How the LSAT is scored.

LSAT scoring is simpler than it looks, and understanding it changes how you take the test.

From raw score to scaled score

You answer roughly 75 scored questions. Your raw score is just the number you get right. That raw number is converted to a scaled score from 120 to 180 using a chart specific to your test. The conversion smooths out small differences in difficulty between tests, so a slightly harder test forgives a few more misses.

There is no penalty for wrong answers

This is the single most useful scoring fact: you lose nothing for a wrong answer. Never leave a question blank. With a minute left, fill in an answer for everything, even a pure guess. A blank and a wrong answer cost the same, so a guess can only help.

What the scale means

• 120 is the floor and 180 is a perfect score.
• Around 152 is the median, the 50th percentile.
• Around 160 is near the 80th percentile, 165 near the 90th, and 170 around the 97th.

Because the top of the scale is steep, missing a handful of extra questions can move you several scaled points. That is why careful review of your mistakes pays off so heavily near the top.

Percentiles, not just points

Schools care about your scaled score, but the percentile tells the story: a 170 means you outperformed about 97 percent of test takers. For a fuller breakdown of what counts as strong, see what is a good LSAT score.