There is no single good LSAT score for every applicant. A 160 sits above 71.06% of scores in LSAC’s 2023–2026 table; a 165 sits above 85.17%. Whether either is a useful target depends on your school list, application and circumstances.
First, place your score in context
of scores in the 2023–2026 testing years were below 165.
A percentile gives you a national comparison. It does not estimate your chance of admission. The relevant comparison group for a particular school is its applicant or entering class data, not every LSAT score nationally.
| LSAT score | Percent of scores below | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 36.56% | Compare with your target schools |
| 154 | 50.43% | Near the distribution’s midpoint |
| 160 | 71.06% | Compare with your target schools |
| 165 | 85.17% | Compare with your target schools |
| 170 | 94.48% | Compare with your target schools |
| 175 | 98.72% | Compare with your target schools |
What is an average LSAT score?
Be careful with the word “average.” A mean, a median and a school’s entering-class median are different statistics. LSAC’s current percentile table places 50.43% of scores below 154, so 154 is near the middle of this score distribution. That is a percentile-based observation, not a claim that 154 is the arithmetic mean.
The cohort matters. A number from an older article can describe a different set of testing years. Our full percentile table labels the cohort so you know exactly which comparison you are making.
Is 160, 165 or 170 good?
A 160 is above a substantial majority of scores in this cohort. It may fit some school lists while leaving a gap for others. A 165 sits higher in the national distribution, but still needs the same school-specific comparison. A 170 is above 94.48% of scores in the current table; it is not an admission guarantee.
A one-point change can also matter differently at different places on the scale. Use the lookup to understand your exact score rather than treating broad labels such as “excellent” as a substitute for evidence.
Build a target from your actual school list
- Choose a manageable list of schools. Include cost, location, programs and career goals in the decision.
- Check each school’s latest published class profile. Record its LSAT 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile, along with the class year. Use official school information or ABA disclosures.
- Compare your current score with that range. Being above a median does not guarantee an offer; being below it does not by itself rule one out.
- Choose a working target and review it. Consider preparation time, application deadlines and the rest of your application.
For illustration, if a hypothetical school reports a median of 165 and you scored 160 on a practice test, your working gap is five scaled points. This is a planning comparison, not a five-point admissions formula. The number of additional correct answers depends on the test.
What should you do after a practice score?
Confirm you used the correct conversion table. Review missed and uncertain answers before deciding that you need another full test. Track several comparable practice results rather than treating one unusually high or low result as your settled level.
Use the calculator’s target feature to explore a specific test. A target can help make review concrete, but no tool can promise the same score on test day.
Questions about a “good” score
What score do I need to pass?
There is no universal passing score. Admissions criteria vary by school; check the requirements and class profile of each school on your list.
Is 164 a good LSAT score?
164 is above 82.75% of scores in the 2023–2026 cohort. Whether it fits your goal depends on the school and the rest of your application.
Will a higher score guarantee a scholarship?
No. Scholarship policies and decisions vary. Use official school information rather than a score-only guarantee.