The LSAT is an assessment test that determines whether or not you will be getting into law school, so the scores needed are a crucial determining factor. The LSAT scores range from 120 to 180, with 180 being the highest and 150 the average. All of the LSAT questions hold the same weight. One score is not worth more than the other. So, how is the LSAT scored? There are approximately 100 LSAT questions for test-takers to answer, and to understand the scoring of your 100 questions, there are two methods you need to understand: the raw score and the scaled score.
The Raw Score
All of the questions you answer correctly out of all 100 questions on the exam will accumulate to your raw score. If you get 70 questions right out of 100, your raw score will be 70.
The Scaled Score
The Law School Admissions council takes your raw score and creates a scaled score based on that. The scaled score ranges from 120 to 180 and with 150 being the average. It is challenging to get a 180 on the LSAT. B ut with the right LSAT prep book or LSAT online prep course, it is not impossible.
The LSAC bases the scaled score on the difficulty level of the question on the exam. The test taker wouldn’t be able to figure out the scaled score. The LSAC solely does it.
Receiving Your Scores
Before taking your LSAT test, you have to pay for a law school report for each school you wish to apply to. After taking the test, the school you requested must ask the LSAC for your report, including your raw score, scaled score, and percentile rank. If you want to see the scores yourself personally, you will receive the scores simultaneously that the schools you requested receive them. The LSAC will send an email when you can view your score.
What is a Good LSAT Score?
A good LSAT score depends entirely on where you want to go to law school. The average LSAT score hovers around 150, which places test-takers near the 50th percentile. But average won’t get you into most competitive programs.
Top-tier law schools typically require scores well above 160. If you’re aiming for a T14 school (the top 14 ranked programs), you’ll need a score in the high 160s to low 170s to be competitive. Schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford regularly admit students with median scores above 170.
For mid-tier programs, a score between 155 and 160 puts you in a solid position. Many regional law schools accept students with scores in the 150 to 155 range, though you’ll want to balance that with a strong GPA and compelling personal statement.
The LSAT score needed for admission isn’t just about meeting a threshold. Schools report the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores of their admitted students. Scoring at or above the 75th percentile significantly boosts your chances and often makes you eligible for merit scholarships. Below the 25th percentile, and you’re fighting an uphill battle unless other parts of your application are exceptional.
Check the specific score ranges for schools on your list. That’s the most useful benchmark for what counts as “good” for your goals.