What happens if you retake the LSAT and do worse?

Asked by: Mr. Dennis Bergstrom  |  Last update: December 12, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (63 votes)

Meaning, a lower score on a LSAT retake should not hurt you. Now admissions officers are still humans, and there is most certainly some psychological negative impact of having multiple lower LSAT scores and then a high LSAT score when compared to someone who just scored high the first time.

What happens if you do worse on your second LSAT?

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. For one thing, these scores are within the margin of error.

Does it look bad if you retake the LSAT?

Due to the difficulty of the test, law schools generally understand that students may not receive their ideal score the first time around. As a rule, schools look for score improvements overall, and do not necessarily view multiple attempts at the LSAT as a negative factor on an application.

Should I cancel my LSAT score if I did worse?

Should You Actually Cancel Your LSAT Score? In the final analysis, if you have strong reason to believe you've done poorly, and if you have time to take the test again (and to further your preparation), there's nothing wrong with canceling one LSAT score (but only one).

What happens if you do bad on the LSAT?

If you are consistently scoring lower than 145, you may need to consider significant studying and a retake before applying to law schools. There are few law schools that will accept an LSAT score this low, and those that do may not offer the quality of education that you desire.

Should I try to retake the LSAT?

18 related questions found

Is 157 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.

Is 149 a bad LSAT score?

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

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.

Can you go from a 145 to a 170 on LSAT?

I'm a current LSAT student. My diagnostic score was 146 and I hit 170 on the nose for the first time about two months ago. It is possible, even if it's time-consuming. I've been studying for a little over ten months, and took the second half of June off since I sat for the June LSAT and was a bit burnt out.

Can you erase your first LSAT score?

The LSAC currently allows test takers to cancel their score six days after the exam. (It must be done by 11:59 PM ET on the sixth day.) No applicant wants his or her LSAT score to drop upon taking the exam for a second or third time.

What percentage of 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).

How bad is it to take the LSAT twice?

Students who take the LSAT just once with a high score may have a slight edge over those who take it multiple times. However, it does not hurt your chances of getting into law school if you take the LSAT more than once.

Can law schools see all LSAT attempts?

Law schools will see every time an applicant takes the LSAT. Law schools will see if you cancel a score for whatever reason. Law schools do not average the scores for admission, but we always look at performance if you've taken the test more than once.

What is the hardest section to improve on LSAT?

Typically test takers find Analytical Reasoning to be the most difficult section of the LSAT.

What to do if you bomb the LSAT?

  1. 1) Take the next available test. If you really think you bombed the test and you know your score will not reflect your ability, then I suggest taking the test again as soon as possible. ...
  2. 2) Up the Ante. Elevate your practice. ...
  3. 3) Get a Tutor! Obviously I'm going to say this because I'm a tutor and this is my sales pitch.

Do law schools look at both LSAT scores?

You will find that most law schools look at the higher or highest LSAT test score for applicants with multiple scores. However, applicants should keep in mind that Admissions Committee members will see all scores and may be negatively influenced by a large number of tests or a downward trend in scores.

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.

Is a 153 a good 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.

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 158 a bad 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.

How bad is a 148 on the LSAT?

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

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard?

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.

How bad is a 151 on the LSAT?

LSAT Percentiles

For instance, since 151-152 is the average LSAT score, this will put you at the 50th percentile rank, meaning you've scored higher than 50% of the other applicants. These percentile ranks are important because they help law schools compare students by seeing who has outperformed the other test takers.

What is the lowest LSAT score a law school will accept?

This shows that the lowest acceptable LSAT score is 139. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that you want to at least break 140 to make taking on the cost of law school economically feasible. You can get into a law school with a 140 LSAT score.