What Is an LSAT Percentile and What Does It Mean?

Quick answer: your LSAT percentile is the share of test takers whose scores were lower than yours over the previous three testing years. A 160 is about the 71st percentile, which means you scored higher than about 71.1% of them. LSAC updates percentiles each year by the end of July. See what it takes to reach the top LSAT score of 180.

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Examples

LSAT score	Percentile	Meaning
145	21.5	Higher than about 21.5% of test takers
150	36.6	Higher than about 36.6% of test takers
155	54	Higher than about 54% of test takers
160	71.1	Higher than about 71.1% of test takers
165	85.2	Higher than about 85.2% of test takers
170	94.5	Higher than about 94.5% of test takers
175	98.7	Higher than about 98.7% of test takers

Look up any score with the percentile calculator, or see the full percentile chart.

Percentile vs Percent Correct

They are different. Your percentile compares you with other test takers, and percent correct is how many questions you got right. A 160 takes about 52 of 77 right, which is about 67%, yet it beats about 71% of people. This estimate is based on a typical test.

Percentile vs a School’s Percentiles

A law school’s “25th” or “75th” percentile is about its own students. That is a separate idea. A 165 is about the 85th percentile nationally, but it may be near a school’s 25th.

Why Your Percentile Can Change

Your score does not change, but the percentile can move slightly when LSAC updates the numbers. Schools mostly look at your scaled score. See LSAC on LSAT scoring.

FAQ

What percentile is a good LSAT score?

It depends on your schools, but a 160 at about the 71st percentile is often called good.

What Is an LSAT Percentile?