How is the LSAT scored?

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120–180. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score using an equating process that adjusts for slight difficulty variations between test versions. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question. The median LSAT score is approximately 151, which is around the 50th percentile.

What is a good LSAT score?

A good LSAT score depends on your target law school. A 160+ (80th percentile) is considered competitive for many accredited law schools. A 170+ (97th–98th percentile) is required for top T14 schools like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. The median LSAT score of admitted students at top schools ranges from 171–174. For the average ABA-accredited law school, a 155 is competitive.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard Law?

The median LSAT score for admitted students at Harvard Law School is 174. The 25th percentile is 170 and the 75th percentile is 176. To have a competitive application at Harvard Law, you generally need a 170+ LSAT score combined with a 3.9+ GPA. Scores below 170 are rarely admitted regardless of other application components.

How many questions are on the LSAT?

The LSAT has approximately 99–102 scored questions across three sections: Logical Reasoning (two sections, ~50 questions total), Analytical Reasoning/Logic Games (one section, ~23 questions), and Reading Comprehension (one section, ~27 questions). The test also includes one unscored experimental section and an unscored Writing sample. Total test time is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Can you retake the LSAT?

Yes. As of 2019, LSAC allows you to take the LSAT up to 3 times in a testing year, 5 times within 5 consecutive years, and 7 times total in your lifetime. Most law schools now use your highest LSAT score rather than averaging scores. LSAC reports all scores to law schools, but the highest score is generally weighted most heavily in admissions decisions.

What percentile is a 160 LSAT score?

A 160 LSAT score is approximately the 79th–80th percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 80% of test takers. A 160 is a solid score that is competitive for many regional and mid-tier law schools. For T14 (top 14) law schools, a 165+ is typically needed to be competitive.

LSAT Scoring Explained: How the LSAT Is Scored & What Score You Need (2026)

How the LSAT Is Scored

The LSAT uses a two-step scoring process that converts your raw performance into a standardized scaled score:

📐 LSAT Scoring Process

Step 1: Raw Score = Number of correct answers (no penalty for wrong answers)
Step 2: Raw Score → Scaled Score (120–180) via statistical equating

Example: If you answer 79 out of 101 questions correctly, your raw score is 79.
Depending on that test version's difficulty, a raw score of 79 might convert to a scaled score of approximately 163–165.
The conversion table (called the "conversion chart") differs slightly for each LSAT administration.

The equating process is what allows scores to be compared across different test administrations. A 165 from a harder test represents the same skill level as a 165 from an easier test — the conversion table adjusts for difficulty.

Important: there is no penalty for wrong answers. Every unanswered or wrong question simply doesn't add to your raw score. This means you should always fill in an answer for every question — guessing gives you a 20–25% chance of a correct answer, which is strictly better than leaving it blank.

The 120–180 LSAT Scale

LSAT Score Distribution — 120 to 180

120

140

151

160

170

180

120130140151 Median160170180

120–140Below 13th %ileNeeds significant prep

141–15413th–63rd %ileBelow average to average

155–16364th–87th %ileAbove average

164–16988th–96th %ileCompetitive range

170–18097th–99.9th %ileElite — T14 range

LSAT Score to Percentile Chart (2026)

This table shows the approximate percentile rank for every key LSAT score based on LSAC's most recent score distributions.

Scaled Score	Approx. Percentile	Tier	What This Means
180	99.9th	PERFECT	Rarest possible score — ~1 in 1,000 test takers
175	99.6th	ELITE	Competitive at Yale, Harvard, Columbia
173	99th	ELITE	T3 competitive (Yale, Harvard, Stanford)
170	97th–98th	ELITE	T14 competitive at most schools
168	96th	STRONG	Competitive for lower T14 (Georgetown, UCLA, Vanderbilt)
165	92nd	STRONG	Competitive for top 25–30 law schools
163	89th	STRONG	Top 30–50 law schools in range
160	80th	GOOD	Competitive for regional top-tier schools
157	72nd	AVERAGE+	Above average — solid for many ABA schools
155	65th	AVERAGE+	National average for ABA-accredited admits
151	50th	MEDIAN	National median — half of test takers score higher
147	35th	BELOW AVG	Below national average — limits school options
140	13th	LOW	Significant prep needed before applying

Your Score Lookup — Instant Percentile

Enter your LSAT score (120–180):

My LSAT score:

~80th percentile

of all LSAT test takers

✅ Competitive for top 50–75 law schools

What the LSAT Actually Tests

The LSAT has four scored sections and one unscored section. Understanding the structure helps you allocate your prep time where it matters most.

🧩

Logical Reasoning

~50 questions · 2 sections

Each question presents a short argument and asks you to analyze it — find the flaw, strengthen or weaken it, draw an inference, or identify the assumption. Tests critical thinking and argument analysis.

~50% of score

📖

Reading Comprehension

~27 questions · 1 section

Four reading passages (one comparative) on law, science, humanities, or social sciences. Questions test detailed comprehension, inference, and author's perspective. Dense, academic-style prose.

~27% of score

🔧

Analytical Reasoning

~23 questions · 1 section

Also called "Logic Games." Set up rules and relationships, then answer questions about what must, could, or cannot be true. The section most improved by targeted practice — high prep ROI.

~23% of score

✍️

LSAT Writing

Unscored · Sent to schools

A 35-minute essay defending one of two positions. Unscored — LSAC sends your writing sample to law schools. Few schools weigh it heavily, but a poor sample can raise red flags for marginal applicants.

Unscored

💡

Logic Games Has the Highest Prep ROI

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) is the most learnable section of the LSAT. Many test takers improve their Logic Games score by 8–12 points with dedicated practice — significantly more than any other section. If you're starting LSAT prep, prioritize Logic Games first. Master the setup diagrams for common game types (linear, grouping, sequencing) and your overall score will improve dramatically.

LSAT Score Requirements by Law School Tier

School Tier	Median LSAT	25th–75th Percentile	Typical Accept Rate
T3 (Yale, Harvard, Stanford)	173–174	170–177	8–11%
T6–T14 (Columbia, Chicago, NYU…)	170–172	167–174	12–25%
T15–T25 (Notre Dame, Emory, BU…)	163–168	160–170	20–40%
T26–T50 (American, Tulane, Temple…)	157–163	154–166	30–55%
T51–T100 Regional schools	152–158	148–161	40–65%
T101–T200 / Lower-ranked ABA	145–153	141–157	50–80%

T14 Law School Median LSAT Scores (2026)

The T14 (top 14 law schools by US News ranking) are the most prestigious and competitive programs. Here are their current median LSAT scores and GPA profiles:

#	Law School	Median LSAT	Median GPA	Acceptance Rate
#1	Yale Law School	174	3.94	8%
#2	Harvard Law School	174	3.92	11%
#3	Stanford Law School	173	3.93	9%
#4	University of Chicago	173	3.92	16%
#5	Columbia Law School	174	3.91	16%
#6	NYU School of Law	172	3.86	22%
#7	Penn Carey Law	172	3.91	19%
#8	University of Virginia	171	3.90	21%
#9	UC Berkeley (Boalt)	170	3.82	20%
#10	Duke University School of Law	170	3.87	24%
#11	Northwestern Pritzker	170	3.85	25%
#12	Cornell Law School	170	3.84	25%
#13	Georgetown Law	168	3.81	26%
#14	UCLA School of Law	168	3.76	27%

⚠️

Median LSAT ≠ Minimum LSAT

Half of admitted students scored at or above the median — and half scored below it. A 170 at a school with a 174 median is not disqualifying, but it needs to be compensated by an exceptional GPA, compelling personal statement, or significant life experience. Schools use holistic review. A 174 with a 3.4 GPA will struggle just as much as a 3.94 GPA with a 164 LSAT at Yale. Both numbers matter.

⚖️

Convert Your Raw LSAT Score Instantly

Enter your raw score (number correct) and get your estimated scaled score, percentile rank, and school tier — free, no signup.

⚡ Use the Free LSAT Score Calculator →

🎓 GPA Calculator 🩺 CASPA GPA Calculator

Should You Retake the LSAT?

This is one of the most consequential decisions in your law school application process. Here is the framework for making it correctly:

Retake If:

Your score is significantly below the median at your target schools (more than 4–5 points below)
You had an off day — anxiety, illness, external disruption during the test
Your practice test scores were consistently higher than your actual score
You haven't exhausted your prep — if you studied for 2 months with a 155, 3 more months of focused prep could realistically get you to 163+
You're applying to T14 and your score is below 168

Don't Retake If:

Your score matches your practice test performance — retaking without changing your approach rarely helps
Your score is at or above the median of your target school
You've already taken it 3 times with minimal improvement
Your GPA is significantly below your target school's median — a higher LSAT won't fix a 2.9 GPA at a school with a 3.9 median

ℹ️

Most Law Schools Use Your Highest Score

Since 2019, LSAC's policy requires all scores to be reported to schools — but the overwhelming majority of law schools now use only your highest score for admissions decisions. A lower first score will not typically hurt you if you score significantly higher on a retake. US News rankings use median LSAT scores, so schools have a strong incentive to consider your highest score. Confirm the specific policy of each school you're applying to.

How Much Can You Improve?

Starting Score	Realistic Improvement	Prep Hours Needed	Difficulty
140–149	+8 to +14 points	200–300 hours	Achievable with structured prep
150–159	+6 to +12 points	150–250 hours	Very achievable — high ROI zone
160–165	+4 to +8 points	200–300 hours	Harder — requires targeting weak areas
166–170	+2 to +5 points	300+ hours	Difficult — diminishing returns
171–175	+1 to +4 points	400+ hours	Very hard — marginal gains only

📊

Where Does Your GPA + LSAT Put You?

Use our GPA Calculator to confirm your academic record, then check the LSAT Score Calculator to see how your combined profile stacks up.

⚡ Check Your GPA →

Frequently Asked Questions

The LSAT is scored on a 120–180 scale. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score using a statistical equating process. There is no penalty for wrong answers — unanswered questions and wrong answers both result in zero points. The scaled score adjusts for slight difficulty variations between different test administrations so that a 165 always means the same thing regardless of which test version you took.

A good LSAT score depends on your target school. As a general benchmark: 155+ (65th percentile) is above average and competitive for many ABA-accredited schools. 160+ (80th percentile) is strong and opens mid-tier options widely. 165+ (92nd percentile) is competitive for top 25–30 schools. 170+ (97th–98th percentile) is needed for T14 schools. 173+ (99th percentile) is required for the most elite programs (Yale, Harvard, Stanford median).

LSAC allows up to 3 LSAT attempts per testing year, 5 attempts within any 5 consecutive years, and 7 attempts total over your lifetime. All scores are reported to law schools, but most schools use only your highest score for admissions. If you score significantly higher on a retake, the lower previous score is unlikely to hurt your application — most admissions committees understand score improvement and focus on the highest score.

A 165 LSAT score is approximately the 92nd percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 92% of test takers. A 165 is a strong score that is competitive for top 25–30 law schools. At T14 schools (Georgetown, UCLA), a 165 is about 3 points below the median — not disqualifying but below-median. Pair it with a 3.8+ GPA and strong application materials to remain competitive at lower T14 schools.

Both the LSAT and GPA are heavily weighted in law school admissions, but the LSAT is generally considered slightly more important at most schools. This is partly because LSAT scores can be more easily improved than a completed undergraduate GPA, and partly because US News rankings weight median LSAT scores. That said, a very high LSAT (173+) can compensate for a lower GPA (3.5–3.7), and a 3.95 GPA can sometimes compensate for a slightly lower LSAT — schools use holistic review. The safest strategy is to maximize both.

Most LSAT prep experts recommend 3–6 months of structured preparation and 150–300 hours of study time for most test takers. Starting at 150 and targeting 165, plan for 4–5 months of consistent daily practice. Starting at 160 and targeting 170 may require 5–7 months. The most effective prep combines timed practice tests, detailed review of every wrong answer, and targeted drilling of weak sections. Logic Games typically offers the highest improvement per hour of practice.