How much can I expect my LSAT score to increase?

Asked by: Arlie McLaughlin  |  Last update: September 22, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (52 votes)

Ultimately, most people improve by 10-20 points or more, but there are outliers who will improve by a lot more (and also, unfortunately, by a lot less). This is not to say that a target score that is 30+ points higher than your current range is utterly unrealistic: it's just exceptionally ambitious.

How much can you realistically improve your LSAT score?

Students have successfully improved their LSAT score by over 20 points, but it required several months, even years, of dedicated study, trial and error, and unwavering focus.

Is it possible to increase your LSAT score by 10 points?

While 160 may not sound much different from 150, an LSAT score of 160 actually equates to the 82nd percentile. That's a huge increase in your competitiveness compared to a 150. While 10-point LSAT increases do require a serious investment of time and energy, they're definitely not impossible.

How many points can you go up on the LSAT?

The LSAT scale ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest possible score and 180 being the highest possible score.

How long does it take to improve on LSAT?

Nonetheless, 250 to 300 hours of LSAT preparation over a period of a few months is a good benchmark. Most students who dedicate significantly less time won't maximize their LSAT scores.

How I studied for the LSAT to get 173 + score release reaction!

38 related questions found

Is it possible to raise your LSAT score 20 points?

Above average students in this cohort made it through the Blueprint Live Course and saw their scores skyrocket well past the 15-point mark. 19% of students in this summer 2021 cohort in our study saw a monster increase of 20 or more points.

Which LSAT month is the hardest?

There isn't one specific month that is the easiest or hardest to write the LSAT, and if there was, it would change each year since the students writing the LSAT change each year! The hardest test will be the one you haven't fully prepared for, regardless of the month!

What is the average LSAT score for first time takers?

LSAT scores range from 120 to 180. First-time LSAT test-takers score an average of 151 out of 180. The median LSAT score of first-year JD students is 158.5. Among first-year JD students, 160.9 is considered a high score (75th percentile), and 154.8 is considered a low score (25th percentile)

How to quickly improve LSAT score?

Test-wide LSAT Strategies
  1. How to Increase Your Speed. ...
  2. Predicting Answers. ...
  3. Improving Reading Comprehension. ...
  4. Practice Makes Perfect. ...
  5. Start with the Passage, NOT the Question Stem. ...
  6. Accept the Premise(s) but Attack the Conclusion. ...
  7. Understand Conditional Statements. ...
  8. Resist the Urge to Diagram.

Is 172 a high LSAT score?

So, a great score on the LSAT is a 172, but more than 100,000 people take the LSAT every year and only 1% score 172 or higher. For the top 50 law schools, the median LSAT score is between 164 and 174. A good LSAT score for top tier(defined by T14 schools for this article) law schools is between 171 and 174.

What is the easiest section to improve on LSAT?

The easiest LSAT section on which to improve is the 'games'. The Analytical Reasoning or “games” section is frequently considered the most difficult part of the LSAT.

How many questions can I get wrong on the LSAT to get a 180?

Though 180 is the perfect LSAT score, you can often miss one or two questions and still achieve the perfect 180. Comparing the score conversion charts for LSAT exams since 2005 shows that on some tests, you can miss as many as three questions and still achieve a 180.

Can a high LSAT score make up for a low GPA?

A strong LSAT score can compensate for a low GPA, so it is well worth the investment of time and effort it takes to do well. Many competitive law schools screen applicants using a weighted index of their grades and LSAT scores, so extra points on the LSAT may effectively boost your GPA.

Should I keep a 155 LSAT score?

For example, to get into a top-ranking law school, you'll probably need an LSAT score of at least 160 or above, while a score in the mid-150s is often acceptable at many excellent law schools. A top 10 law school typically requires a 170 or above.

What is an impressive LSAT score?

If your score, for example, was 159, your percentile is around 71 percent. An exceptional LSAT score will be somewhere around 175, which is the 99th percentile, according to the Law School Admissions Council (2021—2024)—if you received a 175, you scored better than 99 percent of all test takers.

What is the LSAT score for Harvard law?

The 1L class at Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174. The 25th percentile LSAT is 171 and the 75th percentile LSAT is 176. The median GPA is 3.93. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.84 and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.99.

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.

Will a 180 LSAT get you in anywhere?

You can apply to pretty much anywhere with confidence.

The following table shows the schools with a median LSAT score in the 173-180 range for admitted full-time student populations as of Fall 2024. These programs are at the very top of the law school world, hence their LSAT scores being so high.

How hard is it to get a 170 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.

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.

What score did Elle Woods get on her 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.

Can I get into law school with a 143 LSAT score?

Appalachian School of Law, Virginia

With an acceptance rate of 63 percent, this school is slightly more competitive than some of the easiest on our list, but your chances of getting in are good if you have at least an LSAT score of 143 and a GPA of 2.80.

How hard is it to get a 172 on the 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.

Is the LSAT going away 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.

What is the lowest LSAT score ever?

Understanding Your LSAT Scores. The LSAT scores range from 120-180, with 120 being the lowest possible score.