What percent of people get above 170 on LSAT?

Asked by: Pink Ryan  |  Last update: June 13, 2026
Score: 5/5 (72 votes)

Only about 2% to 4% of LSAT test-takers score a 170 or higher, placing it in the top tier, with official LSAC data showing approximately 4.4% achieved 170+ in recent years (around 95th-98th percentile). Getting a 170+ is considered excellent, putting you in the top few percentile of all test-takers, significantly boosting chances for top law schools.

How common 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.

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.

How hard is it to get above a 170 on the LSAT?

  • A 170 LSAT is a high bar: it places you roughly in the top 3--6% of test takers (cutoffs shift by year and curve), and achieving it requires consistent mastery of the exam's reasoning patterns, timing, and endurance.
  • What ``170'' means statistically
  • Primary challenges to reach 170
  • Typical paths and timelines

How did Elle Woods get a 179 on the LSAT?

Elle surrounded herself with numerous LSAT prep books, emphasizing the importance of using real LSAT questions for practice. This approach is essential for understanding complex concepts and patterns unique to the LSAT.

The LSAT Has Changed—Here’s What You Need to Know (2026)

31 related questions found

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.
 

Is 165 a bad LSAT score?

First off, you should know that a 165 is a good LSAT score. In fact, it is very good. The median LSAT score is a 151.

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).

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.
 

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. 

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. 

Where can I go with a 170 LSAT?

A: A 170 LSAT score is competitive at nearly all U.S. law schools, including the top law schools. Schools like Duke University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Boston University list 170 as their median LSAT score.

How many questions can you miss on LSAT to get 175?

To get a 175 on the LSAT, you generally need to miss no more than 3 to 5 questions total across the scored sections, though it varies slightly by test version (Flex vs. older format) and the specific conversion curve for that exam, with many aiming for only 1-2 errors per section to be safe. You can often miss around 4 questions to hit a 175 on older, four-section tests, but on the current three-section LSAT (LSAT-Flex), you might only afford to miss 3 or fewer for a 175+. 

How realistic is a 170 LSAT?

A 170 LSAT percentile typically lands around the 96th percentile, meaning you've outperformed most people who took the test.

Can I get a full ride with a 165 LSAT score?

You have plenty of chances with a 165. It depends on your GPA. 170+ scorers don't have to worry about GPA as much because of how the LSAT is considered in the admissions process. If you have a 3.89+ you have the chances to get in T-30 to T-20 and have full scholarships if you apply early.

Did JFK ever pass the bar exam?

Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He then failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third try in July 1990. After failing the exam for a second time, Kennedy vowed that he would continue to take it until he was 95 years old or passed.

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 after failing the District of Columbia bar exam on her first attempt, allowing her to begin her legal career at the Rose Law Firm and later serve as a successful public servant. She took both exams around the same time in 1973, passing in Arkansas but not in D.C. 

What was Elle Woods' LSAT score?

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 LSAT score is 95th percentile?

A 95th percentile LSAT score generally falls around a scaled score of 170, indicating a score higher than 95% of test-takers, which is highly competitive for top law schools and often secures significant scholarships, though the exact score can vary slightly by testing year, with scores in the 170s becoming more common. 

Can you get into Harvard with a 173 LSAT?

To give yourself a realistic chance of acceptance into Harvard Law School, students should aim to score 171 or above on the LSAT, with the most competitive applicants scoring 174 or higher. The median LSAT score for admitted students is 174.