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2024 Norms120–180 · Percentile · T14 Benchmarks

LSAT Score Calculator

Enter your LSAT scaled score to instantly see your percentile rank and how you compare against the score targets for T3, T14, top 25, and top 50 law schools.

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LSAT score
LSAT Score

Enter your LSAT score (120–180) to see your percentile rank and law school benchmarks.

Quick pick:

Scores are released approximately 3–5 weeks after your test date at lsac.org.

How the LSAT Is Scored

Unlike most standardised tests, the LSAT produces a single scaled score from 120 to 180. There are no section scores reported separately.

Step 1

Raw Score

Count the number of questions you answered correctly. No points are deducted for wrong answers — every unanswered question is a missed opportunity.

Step 2

Equating

LSAC converts your raw score to a scaled score using equating — a statistical process that adjusts for slight difficulty differences between test versions.

Step 3

Scaled Score

Your final score falls between 120 and 180. LSAC also calculates a percentile rank showing what percentage of test-takers you outscored over a 3-year period.

LSAT Sections (2024 format)
Logical Reasoning (×2)
35 min each · ~25–26 per section
The largest portion — evaluates arguments, draws conclusions, identifies flaws.
Reading Comprehension
35 min · ~27 questions
Dense passages across law, humanities, social and natural sciences.
Unscored Variable
35 min · Varies
Experimental section for future test development. Not counted in score.
Writing Sample
35 min · 1 essay
Unscored but sent to all schools. Complete online before test day.

LSAT Score Ranges — What They Mean

How your LSAT score maps to law school competitiveness.

175–180
99th+
Elite
Top 1%. Competitive at every law school in the country including Yale, Harvard, and Stanford.
170–174
97–99th
Exceptional
T14 competitive. Strong enough for full scholarship consideration at many top programs.
165–169
91–96th
Very Strong
Top 25 competitive. Excellent score for regional flagship and top national programs.
160–164
80–90th
Strong
Top 50 competitive with a strong GPA. Opens doors to a wide range of good programs.
155–159
65–78th
Above Average
Above the national average. Competitive at many ABA schools; consider retaking for T50 targets.
150–154
48–62th
Average
Around the national average (~151). Acceptable at many accredited schools with a strong GPA.
145–149
31–44th
Below Average
Below average. Limits options significantly. A retake with targeted prep is strongly recommended.
120–144
Below 28th
Low
Well below average. Most competitive programs out of reach. Retaking is almost always advisable.

LSAT Percentile Chart (2024 LSAC Norms)

Percentile ranks show the percentage of test-takers you outscored. Based on LSAC's 3-year rolling norms (2021–2024).

LSAT ScorePercentileScore RangeLaw School Tier
18099.9thTop 0.1%T3 (Yale, Harvard, Stanford)
17599.6thTop 0.4%T3 (Yale, Harvard, Stanford)
17499.3thTop 0.7%T3 (Yale, Harvard, Stanford)
17399thTop 1.0%T14
17298.7thTop 1.3%T14
17097.4thTop 2.6%T14
16895.6thTop 4.4%Top 25
16693thTop 7.0%Top 25
16591.4thTop 8.6%Top 25
16387.5thTop 12.5%Top 50
16080.4thTop 19.6%Top 50
15874.8thTop 25.2%Top 100
15565.4thTop 34.6%Top 100
15358.5thTop 41.5%ABA-accredited
15151.4thTop 48.6%ABA-accredited
15047.9thTop 52.1%ABA-accredited
14841thTop 59.0%ABA-accredited
14531.3thTop 68.7%ABA-accredited
14325.6thTop 74.4%Limited options
14018.1thTop 81.9%Limited options
1359.1thTop 90.9%Limited options
1303.9thTop 96.1%Limited options
1251.3thTop 98.7%Limited options
1200.1thTop 99.9%Limited options

Median LSAT Scores at Top Law Schools

Median LSAT scores of enrolled students (2023–2024 entering class). Half of enrolled students scored at or above this number.

Yale Law School175
Harvard Law School174
Stanford Law School174
Columbia Law School174
University of Chicago173
NYU School of Law173
Penn Carey Law172
University of Virginia172
Duke University School of Law171
University of Michigan171
Northwestern Pritzker171
Cornell Law School170
Georgetown Law169
UCLA School of Law170
Vanderbilt Law School168
Washington University168

Medians from publicly reported ABA 509 disclosure data. Actual ranges extend 10–15 points below and above the median.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about LSAT scores, percentiles, and law school admissions.

What is the LSAT score range?

The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 to 180. A score of 120 is the lowest possible score and places a test-taker at approximately the 0th percentile. A score of 180 is a perfect score and represents the 99.9th percentile. The national average is approximately 151, which corresponds to roughly the 50th percentile.

What LSAT score do I need for law school?

The score you need depends heavily on which schools you are targeting. For the T3 (Yale, Harvard, Stanford), aim for 174 or higher. For the T14 (top 14 law schools including Columbia, Chicago, NYU, and Penn), a 170 or above is competitive. For the top 50, a 160–165 is solid. Most ABA-accredited schools accept applicants with scores as low as 145, though options become limited below 150.

What percentile is a 170 on the LSAT?

A 170 on the LSAT places you at the 97.4th percentile — meaning you scored higher than approximately 97% of all test-takers. A 170 is generally considered the threshold for serious T14 competitiveness, though the top 3 schools (Yale, Harvard, Stanford) look for 174 or above.

What percentile is a 160 on the LSAT?

A 160 on the LSAT places you at the 80.4th percentile. This is a strong score that makes you competitive at many top 50 law schools. Combined with a strong GPA (3.5+), a 160 opens doors to a wide range of solid programs across the country.

Can I retake the LSAT?

Yes — LSAC allows test-takers to take the LSAT up to three times in a single testing year, five times in five years, and seven times total. Most law schools now consider only your highest score rather than averaging all attempts (LSAC changed its policy in 2019 and schools have largely followed). However, some schools do review all attempts and may ask about multiple test-takings in applications.

How is the LSAT scored?

The LSAT consists of multiple-choice sections covering Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games), and Reading Comprehension, plus an unscored Writing Sample. Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly — there is no penalty for wrong answers. LSAC then converts your raw score to a scaled score from 120 to 180 using a process called equating, which adjusts for minor differences in difficulty across test versions.

What is the LSAT Writing Sample?

The LSAT Writing Sample is an unscored 35-minute essay completed online through LSAC's secure proctoring platform. You are given a decision prompt and asked to argue for one of two options. While it is unscored, all law schools receive a copy of your writing sample and may use it to assess writing ability, especially in borderline admission decisions.

How long are LSAT scores valid?

LSAT scores are valid for five years from the date of the test. If you took the LSAT in 2020, those scores are valid for applications submitted through 2025. Most law schools prefer scores from within the last 3–4 years, but the official validity window is five years.

What is a good LSAT score for scholarships?

Scholarship thresholds vary by school but generally follow the same tiers as admissions. At T14 schools, a 170+ can attract merit scholarships. At regional law schools ranked 50–100, a 165+ can earn substantial funding — sometimes a full ride — because you are well above their median. Many law students use a high LSAT to attend a lower-ranked school on a full scholarship rather than a higher-ranked school with significant debt.