How is 165 on LSAT?

Asked by: Prof. Carmen Harvey  |  Last update: January 5, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (71 votes)

In fact, it is very good. The median LSAT score is a 151. That means 50% of people score higher than 151, and 50% score lower. Whereas a 165 is in the 89th percentile!

Is 165 a good score on the LSAT?

165 is a really high score. 92nd percentile on the LSAT, and more than good enough to qualify someone for MENSA. (Cutoff is 163).

Can I get into Harvard law with a 165 LSAT?

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 was Elle Woods' LSAT score?

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.

What LSAT score did Obama get?

During his time, the median LSAT scores for Harvard Law were generally between 170 and 175. This suggests that the Obama LSAT scores were within this range, placing him in the top percentiles of test-takers.

How to get a 165+ on the LSAT

31 related questions found

Is 167 a bad LSAT score?

On a typical LSAT, you can still get around 18–19 questions wrong and still end up in the 160s—or around 10–12 wrong and get a 167, which is a 90th percentile score. Even a perfect score of 180 often allows you to miss a question or two.

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

Every LSAT throughout the year is different, but on a typical LSAT, can still get around 18–19 questions wrong and still end up in the 160s—or about 12 wrong and get a 166, a 90th percentile score. Even a perfect score of 180 often allows for a question or two to be missed.

Is 164 a bad LSAT score?

Generally speaking, a score of 160 and above is necessary to guarantee admission into top-100 schools like Tulane, UC Hastings, or Case Western Reserve. For top-50 law schools such as Fordham, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, or George Washington, 165 is a good number to reach for.

How rare is a 160 on the LSAT?

A student scoring a 180 is in the 99.9 percentile because the student scored better than 99.9% of test-takers. A student scoring a 160 is in the 74.8 percentile because the student scored better than 74.8% of test-takers. You can hover over the blue outline to see a tooltip for all each LSAT/percentile combinations.

What is a bad LSAT score?

While you may be able to apply and even be accepted into a law school with a lower LSAT score, there is a cut-off for acceptable application scores. If you are consistently scoring lower than 145, you may need to consider significant studying and a retake before applying to law schools.

Can you get into UCLA with a 165 LSAT?

UCLA Law School Median LSAT Score: 170

There is no “required” LSAT score to gain admission at UCLA Law, but higher scores can boost your application. Consider the LSAT score percentiles of incoming J.D. students: 25th percentile LSAT: 165.

Is 162 a bad LSAT score?

Is a 162 LSAT Score Good? Yes! This is a good LSAT score if you're looking into applying to one of the top 25 law schools. However, once you get to the top 10 law schools, 162 will likely not be considered competitive.

How rare is a 180 LSAT?

How Hard Is It To Get A Perfect Score On The LSAT? According to LSAC, only 119 test-takers out of nearly 60,000 achieved this in 2022. So when you ask, “How many people get a 180 on the LSAT?” the answer highlights the rarity and difficulty of this achievement.

How hard is a 165 on the LSAT?

The median LSAT score is a 151. That means 50% of people score higher than 151, and 50% score lower. Whereas a 165 is in the 89th percentile! That means if 1,000 people took the LSAT, only 110 would score a 165 or higher.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted?

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.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

Your odds of getting into any of the T14 Law Schools, Harvard included, will be much higher if you score over 170 (out of 180) on the LSATs. Harvard's median LSAT score of entering students is 174, with the lower 25th percentile being 170 and upper 75th percentile being 176.

How good is a 166 on the LSAT?

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 166, and to get into a top 50 law school, you need 153 or above.

Should I retake the LSAT if I got a 167?

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 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.