What is 99th percentile on LSAT?

Asked by: Prof. Earnestine Goyette DDS  |  Last update: May 6, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (57 votes)

A 99th percentile LSAT score means you scored higher than 99% of other test-takers, typically falling in the 174-179 range, with a score of 175 often cited as the threshold for this elite percentile, making you highly competitive for top law schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. While scores like 179-180 are near perfect (99.9th percentile), reaching the 99th percentile with a 175+ score is an exceptional achievement, placing you in the top tier of applicants.

What is the 99th percentile for LSAT?

If your score, for example, was 159, your percentile is around 71 percent. An exceptional LSAT score will be somewhere around 175, which is the 99th percentile, according to the Law School Admissions Council (2021—2025)—if you received a 175, you scored better than 99 percent of all test takers.

What did Barack Obama get on the LSAT?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed to have been very high, likely in the 170-175 range, to gain admission to Harvard Law School with a relatively low undergraduate GPA. Analysts suggest he needed a score in the top percentiles (perhaps 94th-98th) to overcome his lower GPA and secure a spot at the prestigious institution, indicating a strong performance near the perfect 180 score. 

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.

What score did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?

Elle Woods scored a 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of a perfect 180, after initially scoring a 143 on a practice test, a massive jump that helped her get into Harvard Law School. This near-perfect score, combined with a 4.0 GPA and strong extracurriculars, made her a competitive applicant, though her rapid improvement from a low practice score is often noted as a highlight (and a bit unrealistic) of her journey in Legally Blonde.
 

How I Hit 99th Percentile on the LSAT (Twice) + New Law School Tools (Ep. 38)

40 related questions found

What LSAT score do I need for Yale?

Yale Law School has an exceptionally high median LSAT score, typically around 174, with the middle 50% falling between 171-177, though scores range from 155 to 180, and they accept GRE scores as an alternative. While high scores are crucial, Yale uses a holistic review, so a perfect score isn't guaranteed, and lower scores can be offset by extraordinary application strengths, notesYale Law School Admissions and Yale Law School. 

How realistic is Legally Blonde?

OVERALL (fairly accurate!)

After going through it myself - overall impression of Legally Blonde? Not too shabby! I'd say the class/school scenes are pretty accurate, as well as Elle's transition from totally uncomfortable to realizing that she deserves to be at Harvard Law.

How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar exam?

Michelle Obama took the Illinois bar exam twice, failing the first time but passing on her second attempt, a fact she openly discussed in her memoir, Becoming, noting it as a humbling but ultimately insignificant setback. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1991 after this success.
 

Who has the highest LSAT score?

Sarah Boyle, a member of The University of Scranton's Class of 2024, scored a perfect 180 on her Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?

No, passing the "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) in California does not make you a lawyer, but it's a crucial step for non-traditional students to continue their legal education and qualify to take the full California Bar Exam, which, along with character & fitness, is required for licensure. The Baby Bar tests first-year law subjects (Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts), while the main Bar Exam tests a much broader range of law, and passing it is the final hurdle before becoming a licensed attorney. 

What rank was Joe Biden in law school?

In 1968, Biden earned a Juris Doctor degree from the university's College of Law, ranked 76th in his class of 85 students. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969 and practiced as a lawyer before running for political office.

What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?

Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
 

Did Michelle Obama finish law school?

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.

What is the hardest section of the LSAT?

The hardest LSAT sections vary by student, but commonly cited challenges include Logical Reasoning (LR) for its abstract language and nuanced question types (like Parallel Reasoning/Flaw), and Reading Comprehension (RC) due to ingrained reading habits, especially with complex science or legal passages (e.g., Waterbugs, Dworkin). While often feared, Logic Games (LG) (Analytical Reasoning) is generally considered the most learnable and perfectible section, despite tough hybrid or new rule questions. 

How many people get a 180 on the LSAT every year?

How Hard Is It To Get A Perfect Score On The LSAT? According to LSAC, only 119 test-takers out of nearly 60,000 achieved this in 2022.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

Indeed, Kim revealed on Nov. 8 that she sadly did not pass the all-important exam, but she wasn't calling it quits, either. "Six years into this law journey, and I'm still all in until I pass the bar," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories.

What LSAT score will get you a full ride?

To get a full law school scholarship, aim for an LSAT score significantly above the school's median, generally in the mid-160s to 170+ range, especially for higher-ranked schools, as schools use high scores to award significant aid, but remember your GPA and other factors (leadership, experience) matter, with top schools often requiring scores above 170. 

Which majors do best on LSAT?

Top 5 College Majors by Average LSAT Score

  • Physics/Math, 160.0.
  • Economics, 157.4.
  • Philosophy/Theology, 157.4.
  • International Relations, 156.5.
  • Engineering, 156.2.

How many times did Kim Kardashian take the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian has taken the official California Bar Exam once, in July 2025, and did not pass, but she did pass the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after failing it three times. She plans to retake the main bar exam, as there's no limit on retakes in California.
 

Did Hillary Clinton pass the bar?

Yes, Hillary Clinton passed the Arkansas bar exam and became a lawyer, but she famously failed the District of Columbia bar exam on her first attempt, though she passed it later, allowing her to practice law in D.C. and build a successful career. 

What was Obama's GPA?

Barack Obama reportedly had a 3.7 GPA when he graduated from Columbia University, where he majored in political science and graduated with a B.A. in 1983, though details from his time at Occidental College (where he initially attended) are less specific, with one biographer noting Obama told him his GPA there was 3.7 as well. 

Who turned down the role of Elle Woods?

Christina Applegate turned down the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde because she was hesitant to play another "ditzy blonde" character after her time on Married... with Children, though she later called it a "stupid move" and expressed regret, realizing the character's potential and praising Reese Witherspoon for her portrayal.
 

Does Elle Woods have autism?

No, Elle Woods from Legally Blonde is not officially written as autistic, but many fans and viewers interpret her character as potentially being on the autism spectrum due to exhibiting traits like intense focus on interests (fashion, law), strong memory, attention to detail, literal thinking, and social communication challenges that resonate with autistic experiences, leading to theories that she's "coded autistic" or displays autistic traits. 

How does Reese Witherspoon feel about Legally Blonde?

Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle, recently confirmed that there is a script for a Legally Blonde 3. It's clearly a role that she adored playing, as she often positively refers back to it.