LSAT

What LSAT score do I need to get into a good law school?

The higher you score on the LSAT score, the more competitive you will be as an applicant. Realistically, you will want to shoot for above a 150 for admission to a top 50 law school and above a 160 for admission to a top 14 law school. However, a 180 on the LSAT is not some fast track "golden ticket" to law school. In fact, plenty of applicants with average LSAT scores get accepted while people with higher scores are denied admission for one reason or another: arrogance, likelihood of accepting the offer, etc. Although law schools accept %75 of people within their posted LSAT percentiles, they can still accept %25 of people below that threshold and maintain their numbers. For example, the Harvard J.D. Class of 2022 had an LSAT percentile of 175 / 173 / 170. You might think that means you have no chance with a score below 170. However, Harvard can still accept %25 of people with a score below 170 and maintain that distribution – so don't lose hope! Realistically, should shoot



LSAT Test Dates

The LSAT is offered in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October and November. The upcoming test dates are: Monday, July 13, 2020 Saturday, August 29, 2020 Saturday, October 3, 2020 Saturday, November 14, 2020 Saturday, January 16, 2021 Saturday, February 20, 2021 Saturday, April 10, 2021



LSAT Practice Questions/Test

You can find a free practice test on the LSAC website. You can also purchase practice tests on amazon. In order to avoid developing bad test-taking habits, you should try to learn some LSAT strategies before doing too many practice questions. Take a look at some of our LSAT prep recommendations or develop an individualized plan with the Lucky Letter Package.



LSAT Percentiles

Your LSAT percentile rank reflects the percentage of candidates that scored below your reported score.



LSAT Accomodations

To get an accommodation on the LSAT, you will need to submit a request 6-8 weeks in advance. You can find the required forms here. Typically, you will need to submit: (i) statement of need e.g. what you are struggling with, how it affects your ability to take the test, and why you need the accommodation; (ii) documentation of previous accommodations on high school, college, or standardized tests; (iii) documentation from a medical professional.



LSAT Addendum

When in doubt, don't include an addendum about the LSAT – it just adds one more piece of paper for the admissions officers to read.You should include an LSAT addendum if (1) the school asks you to explain a significant score jump, or (2) your performance was impacted by a language barrier. If you are unhappy with a score in the 90th percentile, think hard about whether you want to include an addendum. Admissions officers know that the LSAT does not measure many important factors like people skills, emotional intelligence, etc. They also understand that taking a timed test will fail to properly reflect your potential performance in real-world situations. If you neglected to cancel a score because you didn't realize it would be reported, there was some error in the administration of the test, or you didn't receive your requested time accomodations – an addendum will merely reflect your lack of research and preparation; the LSAC has appeal processes and other avenues to deal with these issues. However, various circumstances can still justify including an addendum. If you want a more personalized evaluation that walks you through your options, check out the Premium Package or the Lucky Letter Package.



LSAT Diagnostic Test

An LSAT diagnostic test can help you find out which sections you will need more practice in. You can find a free one on the Kaplan website.



LSAT Essay/Writing Sample

The LSAT essay/writing sample does not count towards your final score – however, you should still complete it to the best of your ability for two reasons. First, it demonstrates your ability to write something cohesive under time constraints – this will be an indicator of whether you are capable of completing law school exams or meeting tough deadlines. Second, admissions officers might compare your essay to your personal statement – if your writing is vastly different that can be a red flag: (i) they might think you didn't write your personal statement; or (ii) they might think you are not capable of performing under pressure.



LSAT Books

There are a lot of LSAT prep books on the market – I personally recommend the PowerScore series. They are entertaining, easy to read, and make studying bearable. You can find the books on their website or on amazon.



LSAT Prep – should I do it?

At the end of the day, the LSAT is like any other standardized test – it's formulaic and assesses a finite set of skills. An LSAT prep-course will help you crack the formula and conquer that set of skills. An LSAT prep-course is ultimately an investment in your future – you will have a better chance of getting a higher score. If you get a higher score, you have a better chance of getting into a higher-ranked law school – which means a higher starting salary – or being offered a scholarship – which will be more than the price of the prep-course. Either way, your initial investment in the LSAT prep-course will be worth it.



LSAT Courses

There are a lot of great LSAT courses on the market – I personally recommend the Kaplan course. They teach you strategies for each section and – whether you participate in the online or in-person version – you will get access to an online portal where you can find hundreds of tutorials and practice questions. The tutorials cover every type of question you might encounter in the logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and logic game sections. The practice questions are also conveniently broken up into "easy", "medium", and "hard" difficulty. Kaplan also offers a %50-%60 discount if you qualify for the tuition assistance program.



LSAT Registration

You can register for the LSAT online through your LSAC.org account or over the phone at 215.968.1001. To create an LSAC account visit https://os.lsac.org/Logon/Access.aspx



LSAT Raw Score

Your LSAT raw score shows the number of questions you got right on the test. The LSAT typically has 100 to 103 questions so your score will be somewhere between 0 and 100/103.