LSAT test score for applicants with multiple scores. However, applicants should keep in mind that Admissions Committee members will see all scores and may be negatively influenced by a large number of tests or a downward trend in scores.

Does a high LSAT guarantee admission?

Even if your score is very high, there is still a high chance they won't admit you. This brings us to an important point: a high score does not guarantee you'll get into the school you want. It helps, yes, but it's only one factor in the review process.

Which LSAT score do law schools see?

Law schools will see every time an applicant takes the LSAT. Law schools will see if you cancel a score for whatever reason. Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once.

Do law schools look at LSAT score or percentile?

Your score's percentile rank is the percent of people who score lower than you. Because a 152 is the median LSAT score, it would give you a percentile ranking of approximately 50. It's common to talk in terms of LSAT score, but law schools also look at your score percentile. Small LSAT score gains can net big results.

How do law schools look at multiple LSAT scores?

32 related questions found

What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?

In the film, Elle scored a 179 on her LSAT. That is one point away from a perfect score of 180. This means she scored in the 90th overall percentile. The average student's LSAT score is a 150.

How hard is a 170 LSAT?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers. Still, it won't guarantee you admission at a top law school. Other parts of your application are still a factor.

Is a 167 a good LSAT score?

The average LSAT score for law schools at the top of the rankings ranges from 167-172. On the other hand, scores of 145-155 are generally good enough to be accepted into less prestigious law schools.

What if I do worse on my second LSAT?

If you believe you can score higher than your first two scores and have regularly done so on practice tests, then it may be a good idea to retake the test again to demonstrate your true abilities. Review your real LSAT first, noting weak sections where you should focus your studies to gain the most improvement.

Is a 162 on the LSAT good?

From your raw scores, the test is graded on an LSAT score scale from 120-180. The average LSAT score is about 150. To get into a top 14 law school, you need to score above 162, and to get into a top 50 law school, you need 154 or above.

Can I get into Harvard with a 168 LSAT?

The T-6 are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Chicago, Columbia, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania (there are currently seven schools in the T-6 due to ties). A good LSAT score for the T-6, and what one should aim for in order to get in, is a 172 or higher.

Can I get into Harvard with a 160 LSAT?

As you probably expect, most students at the top three law schools have LSAT scores somewhere in the stratosphere. But roughly 25% of the entering classes at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford have LSAT scores at or below 170. Every year some students with scores in the 150s and many in the 160s will be admitted.

What is the lowest LSAT score Harvard has accepted?

Although there is no “cutoff” LSAT score that you need to get into Harvard Law School, Harvard only offers admission to a small percentage of its applicants. Therefore, to gain admission to Harvard Law School, you will likely need an LSAT score in the 170+ range.

Does retaking the LSAT hurt you?

If it's your first time taking the LSAT, no pressure. Taking the LSAT twice or even three times is totally fine. If, come the week before LSAT test day, you're not scoring something that would put you in contention for the schools you want to go to, well, you can withdraw if you like.

Is it worth taking the LSAT twice?

Due to the difficulty of the test, law schools generally understand that students may not receive their ideal score the first time around. As a rule, schools look for score improvements overall, and do not view multiple attempts at the LSAT as a negative factor on an application.

What happens if you retake the LSAT and get a lower score?

It means that if you retake the LSAT and improve your score, schools will disregard your lower score(s) in favor of your best performance. The averaging “penalty,” so to speak, of multiple attempts has been entirely removed.

Can schools see how many times you took the LSAT?

Need-based fee waivers cover only two tests over two years. Applicants looking for practice tests can find much cheaper options, even for proctored practice tests in live settings. Second, law schools will see each time applicants take the LSAT, even if an applicant cancels the score.

Is a 157 a good LSAT score?

Among the 192 law schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2019, the average median LSAT score was 156. If we were to speak about a good LSAT score in very broad terms, 157 or above would be a reasonable place to start. Anything above 160 is not a bad LSAT score.

Should I retake a 172 LSAT?

All the admissions committee cares about is the 172, so no matter how it stacks up, what they see is: 172. That's the score they use, and that's what they report to the ABA and USNews, so that's all that matters. Thus, my advice is to retake it if you think there's a chance you can do better.

What was Obama's LSAT score?

Unraveling the secret behind Obama's LSAT Score

Only two of them scored over the 63% mark; and in fact scored between 94-98%, which would be equivalent to a score of 166 – 171 in today's grading system.

Can high LSAT offset low GPA?

This is so important! The good news is a high LSAT score can truly help offset a low undergraduate GPA. For better or for worse, most law schools weigh your LSAT score and your undergraduate GPA about equally (and many even give your LSAT score more weight!)

How many questions can you miss on the LSAT to get a 165?

You can get around 19-22 questions incorrect to score 165 on the LSAT. In other terms, you need to get 80 answers correct to get a 165.

Is the LSAT harder than the MCAT?

Test Comparison

While the LSAT relies less on extensive background knowledge than the MCAT, the lengthy, complex reading material can be challenging for some test-takers. Conversely, the MCAT has a simple, straightforward structure but requires in-depth comprehension of complex medical and scientific principles.