Is it OK to take the LSAT twice?

Asked by: Modesta Stanton  |  Last update: October 29, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (22 votes)

As a rule, schools look for score improvements overall, and do not view multiple attempts at the LSAT as a negative factor on an application. An exception to this would be any major score discrepancies in the past five years.

Does it matter if I take the LSAT twice?

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.

Does retaking the LSAT hurt you?

If it's your first time taking the LSAT, no pressure. Taking the LSAT twice or even three times is totally fine. If, come the week before LSAT test day, you're not scoring something that would put you in contention for the schools you want to go to, well, you can withdraw if you like.

Do law schools care if you retake LSAT?

Law schools will know if you retake the LSAT, but they won't care.

Is it worth it to take the LSAT again?

If a distraction made you feel that you were performing worse than you usually do on a test, it would probably be worth taking the LSAT again when you're feeling well enough to do your best, and when disruptions are less likely to impact your final score.

Is it worth taking the LSAT twice?

16 related questions found

How hard is a 170 LSAT?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers. Still, it won't guarantee you admission at a top law school. Other parts of your application are still a factor.

Can I get into Harvard with a 168 LSAT?

The T-6 are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Chicago, Columbia, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania (there are currently seven schools in the T-6 due to ties). A good LSAT score for the T-6, and what one should aim for in order to get in, is a 172 or higher.

Is a 157 a good LSAT score?

Among the 192 law schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2019, the average median LSAT score was 156. 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.

Is 164 a good LSAT score?

Here is a breakdown of what counts as a good enough score for law schools based on the school's rank: Top-five law schools: 170 to 180. Schools like Harvard and Yale, which are the top two, rarely accept applicants with less than 172 on the LSAT. Law schools ranked between 5 and 10: 165 to 170.

Is 154 a good LSAT score?

The traditional LSAT test has approximately 94-106 questions, with each correct answer counting for one point of your raw score. 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 167 LSAT score good?

The average LSAT score for law schools at the top of the rankings ranges from 167-172. On the other hand, scores of 145-155 are generally good enough to be accepted into less prestigious law schools.

What if I do worse on my second LSAT?

The downside of retaking is largely gone as well! Even if you do worse on a retake, law schools still have the ability and the incentive just to consider your higher score. That said, law schools generally don't view a 1 or 2 point score bump as a significant improvement.

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.

Can you take the LSAT as many times as you want?

In September 2017, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) changed its policy on how many times you can take the LSAT. Now, there are no limitations on the number of times you can take the LSAT test.

How long should I study for the LSAT?

For most students, a three-month period of preparation (of approximately 20 hours per week) is a great goal. This is, of course, an estimate; most students are not all students. To find out how much LSAT prep time you're likely to need, we recommend taking a practice LSAT to get a baseline score.

What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?

In the film, Elle scored a 179 on her LSAT. That is one point away from a perfect score of 180. This means she scored in the 90th overall percentile. The average student's LSAT score is a 150.

Can I get into law school with a 135 LSAT?

Law schools generally require that you have specified minimum collegiate GPA and LSAT scores to qualify for admission. Harvard, Yale, and the other top five-ranked law schools require that you have a GPA of at least 3.50 and an LSAT score of 170.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted?

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.

What was Obama's LSAT score?

Unraveling the secret behind Obama's LSAT Score

Only two of them scored over the 63% mark; and in fact scored between 94-98%, which would be equivalent to a score of 166 – 171 in today's grading system.

Is a 3.8 good for law school?

However, among the highest-ranked law schools, the norm is to admit people with near-perfect college grades. All of the top-10 law schools had median GPAs of 3.7 or higher. Seven of these 10 schools had a median GPA that was at least a 3.8, and among those three had a median GPA that was a 3.9 or above.

Is LSAT more important than GPA?

While LSAT is the most important factor, GPA is still significant. When you get down into schools lower in the rankings (outside the top 10 schools), numbers alone become an even better predictor of how likely you are to get into a specific school. LSAT is still the more important number than GPA.

Is 172 a good LSAT score?

For last year's admissions cycle, a candidate with a 172 LSAT score and a 3.8 undergraduate grade-point average would have likely been accepted to the top eight law schools, says Mike Spivey, a law school admissions consultant for applicants.