What percentile is 171 on the LSAT?

Asked by: Thurman Johnston  |  Last update: January 31, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (21 votes)

An LSAT score of 171 places you in approximately the 97th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 97% of test-takers, making it an excellent score for admission to highly selective law schools, often well above their median scores. Percentiles can vary slightly by testing year, but 171 consistently ranks around the 96th-98th percentile range, demonstrating exceptional performance.

Is a 171 good on the LSAT?

A good LSAT score for T-14 law schools is 170–171 or higher.

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
 

What is the 95th percentile LSAT score?

A 95th percentile LSAT score is generally around 170, meaning you scored better than 95% of test-takers, though it can fluctuate slightly by test administration, with scores like 168-170 often falling into this range, placing you in a highly competitive bracket for top law schools like the T14, according to The Princeton Review https://www.princetonreview.com/law-school-advice/lsat-scores and num8ers.com https://num8ers.com/lsat/lsat-percentiles/.
 

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.

Retaking the LSAT with a 171

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How rare is a 170 LSAT score?

A 170 LSAT score is very rare, typically placing you in the top 2-3% (around the 97th percentile) of test-takers, though this can fluctuate slightly by year, with some recent data showing it around the 95th percentile or even higher in terms of number of test-takers achieving it due to increased preparation, making it an exceptional score for law school admissions. 

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 going from a 143 on a practice test to achieving this near-perfect score by studying intensely for Harvard Law School. Her remarkable score, combined with a 4.0 GPA, secured her admission to Harvard Law.
 

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 ever pass a bar exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
 

What law school can I get into with a 170 LSAT score?

The 75th percentile LSAT score for a top 10 school ranges from 170 (Duke University) to 174 (Yale). The 25th percentile LSAT scoring range is from 166 to 172. These are the top-ranked schools for a reason—they are tough to get into.

Can I get into Harvard law with a 171 LSAT?

Based on recent class data, the median LSAT score for admitted students is 174, with the middle 50% ranging from 171 (25th percentile) to 176 (75th percentile). While a score below 171 is possible with a standout application, aiming for 174 or higher maximizes your chances.

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. 

What did Elle Woods get a 179 on?

After months of studying, Elle scores a 179 on the Law School Admission Test. With that and her 4.0 GPA, she is accepted to Harvard Law School, which Warner will also attend. During the first semester, Elle discovers that her personality completely contrasts her distrusting East Coast classmates.

How rare is a 172 on the LSAT?

A 172 LSAT score is extremely rare and elite, placing you in roughly the top 3% (97th percentile) of test-takers, meaning you scored better than over 97 out of 100 people, making it a very strong score for even the most competitive T14 law schools. While common on law school forums, it's statistically exceptional, outperforming most applicants for top programs, though some extremely selective schools have medians even higher. 

What is Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift does not have a publicly known SAT score because she left high school early to pursue her music career and did not attend a traditional college, though she did earn an honorary doctorate later. While she finished high school coursework quickly with a 4.0 GPA, she focused on homeschooling and didn't report taking the SAT for college admissions, unlike many celebrities who share high scores.
 

What was Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score?

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, achieving the maximum score possible on the old 1600-point scale before attending Harvard University. This accomplishment highlights his academic prowess alongside his tech genius, a feat matched by other tech leaders like Bill Gates (1590). 

How much did Elon Musk score in SAT?

Elon Musk scored 1400 on the SAT in the late 1980s, a score that's often cited in his biographies, like Walter Isaacson's book, and suggests an IQ in the mid-130s range, though some sources debate his overall intelligence, but this score points to well above-average cognitive ability, especially considering his self-taught skills. 

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.

Does Elle Woods have autism?

No, Elle Woods from Legally Blonde is not officially written as autistic, but many fans interpret her character as having autistic traits, such as intense focus on interests (fashion, law), strong memory, literal thinking, and challenges with social norms, making her a relatable figure for some within the autistic community who see themselves in her journey and focus, even if it's not an official diagnosis.
 

Is 171 a high LSAT score?

Average LSAT = 150–152: That's the middle of the road. Higher scores open more doors. 170+ = Top Law Schools: You'll be in the running for elite programs with a score in the high 160s or above. Percentiles Matter: Your score tells you more when you know how it stacks up to other test takers.

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

To get a 175 on the LSAT, you generally need to miss only around 3 to 5 questions total across the graded sections, but the exact number varies because the "curve" changes with each test's difficulty, meaning fewer mistakes might be needed on harder exams or more on easier ones, often requiring near-perfection in some sections. You can miss up to 4 questions for a 175 on some tests, while on others, missing even 2 or 3 might be the target. 

Is the LSAT harder than the bar exam?

Most people consider the Bar Exam harder than the LSAT because it requires memorizing vast amounts of "black letter law" and applying it under extreme pressure, whereas the LSAT tests reasoning skills, but the LSAT's difficulty lies in its highly competitive scoring and abstract logic, making high scores harder to achieve for top schools. The LSAT is a skill-based test for law school entry, while the Bar is a knowledge-based test for licensure, making the Bar more about rote learning and the LSAT about logical aptitude.