Is the LSAT scored on a curve?

Asked by: Dixie Upton V  |  Last update: November 20, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (62 votes)

The LSAT is graded on a “curve” so that even if a test was relatively easy or difficult, a 160 on any given test is equivalent to a 160 on any other test. This means that not all tests are exactly the same level of difficulty.

What is the average LSAT score curve?

The LSAT is NOT scored on a curve, which means that your performance is NOT compared only to students who took the test on the same day as you. Rather, your score is measured across all LSATs administered over time. The average LSAT Scaled Score is about 150, and more than 50% of all scores are between 145 and 159.

What is a LSAT curve?

Simply, it refers to how many questions you can miss to score a 170. Historically, LSATs allow test-takers to miss anywhere between 8 and 14 questions to receive a 170. So, the number people discuss directly refers to the score of 170.

Is the LSAT Flex curved?

However, the LSAT Flex is also scored on a relatively steeper curve than the traditional LSAT, which means that you could score 73 questions correct and still receive a 180 depending on the circumstances.

Which LSAT has the best curve?

You'll look at my LSAT PrepTest Raw Score Conversion Charts and calculations of what it takes to get an LSAT score of 160 or 170. Using that data, you'll find that the December exam consistently has the easiest "curve," and the June exam consistently has the hardest.

LSAT score curve

39 related questions found

How realistic is it to get a 170 on LSAT?

However, it is possible. Despite what many people believe, there is no trick or shortcut to getting a 170 or more on an LSAT score. Very few people can walk into the room on test day with very little or no practice and be able to score that highly. It takes a lot of hard work to be able to score up to 170 or higher.

Which section of LSAT is hardest?

How Hard is the LSAT Analytical Reasoning? Perhaps the most notorious section of the LSAT, the Analytical Reasoning section contains four logic games, each having 5-7 associated questions. Students must juggle complex, and sometimes competing, concepts to make it through this section with a high score.

How many can you get wrong on the LSAT to get a 170?

How Many Questions Can You Get Wrong to Score 170? If your goal is to reach a score of 170 on the LSAT, the maximum number of questions you can answer incorrectly is 11. Correctly answering 90 out of the 101 total questions should give you your desired score of 170.

How many questions can I miss on the LSAT to get a 160?

So, you don't have to be perfect to do well. 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.

How many questions can you get wrong on the LSAT-Flex to get a 170?

In the upper ranges, it's very forgiving—you could theoretically miss up to 11 questions and still get a 170. This would be the equivalent of missing about 14-15 questions on an LSAT with 4 scored sections.

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 is the average LSAT score for first time takers?

Data Summary. 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 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.

Is 135 a bad LSAT score?

If your LSAT score is in the 140s or lower, you need to spend some time looking at the 25th percentile LSAT scores for the schools you were hoping to attend.

How bad is a 139 LSAT score?

Typical LSAT score ranges include: 120-147 Low. 148-156 Mid. 157-164 High.

Can I get a 160 on the LSAT without studying?

The LSAT is scored on a 120-180 scale.

There's also a writing sample included in the exam which is not scored. From our independent research, we've found that students who take the LSAT without studying achieve scores between 145 and 153. Scoring for the LSAT is scaled.

How bad is a 154 on the LSAT?

The average range is from 120 to 180 points. That's a pretty narrow score range, but it reflects a wide diversity of abilities and outcomes. The mean LSAT score is approximately 150, but you're going to have to do well above average to get into a top law school.

Is 161 a bad LSAT score?

However, there are plenty of law schools with LSAT scores of 150 or lower within their median range, so don't be discouraged. 160 score: A score of 160 or above is typically considered a good LSAT score.

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.

Can I increase my LSAT score by 20 points?

The Short Answer Is

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 bad is a 155 on the LSAT?

A score of 155 on the LSAT is a classic 'in-between' score. While the score is not too low, it will also not put you in the cream of LSAT test takers. An LSAT score of 155 can at best be classified as an average score which will put you in the hunt for a decent law school. The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120-180.

What is the lowest LSAT accepted?

How do I get into law school with a low LSAT score? 6 ways to boost your chances of admission: Retake the LSAT - the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 140. Take the GRE - but only if you'll do better percentile wise than the LSAT.

Is the LSAT harder than the bar?

The bar exam is like the final boss of a video game. After spending your entire academic career taking tests, this is the final, most difficult one you'll face. Unlike the LSAT, the bar exam does test your knowledge of the law itself. You'll be tested on a wide array of subjects.

What is the highest LSAT score without studying?

The LSAT ( law school admission test) exam is scored between 120-180; on average, students sitting in the exam can score 145-153 without studying based on various statistics. LSAT is an exam based on the performance of the test takers, which directly means it is a scalar exam.