LSAT Percentiles: Official Score Chart & Calculator
Understanding your LSAT percentile rank is crucial for setting realistic law school goals and evaluating your competitiveness. This comprehensive guide explains what LSAT percentiles mean, provides the official percentile table from LSAC for the 2022-2025 testing years, and includes an interactive calculator to instantly find your percentile rank by score.
Who this guide is for: Pre-law students interpreting their scores, applicants building school lists, retakers assessing improvement potential, and anyone seeking to understand how LSAT scores translate to competitive positioning.
Table of Contents
LSAT Percentiles: What They Mean
An LSAT percentile rank indicates the percentage of test takers who scored below your scaled score over a specified time period. For example, if you scored in the 85th percentile, you performed better than approximately 85% of all LSAT test takers during that reference period. LSAC calculates percentiles using data from all LSAT administrations over the previous three testing years, providing a stable benchmark for score interpretation.
The percentile rank you receive with your score report reflects "percent below"—meaning the percentage of scores lower than yours. This distinction matters when comparing percentiles across different testing contexts. LSAT percentiles range from 0% (120 score) to 99.9% (180 score), with most test takers clustering in the middle ranges around scores of 145–155.
Why percentiles change by testing year: LSAC updates official percentile tables periodically as new testing data accumulates. The percentile associated with a specific score (for example, 165) may shift slightly between testing years depending on the overall performance distribution of test takers. A score of 165 might represent the 86th percentile in one testing cycle and the 87th percentile in another. These variations are typically small (1-2 percentile points) but underscore the importance of consulting the most current data.
LSAT Score Range & Where Percentiles Fit
The LSAT uses a scaled score range from 120 to 180, calculated from your raw score (the number of questions answered correctly) through a statistical process called equating. This 61-point scale allows law schools to compare applicants who took different test administrations fairly, even if those tests varied slightly in difficulty.
The score distribution on the LSAT follows an approximately normal (bell curve) pattern, with the majority of test takers scoring between 145 and 160. This clustering in the middle ranges means that small score improvements in this range can result in significant percentile jumps. For example, improving from 150 to 155 moves you from approximately the 38th percentile to the 56th percentile—a gain of 18 percentile points from just 5 scaled score points.
Understanding the distribution:
- 120-145: Below 25th percentile—represents the lower range of LSAT performance
- 145-155: 25th–56th percentile—where the largest concentration of test takers score
- 155-165: 56th–86th percentile—competitive range for many law schools
- 165-170: 86th–95th percentile—strong range for regional and national programs
- 170-180: 95th–99.9th percentile—elite range competitive for top-tier schools
Because the score distribution is not uniform, the relationship between scaled scores and percentiles is non-linear. At the extreme ends (very high and very low scores), each additional point represents a smaller percentile gain than in the middle ranges.
LSAT Percentile Calculator
Official LSAT Percentile Chart (2022-2025)
This table presents official LSAT percentile data from LSAC covering the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 testing years. The percentile rank shown represents the percentage of test takers who scored below the given scaled score. Use the search function to quickly locate specific scores.
| Scaled Score | Percent Below (Hundredths) |
Percent Below (Tenths) |
Percent Below (Whole Numbers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 | 99.89% | 99.9% | 99% |
| 179 | 99.80% | 99.8% | 99% |
| 178 | 99.66% | 99.7% | 99% |
| 177 | 99.46% | 99.5% | 99% |
| 176 | 99.20% | 99.2% | 99% |
| 175 | 98.91% | 98.9% | 99% |
| 174 | 98.44% | 98.4% | 98% |
| 173 | 97.86% | 97.9% | 98% |
| 172 | 97.13% | 97.1% | 97% |
| 171 | 96.22% | 96.2% | 96% |
| 170 | 95.07% | 95.1% | 95% |
| 169 | 93.78% | 93.8% | 94% |
| 168 | 92.21% | 92.2% | 92% |
| 167 | 90.56% | 90.6% | 91% |
| 166 | 88.68% | 88.7% | 89% |
| 165 | 86.50% | 86.5% | 86% |
| 164 | 84.17% | 84.2% | 84% |
| 163 | 81.63% | 81.6% | 82% |
| 162 | 79.00% | 79.0% | 79% |
| 161 | 75.96% | 76.0% | 76% |
| 160 | 72.92% | 72.9% | 73% |
| 159 | 69.84% | 69.8% | 70% |
| 158 | 66.38% | 66.4% | 66% |
| 157 | 63.01% | 63.0% | 63% |
| 156 | 59.54% | 59.5% | 60% |
| 155 | 55.91% | 55.9% | 56% |
| 154 | 52.33% | 52.3% | 52% |
| 153 | 48.72% | 48.7% | 49% |
| 152 | 45.09% | 45.1% | 45% |
| 151 | 41.42% | 41.4% | 41% |
| 150 | 38.06% | 38.1% | 38% |
| 149 | 34.68% | 34.7% | 35% |
| 148 | 31.41% | 31.4% | 31% |
| 147 | 28.27% | 28.3% | 28% |
| 146 | 25.24% | 25.2% | 25% |
| 145 | 22.46% | 22.5% | 22% |
| 144 | 19.93% | 19.9% | 20% |
| 143 | 17.47% | 17.5% | 17% |
| 142 | 15.27% | 15.3% | 15% |
| 141 | 13.21% | 13.2% | 13% |
| 140 | 11.47% | 11.5% | 11% |
| 139 | 9.81% | 9.8% | 10% |
| 138 | 8.39% | 8.4% | 8% |
| 137 | 7.18% | 7.2% | 7% |
| 136 | 6.09% | 6.1% | 6% |
| 135 | 5.16% | 5.2% | 5% |
| 134 | 4.38% | 4.4% | 4% |
| 133 | 3.68% | 3.7% | 4% |
| 132 | 3.14% | 3.1% | 3% |
| 131 | 2.65% | 2.7% | 3% |
| 130 | 2.27% | 2.3% | 2% |
| 129 | 1.92% | 1.9% | 2% |
| 128 | 1.64% | 1.6% | 2% |
| 127 | 1.41% | 1.4% | 1% |
| 126 | 1.21% | 1.2% | 1% |
| 125 | 1.04% | 1.0% | 1% |
| 124 | 0.92% | 0.9% | 1% |
| 123 | 0.82% | 0.8% | 1% |
| 122 | 0.74% | 0.7% | 1% |
| 121 | 0.64% | 0.6% | 1% |
| 120 | 0.00% | 0.0% | 0% |
Common LSAT Score Percentiles: Quick Reference
Understanding where popular LSAT score targets fall in the percentile distribution helps you set realistic goals and evaluate your competitiveness. Below are percentile ranks for commonly searched LSAT scores based on the 2022-2025 testing years.
Score-Specific Percentile Breakdown
Here are detailed percentile interpretations for the most commonly searched LSAT scores:
- 180 LSAT Percentile: 99.89% (99.9th percentile) — Perfect score; exceptionally rare, achieved by less than 0.2% of test takers annually
- 175 LSAT Percentile: 98.91% (99th percentile) — Elite range; highly competitive for Harvard, Yale, Stanford
- 172 LSAT Percentile: 97.13% (97th percentile) — Top 3% of test takers; strong for all T14 schools
- 170 LSAT Percentile: 95.07% (95th percentile) — Top 5%; competitive for top-14 law schools and significant scholarships
- 168 LSAT Percentile: 92.21% (92nd percentile) — Top 8%; strong for T20-T30 schools
- 165 LSAT Percentile: 86.50% (86th percentile) — Top 14%; competitive for many regional and some national programs
- 160 LSAT Percentile: 72.92% (73rd percentile) — Top quarter; admissible at a wide range of ABA-approved schools
- 155 LSAT Percentile: 55.91% (56th percentile) — Median range; competitive for many regional law schools
- 150 LSAT Percentile: 38.06% (38th percentile) — Below median; may benefit from GPA strength or retake
- 145 LSAT Percentile: 22.46% (22nd percentile) — Lower quartile; strong retake candidate
How Law Schools Use LSAT Percentiles
Law schools consider LSAT scores and percentiles as key factors in admissions decisions, scholarship awards, and institutional rankings. Understanding how schools interpret percentiles helps you build realistic school lists and set strategic targets.
Admissions Context and Competitiveness
Schools publish 25th percentile, median (50th percentile), and 75th percentile LSAT scores for their entering classes, available in ABA 509 disclosure reports and U.S. News rankings data. These statistics reveal:
- 25th percentile: The score below which 25% of admitted students scored. Falling below this doesn't disqualify you but means you'll need particularly strong other components (exceptional GPA, compelling personal statement, unique background).
- Median (50th percentile): Half the class scored above, half below. Matching or exceeding a school's median LSAT significantly strengthens your application.
- 75th percentile: Only 25% of admitted students scored above this level. Scoring at or above the 75th percentile positions you as a highly desirable candidate, often triggering merit scholarship consideration.
When building your school list, aim to apply to a balanced mix: reach schools (where your score is near or below their 25th percentile), target schools (near their median), and safety schools (at or above their 75th percentile).
Rankings and Institutional Incentives
U.S. News & World Report rankings heavily weight median LSAT scores, creating institutional incentives to admit students with higher scores. Schools track their percentile bands carefully because even small median score increases can improve their ranking position. This dynamic explains why applicants with scores above a school's current median often receive generous scholarship offers—the school gains a rankings boost while attracting talented students.
Percentile vs. Score: What Matters More?
Law schools primarily focus on your scaled score (120–180), not your percentile rank, because rankings and ABA reports use median scaled scores. However, percentiles provide essential context for you as an applicant. Your percentile tells you how competitive your score is in the overall test-taking population, while comparing your score to schools' 25th/50th/75th percentile ranges tells you how competitive you are for specific programs.
For example, a 165 (86th percentile nationally) might be at the 75th percentile at one school but only the 25th percentile at another. The national percentile provides general context; school-specific percentile ranges provide strategic admissions intelligence.
Improving Your LSAT Percentile
Because percentiles reflect your relative performance compared to all test takers, improving your percentile means improving your scaled score. Unlike some tests where percentiles can shift due to changing test-taker populations, the LSAT's stable three-year percentile reference period means your percentile improvement comes from genuine score gains.
Strategic Focus Areas for Score Improvement
To move up percentile bands effectively, concentrate preparation on high-yield areas:
- Logical Reasoning mastery: LR comprises approximately 50% of your scored questions across two sections. Improving accuracy on LR question families (especially Flaw, Assumption, Strengthen/Weaken) directly translates to score gains.
- Reading Comprehension efficiency: Many test takers lose points not from comprehension deficits but from timing issues. Practice active reading strategies (passage mapping, identifying argument structure) to improve both accuracy and speed.
- Timing and pacing: Knowing when to skip difficult questions and return later prevents time-pressure errors. Develop a personal pacing strategy through timed practice sections.
- Endurance building: Mental fatigue affects later sections disproportionately. Regular full-length practice tests under realistic conditions build stamina and maintain accuracy across all four sections.
Understanding Percentile Gain Potential
Score improvements translate to varying percentile gains depending on where you start. Because the LSAT score distribution clusters in the middle ranges:
- A 5-point improvement from 150 to 155 moves you from the 38th to 56th percentile (18 percentile points)
- A 5-point improvement from 165 to 170 moves you from the 86th to 95th percentile (9 percentile points)
- A 5-point improvement from 175 to 180 moves you from the 99th to 99.9th percentile (less than 1 percentile point)
This non-linear relationship means students scoring in the 145–160 range often see dramatic percentile gains from modest score improvements, while students in the 170+ range experience smaller percentile movements even with challenging score increases.
When to Consider Retaking
Retaking the LSAT makes strategic sense when:
- Your score falls below your consistent practice test average by 3+ points (suggesting test-day factors affected performance)
- You're applying to schools where your current score is below their 25th percentile
- You've identified specific weak areas (certain question types, timing issues) addressable through targeted preparation
- You have sufficient time for meaningful additional preparation (typically 2-3 months minimum for significant improvement)
Most law schools now use your highest LSAT score for admissions decisions, making retakes lower-risk than in previous eras. Review our comprehensive LSAT Guide for detailed preparation strategies and study plans.
How to Find Your LSAT Percentile
Step-by-Step Process
- Access your LSAT score report: Log into your LSAC account and navigate to your score report, which includes your scaled score (120–180) and the testing year.
- Identify the correct percentile table: LSAC publishes percentile tables by testing year period (e.g., 2022-2025). Use the table corresponding to your test date for the most accurate percentile rank.
- Locate your score in the percentile chart: Find your scaled score in the left column of the official LSAC percentile table or use the interactive calculator on this page for instant results.
- Interpret your percentile rank: Your percentile indicates what percentage of test takers scored below you. A 75th percentile score means you performed better than 75% of test takers.
- Compare to law school ranges: Research your target schools' 25th/50th/75th percentile LSAT ranges (available in ABA 509 reports) to evaluate your competitiveness.
- Plan your next steps: Based on your percentile and target schools, decide whether to apply with your current score, retake for improvement, or adjust your school list. Consult with pre-law advisors or admissions consultants for personalized guidance.