Do most people retake the LSAT?

Asked by: Dimitri Schiller  |  Last update: August 7, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (15 votes)

Thus, when you go to the test center for the first time, the majority of people around you are also there for the first time. What about people repeating the test? The average percentage of second-time test takers is 26%, and the average percentage of third-time test takers is 5% (percentages rounded).

Is it normal to retake the LSAT?

Thus, while there are limits on the number of attempts allowed, unless you find yourself eyeing your fifth (or more) LSAT or considering exam dates late in the admissions cycle, sitting for the test multiple times isn't automatically problematic.

Do people usually take the LSAT more than once?

If you are a student who believes that you can improve on your original score, then it may be worth trying again. In fact, most students go into the LSAT with a target score, and if they don't hit that score, they prefer to retake the test. However, there are downsides to taking the LSAT more than once.

How many times do people typically take the LSAT?

You should plan to take the LSAT just once, and to do your best on it that one time. In addition to the retake considerations outlined below, students who assume they'll have a second chance if they blow the first test tend not to perform as well as those who assume that this is the only test that matters.

Does it look bad if you take 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 necessarily view multiple attempts at the LSAT as a negative factor on an application.

Should I Retake the LSAT?

17 related questions found

Do most people do better on their second LSAT?

From a scoring standpoint, test takers who repeat the LSAT increase their scores by an average of 2.6 points the second time they take the test, and increase by another 2.3 points the third time they take the test (as compared to the second time).

Do law schools care if you retake LSAT?

Law schools will know if you retake the LSAT, but they are unlikely to care. There are more than enough reasons to stress out about your law school applications. Retaking the LSAT is not one of them.

How long does the average person study for the LSAT?

Determining how many hours you need for LSAT prep

We recommend that most students look to spend 150–300 hours on LSAT prep; that's a healthy range over a two or three-month period at around 20–25 hours per week, which is a standard amount for most students.

How common is a perfect LSAT score?

Remember, the LSAT is one component of the application, and the definition of a good LSAT score depends upon your specific goals. While only 0.1% of test-takers get a 180, many more get accepted into law school each year.

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

So your highest score is really all law schools care about. Meaning, a lower score on a LSAT retake should not hurt you.

Is the LSAT harder now than it used to be?

Short answer: No. The only difference across practice tests over time is that early Logic Games are harder, so if anything, the LSAT has gotten easier. Don't worry about subtle changes based on a few data points. Focus on understanding the test, one question at a time.

Is it worth taking the LSAT again?

If your score is much lower than your target and you are willing to put effort into adjusting and reassessing your study tactics, then it is absolutely worth it to take the LSAT twice. The LSAT is an essential component of your application, so getting a good score will maximize your chances of acceptance.

Do schools see how many times you take the LSAT?

Yes, when you apply to law school, all schools you apply to will be able to see every LSAT you've taken. This means they can see if you've canceled your scores as well as all existing scores that you've kept. But no, reporting multiple scores will not “look bad” to schools to which you've applied.

Should I cancel my LSAT score if I did worse?

Should You Actually Cancel Your LSAT Score? In the final analysis, if you have strong reason to believe you've done poorly, and if you have time to take the test again (and to further your preparation), there's nothing wrong with canceling one LSAT score (but only one).

What happens if you do bad on the LSAT?

If you are consistently scoring lower than 145, you may need to consider significant studying and a retake before applying to law schools. There are few law schools that will accept an LSAT score this low, and those that do may not offer the quality of education that you desire.

Is it better to cancel a bad LSAT score?

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 was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Unraveling the secret behind Obama's LSAT Score

Hence it's very likely that Obama had an LSAT Score around the median of the class (43 on the then-used 48 point scale).

How bad is a 140 LSAT score?

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 147 an okay LSAT score?

Specifically, you're looking for the school's median scores, LSAT percentiles, and acceptance rate data. Typical LSAT score ranges include: 120-147 Low. 148-156 Mid.

What months are the hardest for the LSAT?

Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

Is 2 months enough to study for LSAT?

If you can dedicate eight hours a day, for a total of 40 hours per week, to your study prep, two months may be enough time to study for the LSAT. However, the minimum recommendation is three months.

Is it easy to get a 170 on the LSAT?

A 170 represents a percentile of 97.4%, meaning that test takers with a score of 170 have a score higher than 97.4% of all LSAT takers. So, that's pretty good! But what does it take to achieve that score? On the most recent LSAT, you would have to answer at least 89 out of 101 questions to receive a 170.

What to do if you fail the LSAT?

It Comes Down to Retaking the Test

Still, there is no other way to increase your score other than re-doing the test. Particularly if illness or anxiety prevented you from performing as well as you might have expected, you have everything to gain from doing it again.

Is it bad to take the LSAT 3 times?

Applicants with multiple LSAT scores with huge score disparities can be harder to review. Once applicants have taken the LSAT two or three times they often see scores start to cluster and plateau. All law schools are eager to admit applicants to their schools who possess solid aptitude scores on the LSAT.

Is it bad to take the LSAT 4 times?

If you need a “gateway” score at or above the median of your dream school because you are a strong but not exceptional applicant (under their median GPA, etc.), keep taking the test as long as you don't think you have maxed out: even up to four or five times.