Does LSAT improve IQ?

Asked by: Adah Predovic  |  Last update: October 15, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (6 votes)

The results suggest that training people in reasoning skills – the main focus of LSAT prep courses – can reinforce the brain's circuits involved in thinking and reasoning and could even up people's IQ scores.

Do LSAT scores correlate to IQ?

The LSAT is not an IQ test. It does not measure intelligence the way IQ tests are designed to measure innate ability. A person who is very smart can receive a low LSAT score. A person who is very creative can receive a low LSAT score.

Does studying for the LSAT change your brain?

Studying for the LSAT really does make you smarter.

Intense studying for the traditional law school admissions exam actually changes the structure of your brain — albeit on microscopic level — and those changes strengthening the connections between different parts of the brain are essential for reasoning.

Is the LSAT a good predictor?

With the Law School Admissions Council stating things like ``studies have consistently shown the LSAT to be the single best predictor of first-year law school performance, even better than undergraduate grade-point average,'' it is no wonder that it's the largest determining factor in law admissions decisions.

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.

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20 related questions found

What score is 75% on LSAT?

For example if your LSAT Scaled Score is 157 you will have a percentile rank of approximately 75% meaning that your Scaled Score of 157 is better than 75% of the LSAT Scaled Scores for the last three years.

How bad is a 149 on the LSAT?

You can get into law school with a low LSAT score if it is above 144-145. Scores in this range will get you into some lower-ranking schools, although the majority of law schools prefer scores above 150. For expert prep on increasing your score and chances of accetpance, speak with a counselor at Juris Education.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School.

What did Elle Woods score on the LSAT?

Elle Woods, a fictional character portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the movie Legally Blonde, is known for her remarkable LSAT score—179 out of 180. Portrayed as a stereotypical "valley girl," she embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School in the movie that has since become a cult favorite.

Does LSAT outweigh GPA?

Yes, many schools with holistic admissions prioritize LSAT scores and other qualities over strictly GPA. Check individual schools for their approach.

Does taking the LSAT 3 times look bad?

Additionally, if you take the LSAT more than three times, or if you have a significant difference in scores (typically more than five points), an admissions committee will want to see an addendum explaining why you kept taking the exam, or explaining the reason for the higher score—essentially, to explain why the high ...

Do law schools prefer LSAT?

Law school admissions officers often publicly claim to have no preference between the LSAT® and the GRE, but the numbers tell a different story: the vast majority of successful law school applicants take the LSAT®.

Does Mensa take LSAT?

Why does Mensa accept the top 5 percent on the LSAT? This is because the sample — those taking the LSAT — is not a normally distributed sample. (They have probably completed three to four years of college.) The scores are adjusted to reflect this.

Is 120 IQ high?

Is a 120 IQ good? An IQ score of 120 is definitely a good score since it means superior or above-average intelligence. Although not in the category of gifted or genius, an IQ score of 120 still falls within the top 10% of the population on the IQ scale.

Is a 135 on the LSAT bad?

Average LSAT Score

LSAT passing score of at least 165 on the LSAT. In recent years, the average LSAT score has stayed at around 151-152. Correspondingly, applicants should aim to score 151 at a minimum to get into an accredited law school because of how competitive and challenging admissions are.

How hard is a 172 LSAT?

Your percentile on the LSAT shows how many people you outperformed on the test. Scoring 172 typically puts you in the top 1.3%, surpassing 98.7% of other test-takers. LSAT percentiles may change slightly each year based on everyone's performance.

Has anyone gotten a 180 on the 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 cancel my 148 LSAT score?

Remember, just because you feel you did poorly on the test does not necessarily mean you did. Some people may come out of the test feeling nervous or unhappy with how they did but end up scoring very well. You should only seriously consider canceling an LSAT score if you feel like you completely flunked the exam.

What is a competitive LSAT score in Canada?

To be a competitive applicant, you should have at least an A- average (grade point average [GPA] of 3.7) in the top 2 years of your undergraduate degree program at a full course load and an LSAT score of at least 160.

What is 80% correct on LSAT?

To get a score of 160 you should aim for getting 57-58 questions correct. A 160 is typically right around the 75th percentile. Add just three correct answers to your performance, and you'll receive a score of 162 on a typical LSAT, placing you in roughly the 80th percentile.

What is a mediocre LSAT score?

The LSAT percentile score range demonstrates your score relative to other test-takers over the past three years. According to the Law School Admission Council, which administers the test, the median score for the 2021-24 testing years was 153, meaning 50% of test-takers scored below and 50% scored above that number.

Does the LSAT get curved?

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. This means that not all tests are exactly the same level of difficulty.