Is 160 a good starting LSAT score?
Asked by: Mrs. Eve Kertzmann | Last update: November 4, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (55 votes)
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.
How good is a 160 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.
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.
Should I retake the LSAT if I got a 160?
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.
Can I get into Harvard Law with a 160 LSAT?
The range of LSAT scores accepted at Harvard Law varies from year to year, reflecting the diversity of its applicant pool. Generally, successful applicants have LSAT scores ranging from the mid-160s to the high 170s, i.e. 168 to 175.
How to score in the 170s on the LSAT.
What LSAT score did Elle Woods get?
When she applied to this school, she had a 4.0 GPA with a 179 on the LSAT, the two most important things when applying to law school. The average LSAT score for students applying to Harvard is 174, meaning she got above the average.
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)
Should I cancel a 160 LSAT?
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.
Is 163 a bad LSAT score?
A 163 on the LSAT is a solid score - it places you in approximately the 86th percentile of LSAT takers.
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 many questions can I miss on the LSAT to get a 160?
Generally, there are 77 or 78 scored questions on the LSAT. In order to get a 160, you'll need to get around 57 of these questions right. Between the 3 scored sections, that's about 19 right answers for each section. If you're good at one section, but not so good at another, your score will average out.
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.
How many people get 160 on LSAT?
40% of applicants have 160 or better. 79% have 150 or better. So, 39% of all applicants are in the 150.
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.
Is a 160 diagnostic LSAT good?
For example, top-tier law schools like Harvard or Yale might expect scores in the high 160s to 170s, while other reputable institutions might have lower median scores. Yet, your diagnostic score is more than just a number; it's a starting point.
Can I get a scholarship with a 160 LSAT?
Scholarship eligibility is largely dependent on your LSAT score. A recent study showed that 90% of students with LSAT scores between 166-190 received merit scholarships, while only 16% of students with LSAT scores below 140 did.
Is 165 a bad LSAT score?
As previously stated, the score range for any LSAT exam is 120 to 180, but the average score is about 150. However, most of the top ten law schools require a candidate to have scored at least 165 on the LSAT.
Is 160 a bad LSAT score?
160 score: A score of 160 or above is typically considered a good LSAT score. Although it may not be high enough to get into the highest tier of law school, there are many very reputable law schools with median LSAT scores in this area.
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 ...
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.
How hard is it to get a 160 on the LSAT?
Note that a score in this range places you, on average, above the 95th percentile, meaning that only 5% of all those who take the LSAT score 170 or above. To get a score of 160 you should aim for getting 57-58 questions correct. A 160 is typically right around the 75th percentile.
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.
What percent of LSAT takers get a 165?
Roughly 20% of applicants have a 165 or higher. So a 165 is about an 80th percentile score amongst applicants. The percentile rank of a 165 LSAT among applicants is lower than the percentile rank amongst test takers.