LSAT Score Range: What Your Score Really Means
Understanding the LSAT Score Range
The LSAT score range runs from 120 to 180 and represents your performance compared to other test takers. While the LSAT isn’t a pass/fail exam, your score can play a major role in law school admissions, scholarship opportunities, and even career prospects after graduation. Knowing how your score is calculated—and what counts as a good LSAT score—can help you set a clear prep target.
How the LSAT Is Scored
The LSAT consists of roughly 100 scored questions across Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games). Here’s how your score is determined:
- Raw Score: The number of questions you answer correctly. There’s no penalty for guessing.
- Scaled Score: LSAC converts your raw score into a scaled score between 120 and 180 to account for small variations in test difficulty.
- Percentile: This shows what percentage of test takers scored lower than you. For example, a 170 typically falls around the 97th percentile.
LSAT Score Conversion Example
Every LSAT administration has a slightly different conversion scale. Below is an approximate raw-to-scaled score chart to illustrate the relationship between correct answers and scaled scores.
| Scaled Score | Approx. Raw Score | Percentile Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | ~76 | 99.9% |
| 170 | ~67 | 97% |
| 165 | ~61 | 91% |
| 160 | ~54 | 80% |
| 155 | ~46 | 64% |
| 150 | ~40 | 50% |
| 145 | ~33 | 27% |
| 140 | ~28 | 15% |
| 130 | ~21 | 2% |
What Is the LSAT Curve?
The LSAT is scaled to ensure fairness across different test forms. A 160 from one test date means the same as a 160 from another, even if one test felt harder. On a tough exam, you might miss 14 questions and still earn a 170; on an easier one, you might need to miss fewer than 10 for the same score. This process—often called the “curve”—keeps scoring consistent across administrations.
When LSAT Scores Are Released
LSAT scores are typically released about three weeks after your test date. You’ll receive your scaled score, percentile rank, and details about score release through your LSAC account. For the most up-to-date test and score release dates, see our LSAT Test Dates page.
What Is a Good LSAT Score?
There’s no official passing score on the LSAT, but the higher your score, the more options you’ll have. Here’s how law school medians generally fall:
| Law School | Median LSAT Score | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Yale Law School | 175 | 99% |
| Harvard Law School | 174 | 99% |
| Stanford Law School | 173 | 98% |
| University of Chicago | 173 | 98% |
| NYU School of Law | 172 | 98% |
| University of Pennsylvania (Carey) | 172 | 98% |
How to Improve Your LSAT Score
Improving your LSAT score takes structured prep and targeted practice. We recommend starting with free LSAT practice tests to establish your baseline score and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. From there, consider enrolling in a comprehensive prep plan or working with an LSAT tutor to refine your timing, reasoning, and endurance strategies.
Final Thoughts
Your LSAT score range is just one piece of your law school application, but it’s a powerful one. Aim for steady improvement rather than perfection, and remember that retaking the LSAT is common—and often worthwhile—when you have a solid prep plan in place.
Source: Law School Admission Council (LSAC). LSAT is a registered trademark of LSAC, which does not endorse this content.
