What is the average score on the LSAT first time?

Asked by: Ms. Ila Monahan  |  Last update: June 4, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (67 votes)

The average LSAT score for first-time test-takers generally hovers around 150-153, with some sources pointing to a median around 153 for recent years (2021-2024), while others suggest an average closer to 151-152 for first-timers, meaning half scored below and half above. This score serves as a baseline, but competitive scores for top law schools are often in the high 160s or 170s, with significant score increases possible through dedicated study.

What is a good LSAT score for the first time?

According to U.S. News, law school admissions experts recommend striving for at least a 150; however, for a top-ranking law school, you should aim for a 160 or better.

What's a good starting score for LSAT?

Many students initially score in the 130s, 140s, or low 150s, even if they go on to achieve scores in the 160s or 170s. That's why there's no such thing as a good LSAT diagnostic score. What matters most is not where you start, but how you learn and approach improvement.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

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. 

What is most people's first LSAT score?

The average LSAT score is around 152, though many top-100 schools will require more than the average for admissions. Schools will compare you to other applicants from the same cycle. They will rely on an LSAT percentile, calculated against the scores of everyone who has taken the LSAT in the last three years.

How to score in the 170s on the LSAT.

22 related questions found

Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?

That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.

What is the lowest LSAT score Harvard accepts?

Your application can do the same.

  • The lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard is around 166.
  • The average LSAT score is 174, but some accepted students had scores slightly below the average.
  • A strong GPA, compelling story, and high-impact application can outweigh a low LSAT.

Did Michelle Obama ever pass a bar exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama failed the Illinois bar exam on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School, but she retook it, passed, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1989, going on to have a successful legal career. She is one of several prominent figures, including Hillary Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who initially failed the bar exam before achieving great success.
 

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.
 

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.
 

What is the average LSAT score without studying?

What can students expect to score on the LSAT without studying? Based on our independent research, students who sit for the LSAT without studying typically score between 145 and 150. However, that is the average and does not mean you can not score higher than that.

How many questions do I need to get right on the LSAT to get a 160?

To score a 160 on the LSAT, you generally need to get around 54-58 out of approximately 75 scored questions correct, meaning you can miss about 17-21 questions total, depending on the specific test's difficulty and scaling, often averaging about 18 correct per section across the three scored sections (LR, RC, LG). 

What is the lowest acceptable LSAT score?

For a successfully completed LSAT, test-takers receive a scaled score that falls between 120 and 180. Higher scores are more competitive, boosting your odds of admission, but law programs typically don't have a specific cut-off or minimum score to apply.

Is the LSAT harder than the bar exam?

Most people find the Bar Exam significantly harder than the LSAT because the Bar tests vast memorized legal knowledge and application over several days, whereas the LSAT tests raw reasoning skills without prior knowledge, though high LSAT scores for top law schools can require near-perfect performance. The LSAT is a skills test for law school entry, while the Bar is a knowledge test for legal licensure, making the Bar a more brutal hurdle after years of legal study, acting as the public's final defense against incompetence.
 

Should I retake the LSAT to improve my score?

Don't retake unless you expect a better score

If your first score was below your practice test average, retaking is a no-brainer. But you shouldn't sit for another test unless you have a reasonable chance of improving based on your practice tests. Let's run through a few hypos, as they say in law school.

What is the most common LSAT score?

Your LSAT score is the most important factor for admission to law school. The highest LSAT score is 180. The average LSAT score is about 152. A "good" LSAT score depends on the law schools you are considering.

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. 

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. 

What's an Ivy League LSAT score?

LSAT Score Ranges for Ivy League Law Schools

To gain admittance to an Ivy League law school, you should score in the 172-175 range. In addition to a stellar LSAT score, many Ivy League law schools also require near-perfect GPAs.

Did Joe Biden pass a bar exam?

Yes, Joe Biden earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, indicating he passed the bar exam required for practice, despite graduating in the lower half of his class. 

Did JFK Jr. fail the bar exam?

Let's take a journey through some of the prominent American attorneys I found that failed a bar exam in their lives. John F. Kennedy Jr., failed the NY bar exam twice before he passed on his third try.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the full California Bar Exam; she failed the July 2025 exam and publicly shared her results in November 2025, vowing to keep studying, though she previously passed the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in 2021. She's said she came "so close" and is determined to pass, viewing the setback as motivation for future attempts.
 

Is it harder to get into Yale law or Harvard Law?

Yale Law School (YLS) is generally considered harder to get into than Harvard Law School (HLS) due to its significantly lower acceptance rate and smaller class size, making it the most selective law school in the U.S., though both are exceptionally difficult with similar elite academic profiles (high GPAs, LSATs). YLS often admits fewer students relative to applicants, focusing on a very small cohort, while HLS accepts a larger number to fill its much bigger class, creating a perception that YLS is more exclusive despite comparable applicant quality, notes Quora users and TestMax. 

What careers can you get with a Harvard Law degree?

Our students go on to careers throughout government, the judiciary, and law firms. They are leaders in business, nonprofits, and academia. No matter what directions you choose to explore, our advising in the public and private sectors is focused on limitless possibilities for your career.