LSAT Raw Score Conversion

Find out how scoring works on the LSAT:

Because the current LSAT has three scored and one unscored section, and each section averages approximately 25 questions, your raw score is out of 75 points. One point for each correct answer, and no deductions for incorrect guesses. (So always guess!)

The LSAT has many different scoring types: raw, scaled, and percentile.

Your raw score will be something like 50/75, or 60/75, etc. It is simply the number of questions you answer correctly out of the 75 (approximately) scored questions on the test.

What does that mean when translated to your LSAT score, which falls between 120 and 180? That is your scaled score.

Scaled scores change based on the Bell Curve of different tests. The same raw score might be slightly higher or slightly lower, when scaled, depending on the difficulty of the test and how it compares to the thousands of other test takers.

Then your percentile score is out of 100 and is a direct comparison to how you compare to the other test takers during your cycle. A 100th-percentile score would indicate you are the best scorer of the cycle, while a 50th-percentile score indicates you fell precisely in the middle.

The other side of the page has a conversion chart with examples of all those different score types. Note this is a simulation of what it looks like rather than drawn from a specific test:

So what score do I need on the LSAT to get into law school?

The short answer is: it depends! Every law school has different requirements, and what they say is a requirement can often be more of a suggestion. I've had students outperform an LSAT requirement and not be accepted into a school, and I've had students underperform the "minimum" LSAT requirement and still be accepted. So it always depends on your personal statement, your undergraduate GPA, and other elements of your application.

But that being said, a good goal on the LSAT is 160. It's not the best score, but it will be around 80th percentile, thus meaning you will be near the top of a testing cohort. Many schools list 160 or thereabouts as their minimum requirement. It is a strong score. You certainly don't need it, but a 160 on the LSAT will at least get you considered at almost any law school to which you can apply. Then the other elements of your application will need to carry you across the finish line.