Is 159 a good first LSAT score?

Asked by: Arielle Dickinson I  |  Last update: November 14, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (59 votes)

The average LSAT score for first-time takers was 151, according to scores tracked from 2006-2013. During this period, second-time test takers had the highest LSAT average score of about 152. The average national LSAT score for full-time, first-year JD enrollees for fall 2022 was about 159.

What does a 159 on the LSAT mean?

If your score, for example, was a 159, your percentile is somewhere around 77 percent. An exceptional LSAT score will be somewhere around a 173, which is the 99th percentile, according to the Law School Admissions Council—if you received a 173, you scored better than 99 percent of all test takers.

What is a good LSAT score for the first time?

According to U.S. News, law school admissions experts recommend striving for at least a 150; however, for a top-ranking law school, you should aim for a 160 or better. For a Top 10 law school, a 170 or more is desired. Of course, this all depends on which schools you are applying to.

Should I retake a 158 LSAT?

If you get your official LSAT score back and it is significantly lower than your practice test average, you should retake. For example, if your last 3 practice test scores were a 165, 167, and 166, but on test day you scored a 158, you should definitely retake the LSAT.

Is 155 a good starting LSAT score?

It is a very good starting score. Although 151 is the average score, most people have some prep before the test and you can expect to go up at least 10 points from your diagnostic if you study correctly. Took an LSAT diagnostic last night with no knowledge of the test and scored a 156.

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Is 159 a bad LSAT score?

The typical LSAT score for 2022 law school enrollees was about 159, but top programs require scores in the 170-175 range.

How hard is a 155 LSAT?

First off, if you're in this score range, you're already officially above the mean (and above median, though we can't speak to mode – sorry stats fans). Within this score range, you're besting 64-78 percent of your peers, putting you solidly within the top half of test takers!

Should I cancel my 150 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.

Should I cancel a 153 LSAT score?

First we should state that, in general, we do not recommend canceling your LSAT score. Canceling has very few benefits—the test still counts toward your allotted 3 takes per cycle (and 5 takes per 5-year period, and 7 takes total), and it doesn't remove the test administration from your record.

Should I cancel a 160 LSAT score?

It is not, however, a reason to cancel your LSAT score. If you seriously studied and committed to preparing for the exam in the months leading up to it, then you should be in a good position to keep the score. Even if you didn't get a 180, it's likely that this score reflects your aptitude and abilities.

Is 160 a good starting LSAT score?

However, if the applicant wants to enroll in a J.D. program that ranks among the top 25 in the U.S. News Best Law Schools rankings, the target should be a score of 160 or better. If an applicant hopes to get into a top-10 program, he or she should aim for an LSAT score of 170 or more, experts suggest.

Does your first LSAT score matter?

Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once. Ideally, it would be best if every applicant could secure their ideal LSAT score on the first attempt, but that is often not the case. Law schools will report the highest LSAT score.

What is a mediocre LSAT score?

The LSAT score range is 120–180, and the median score is approximately 152. You need to get about 60 questions right (out of 99–102 questions) to get that median score of 152, which means you need to bat about 60 percent.

What LSAT score did Elle Woods get?

LSAT Lessons from Legally Blonde (really!)

As you probably know, the LSAT is scored from 120 to 180. Elle Woods was able to raise her score from a 143 to a 179 just by diligently preparing.

What is the average LSAT score without studying?

The average LSAT score without studying ranges from 135 to 145, well below the median at 151 in the 50th percentile. Preparing with practice tests and learning the skills you need for each exam section is the key to boosting your LSAT scores.

How many can I get wrong on LSAT to get a 160?

Every LSAT throughout the year is different, but on a typical LSAT, you can still get 25 wrong and end up in the 160s— or about 20 wrong and get a 164, a 90th percentile score. Even a perfect score of 180 often allows for a question or two to be missed.

Do most people retake the LSAT?

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 153 a good starting LSAT score?

Now that you have some background regarding the LSAT, you might be thinking that a score between 145-153 is actually pretty good. To be fair, a score in that range actually isn't bad, but if you are looking to get into a top-ranked law school, you'll need something better.

Can you get into law school with a 154 LSAT?

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.

Is a 149 LSAT bad?

The LSAT is scored from 120-180, and an average score is about 150.

Does a cancelled LSAT look bad?

A cancelled LSAT score is a valid LSAT score. Many law schools accept cancelled scores and view them as valid.

Should I keep a 156 LSAT score?

If your goal is to get into one of the top 25 law schools in the country, you'll need to achieve a score of 160 or better.

What does a 157 LSAT score mean?

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.

How to go from 160 to 170 on LSAT?

Drilling can help you get out of the low 160s. It won't get you all the way to 170, but it will be an essential step to making sure that you take advantage of any low-hanging fruit. The closer you get to 170 (and beyond), the less you'll be able to make progress through drilling and sheer repetition.

Can you go from 150 to 170 on the LSAT?

If 150 is your starting score, you should be able to fairly easily get to at least the low 160s by mastering the fundamentals. From there, it's definitely possible to get to 170, though by no means guaranteed. You'll have to do a lot of review to figure out your unknown unknowns; the LSAT is a test of much subtlety.