Retaking the LSAT
Official LSAC Policies on Retaking the LSAT
According to LSAC's official policies, test takers are allowed to take the LSAT up to five (5) times within the current reportable score period. To calculate the current reportable score period, count backwards five years. For example, in the year 2025, the current reportable score period would extend back to 2020. Test takers are allowed to take the LSAT a total of seven (7) times in their lifetime.
There are exceptions to the test taking limit. LSAC notes that exams taken before September 2019 do not count towards it. Test absences and withdrawals are similarly not applied to the limit. Test takers who achieve a perfect LSAT score of 180 are not allowed to retake the exam within the current reportable score period. Canceled test scores, however, including those canceled through the LSAT Score Preview option, do count towards the limit. According to LSAC, there is an exception to this policy: Any LSAT Flex exams taken during the Covid-19 pandemic in May, June, July, or August of 2020 do not count towards the test taking limit.
Test takers may apply for an exemption to the limit through an appeals process detailed on the LSAC website. Decisions are announced to the test taker within five business days of the appeal being submitted, and they are final, meaning there are no further reviews of the appeal. If the appeal is successful, the exemption will be valid for the next test date the test taker registers for, but registration must be completed over the phone with an LSAC representative rather than online.
Will Retaking the LSAT Improve My Score?
It's important to note that there are no guarantees your score will improve if you take the LSAT again. According to LSAC, some test takers do not improve their score when they take the exam a second time, and some people get a lower score. Other test takers, however, do improve their score. LSAC notes on their website that analyses indicate that those who take the LSAT a second time in the same testing year increase their score on average by 2 to 3 points.
A few points may not be a big enough gain to warrant taking the LSAT a second time for some test takers. But for others, a few points may mean the difference between an average score (e.g., 158) and a good or above average score (e.g., 161). You're the only one who can decide if retaking the LSAT is the right decision for your law school plans and future career goals.
LSAC Data on LSAT Retakes
According to an LSAC report covering 2018-19 through 2022-23, the average annual percentage of first-time LSAT test takers was 56%. It was 29% for second-timers and 10% for third-timers. Second-time test takers received an average score of 153, compared to 151.4 for first-timers and 152.9 for third-timers. Second-timers increased their scores by an average of 2.45 points. An LSAC report for 2010-11 through 2017-18 shows that the average annual percentage of first-time test takers was 68%. It was 26% for second-timers and 5% for third-timers. Second-time test takers received an average score of 151.9, compared to 150.7 for both first-timers and third-timers. Second-timers increased their scores by an average of 2.6 points. An earlier study using data from 2006-07 through 2012-13 produced similar results, showing that this is a long-term trend. Although the majority of prospective law students take the LSAT only once, retakes are common, as is improved performance the second time around.
LSAT Retakes and Score Reporting
When you apply to law school, the school receives a copy of all your reportable LSAT scores. LSAC states that they advise law schools to consider the average of all reportable LSAT scores to be the best predictor of an applicant's ability, but many admission committee members have said law programs typically only care about a candidate's highest score. Since every law program has a different view on taking the LSAT multiple times, the best thing you can do is prepare diligently, as if you're only going to take the LSAT once.
LSAT Retakes and Law School Admission
As previously mentioned, individual law schools have different policies about the consideration of LSAT scores when applicants have taken the exam multiple times. Some programs use the student's highest score only, while others regard the average score as the most relevant measure of ability. Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law is an example of the former; only a candidate's highest scores are factored into admissions decisions. Columbia University Law School, on the other hand, "considers the entire LSAT testing history when evaluating applicants for admission." Harvard Law School represents something of a middle ground; while admissions officials consider all of the applicant's LSAT scores, they also review any explanation the student offers for poor performance on a test attempt.
It is less important to know how a certain school views taking the LSAT multiple times than to prepare diligently for the exam. Ideally, with hard work and practice, you won't need to take it more than once.
Should I Retake the LSAT?
To make an informed decision on LSAT retakes, you should consider several factors:
First, was the initial score above the median for your favored law school programs? If so, the benefit of a few more points may not be worth the effort of extra test prep.
Second, was there a good reason for a disappointing score? Were you ill, stressed, or just having a bad day? Did something unexpected happen to a family member, friend, or pet? In these cases, a retake might be worth serious consideration if you know you could have done better if the distressing situation hadn't happened.
Finally, do application deadlines and other logistical issues allow enough time for a retake? Your best choice might be to simply accept your original score. But if you have good reasons to believe the benefits outweigh the costs and risks, taking the LSAT a second time might be the best decision for you and your future goals.
Ultimately, no one can tell you if you should or shouldn't retake the LSAT. You must conduct an honest assessment of how you prepared for the exam, and what happened in the hours leading up to the LSAT to determine if taking it again is the best use of your time and money.