LSAT Guide 2026

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is scored on a 120-180 scale. The national average score is approximately 152. The LSAT tests logical reasoning, analytical reasoning (logic games), and reading comprehension. Starting in 2024, the analytical reasoning section was removed from the digital LSAT, leaving logical reasoning and reading comprehension sections.

120-180

Score Range

152

National Average

170+

T14 Median

Max Retakes/Year

LSAT Scores by School Tier

School Tier	LSAT Range	Median	Percentile
Yale, Harvard, Stanford	172-180	174	99th+
Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Penn	170-175	172	99th
Michigan, Virginia, Duke, Northwestern	167-173	170	97th-99th
Cornell, Georgetown, UCLA, Texas	165-171	167	94th-97th
T14-25 Schools	162-168	164	89th-94th
T25-50 Schools	156-163	159	74th-89th
T50-100 Schools	150-157	153	55th-74th
Regional Schools	144-152	148	32nd-55th

When to Take the LSAT

Test Date	Notes
January	Good for spring applicants retaking; later in cycle
March	Rarely used by first-time takers; mostly retakes
April	Usable for next fall cycle if applying in summer
June	Recommended first attempt for fall applicants; strong prep window
August	Good for retakes or late first-timers; still timely for fall apps
October	Last comfortable sitting for fall cycle; acceptable for rolling admissions
November	Late for competitive schools; still processed before most deadlines

LSAT Prep Resources

7Sage

$109-$449

Online course

Strong analytics, blind review method, free JD predictor

PowerScore Bibles

$40-$120

Self-study books

Thorough explanation of LR and LG fundamentals

Khan Academy LSAT

Free

Free platform

Official LSAC partnership, adaptive practice, good for starting out

Blueprint

$299-$599

Online course

Structured video lessons, strong for visual learners

Kaplan

$449-$2,000+

Course/tutoring

Wide availability, live and on-demand options

Cambridge LSAT

$40-$80

Prep tests

Large bank of real LSAT PrepTests with explanations

LSAT Retake Strategy

Most schools use your highest score. All ABA-accredited schools now use the highest LSAT score for admissions consideration, not the average. However, all scores remain visible to admissions committees.
A 5+ point improvement is a meaningful retake. If your diagnostic practice tests suggest you can score significantly higher, a retake is worthwhile. A 1-2 point increase is rarely worth delaying your application.
Address the cause before retaking. Analyze which section or question types dragged your score down and target those specifically rather than just taking more practice tests.
LSAC allows 3 LSATs per testing year, 5 within 5 years. Use retakes strategically, not reflexively.

LSAT information current as of March 2026. Always verify current testing policies with LSAC directly. Updated 27 March 2026.