LSAT Scoring Breakdown

If you score in the mid-140s or lower, your chances of acceptance are poor. That is not to say that you will never succeed, but that the odds are against you. Other things can offset a poor LSAT score, including a second and improved LSAT score, desirable diversity characteristics in an applicant such as race or socioeconomic factors, and the like. Also, there are at least two accredited law schools in the nation that will take almost anyone, offering them the chance at law school, but nothing more. These schools tend to flunk out 75% of their students after the first year, taking their tuition and sending them off. But if you can hack it, you can stay.

If you score above a 160 or so, and particularly above a 165, you may be fought over by some schools. The best law schools look for numbers in the mid- to high-160s (or better), but even then you are not guaranteed admission. Ivy League schools have lots of great applicants for very few spaces in their classes, so sometimes even folks with high scores are unsuccessful at some schools. Schools like Yale and Stanford, with classes numbering under 200 students per year, are a real crap shoot unless your famous parents went there. But setting those few aside, there are plenty of law schools that would love to have you, and you should have good choices. If you apply in a timely manner, you will likely also see some free financial aid accompanying your admission letters.

If you are like most of us, you are in with the big 75% group that scores in the middle. In this group, the higher the score, the more options you will have. The way the LSAT is scored, there is very little difference, say, between a 153 and a 154—maybe two more correctly answered questions, tops. So on the one hand, you should not shy away from schools that have median LSAT scores just above yours. On the other hand, there is a difference, say, between a 151 and a 155, and you should take that into consideration when selecting schools. There are plenty of schools that would love to have someone who scores in the low 150s. And there are also plenty of law schools that would love to give some money to someone who scores in the high 150s. It all depends on where you want to go, and how flexible you are willing to be in the process.

 

 Why does the LSAT matter so much? 

What is a good LSAT score? 

The Scoring Scale 

Scoring Breakdown 

LSAT Structure and Grading 

LSAT Writing Sample 

What does the LSAT test? 

Preparation for the LSAT 

Test Pointers 

LSAT Registration 

LSAT Fees