LSAT Scores

Your Target LSAT Score

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120-180, with 120 being the minimum score and 180 being the maximum score. There are four scored test sections, an unscored experimental section, and an unscored writing assignment. The 90th percentile for the LSAT is approximately a 164; the 75th percentile is approximately a 158; the 50th percentile is approximately a 151; and the 25th percentile is approximately a 145. For students who have an account on LSAC.org, scores will be reported via email approximately 3-4 weeks after the date of the tests. Students who do not have an online account will receive their scores via postal mail approximately four weeks after the test.

Your LSAT score report will include your current exam score, the results of all prior exam administrations for the past five years, your percentile rank, and your score band. The score band is a part of the score report that is intended to quantify the inherent uncertainty in your individual test score. LSAT scores serve as estimates of a student's proficiency in the tested skills, and the score band serves as a tool to indicate how accurate the LSAT score is likely to be. Score bands are calculated based on a standard error of measurement for the exam, and used to estimate a range of possible scores that reflect the student's true ability. The standard error of measurement for the LSAT is consistently about 2.6 scaled points; the score band uses this standard error to compute an estimated range of each student's ability, with the lower range 2.6 points below their actual score and the upper range 2.6 points above their actual score. The width of the score band is therefore approximately 7 points, after rounding. This calculation produces a score band that is estimated to be an accurate reflection of the abilities of 68% of students. Using a wider score band would produce a higher level of confidence but reduce the ability of the score to discriminate between students.

Importance of the LSAT – School Application

Even if there is considerable debate as to whether the LSAT determines future success as a lawyer, the test itself is a crucial component of law school applications and cannot be avoided. The LSAT is a specialized exam that measures the skills required in law school, a competitive metric to compare diverse applicants, and a useful predictor of performance on state bar exams. The LSAT measures your ability to perform tasks comparable to the work that you will be assigned in law school or legal practice, and also serves as a test of your cognitive endurance - as a legal student and professional, you will be required to work on complex projects for extended periods of time, and the LSAT tests your ability to prepare for and perform under such conditions. Law schools do not solely rely on LSAT scores when taking your application into consideration. Prior academic success is nearly or just as important; law schools will also consider your undergraduate GPA, professional or leadership experience, motivation for attending law school, and goals for your legal career. Each school has its own policy in regards to averaging multiple LSAT scores. I n general, though, most schools only consider the highest of two or more LSAT scores.

In the modern legal market, the LSAT serves as an important predictor of one's ability to pass the BAR exam, a critical milestone indicating that a student has completed their legal training and is ready to represent clients successfully.

Score Cancellation

Before you cancel your score, you need to consider all the factors. Besides the obvious valid reasons to cancel your score (illness, performance anxiety, obvious errors, etc.), carefully consider the LSAT you just took very carefully and what the effect this score might possibly be. LSAT scores may be cancelled on the day of the test by following the instructions provided on the answer sheet. After test day, students may cancel their scores on the LSAT Status page of their LSAT.org account for up to six calendar days after the test. The LSAT may be re-taken multiple times, but LSAT scores are reported individually and as a cumulative average, including all cancellations and absences, of all test results for the past five years. Scores older than five years are unavailable to anyone and no longer considered valid. Because some state bar associates inquire about law school admissions records of those seeking admission to the bar, students should maintain documentation of all of their law school application records, including test scores and transcripts, for reference.