Should I take the LSAT twice?

Asked by: Josiane Lynch Sr.  |  Last update: July 28, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (74 votes)

Taking the LSAT for the first time typically requires 2-4 months of preparation, sometimes longer. Most students, on average, improve two to three points statistically from one test to the next. Personally, I am in favor of an LSAT retake that could really help boost a score and improve your application.

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.

Should you take the LSAT a second time?

You should plan to take the LSAT just once, and to do your best on it that one time. In addition to the retake considerations outlined below, students who assume they'll have a second chance if they blow the first test tend not to perform as well as those who assume that this is the only test that matters.

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.

Did second on LSAT worse?

The data shows that, although most people did increase their scores, on average their scores were only higher by a couple points. For instance, of the 531 people who originally got a 160 on the LSAT, 359 managed to score better on the second time around, while 42 got the same score and 130 actually did worse.

Is it worth taking the LSAT twice?

37 related questions found

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.

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.

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.

Is 164 a good LSAT score?

As mentioned above, the average LSAT score nationally is a 152. Generally speaking, a score of 160 and above is necessary to guarantee admission into top-100 schools like Tulane, UC Hastings, or Case Western Reserve.

Do law schools care how many times you take LSAT?

Need-based fee waivers cover only two tests over two years. Applicants looking for practice tests can find much cheaper options, even for proctored practice tests in live settings. Second, law schools will see each time applicants take the LSAT, even if an applicant cancels the score.

Is 175 LSAT good?

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.

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.

Should I retake a 172 LSAT?

All the admissions committee cares about is the 172, so no matter how it stacks up, what they see is: 172. That's the score they use, and that's what they report to the ABA and USNews, so that's all that matters. Thus, my advice is to retake it if you think there's a chance you can do better.

Should I retake a 166 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 it okay to take the LSAT 3 times?

This is the timeframe in which an LSAT score can be used to apply to law school. If it has been more than five years since you took the LSAT, that score won't be usable if you are trying to apply now. You cannot take the LSAT more than 7 times over the course of your entire lifetime.

Do law schools See if you cancel your LSAT score?

Canceling Your LSAT Score

Before you walk out of your LSAT test, and (as of this writing) for six calendar days afterward, you have the option of canceling your score. While that score won't be reported to law schools, admissions officers will get to see that you took the test and canceled your score.

What if I retake the LSAT and do worse?

If your LSAT score jumps by 3 or more points on a retake, you can include a brief addendum to your application explaining why your previous score is not an accurate reflection of your abilities. Providing such documentation gives law schools another reason to place less weight on your average LSAT score.

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.

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.

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 145 a good LSAT score?

The LSAT has a scale of 180 down to 120. The average LSAT score is around 150. The LSAT has a margin of error, but 145 is considered a symbolic line by legal education experts and school administrators.

Is 153 a good LSAT score?

According to Kaplan, the average score on the LSAT is 151. That means if you score 152, you answered more questions correctly than 50% of the students who took the test. Now that you have some background regarding the LSAT, you might be thinking that a score between 145-153 actually pretty good.