LSAT PERCENT RETAKING THE LSAT

ACADEMIC YEAR     TOOK LSAT EXACTLY ONCE     TOOK LSAT EXACTLY TWICE   TOOK LSAT MORE THAN TWICE                2001-2002   80.1   17.1   2.8  2002-2003     78.8   18.0   3.2  2003-2004    77.9   18.5   3.6  2004-2005   76.3   19.7   4.0 CONCLUSION: The trend is clear. People want to double, even triple, their pleasure.

 

DATA ON PEOPLE RETAKING THE LSAT

Using the LSAT Repeater Data on page 18 of the 2006-2007 LSAT&LSDAS Registration and Information Book, we see that for testers whose previous test score was 132 or above, the average increase from retaking the LSAT is less than or equal to three (3) points and for repeaters whose previous LSAT score was 166 or above, the average increase from retaking the LSAT was less than two (2) points. Needless to say, some testers did better than the average and some did worse.

In the first table below, we indicate how LSAT retakers whose most recent LSAT prior to the retake was 147 did on this retake. After that we give three tables in which we do the same but for the most recent LSAT score prior to the retake being 153, 157, or 163. These tables were derived from the just mentioned LSAT Repeater Data and a little effort. Let us know ([email protected]) if you need this data for your LSAT score.

RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 147

CHANGE AFTER RETAKE Average change: 2.3 points		NUMBER OF RETAKERS Total: 1576 retakers		PERCENT
Increased by 13 to 22 points		19		1.2
Increased by 3 to 12 points		715		45.4
Increased by 1 to 2 points		269		17.1
No change		158		10.0
Decreased by 1 to 7 points		391		24.8
Decreased by 8 to 17 points		24		1.5

Summary. An LSAT score of 147 (approximately at the 36th percentile) or below puts one in a very inasupicious situation: even admission to one of the LEAST SELECTIVE LAW SCHOOLS may be difficult without an outstanding UGPA and, as the table above indicates, retaking the LSAT does not guarantee a decent LSAT score.   . Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 147. With the exception of ten law schools (Florida A&M University, North Carolina Central University, Texas Southern University (Houston), Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA), Appalachian School of Law (Grundy, VA), Thomas M. Cooley (Lansing, Michigan), St. Thomas University (Miami), Barry University (Orlando), University of Detroit Mercy), and University of North Dakota (Grand Forks), all law schools have their LSAT 25th percentile score above 147; this means that, with but the ten exceptions just listed, an LSAT score of 147 implies that, at least with respect to the LSAT, you will be in the bottom twenty-five percent of your entering class.   Improving an LSAT score of 147. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 147, the average increase in LSAT score was only 2.3 points. Thus an increase on your LSAT score of two points or less will not impress too many people. More auspicious is the fact that about 46.6 percent of the retakers increase their LSAT score by three or more points.  The choices for someone with an LSAT score of 147. Give up the idea of graduating law school, attend a low-rated law school, or retake the LSAT.

RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 153

CHANGE AFTER RETAKE Average change: 2.7 points		NUMBER OF RETAKERS Total: 1225 retakers		PERCENT
Increased by 7 to 16 points		225		18.3
Increased by 1 to 6 points		601		49.0
No change		118		9.7
Decreased by 1 to 3 points		192		15.7
Decreased by 4 to 13 points		89		7.3

Summary. An LSAT score of 153 is a semi-decent score (approximately at the 59th percentile) and will not make a law school applicant unwanted and retaking the LSAT is certainly a viable option. Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 153.  An LSAT score of 153 will be at or above 75th percentile (that is, in the top 25 percent) of the entering class at fourteen law schools and strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at sixty-ix law schools; these sixty-six law schools include five second tier (top 51 to 100) law schools (University of Nebraska, Mercer University, University of Indiana at Indianapolis, Seattle University, and University of Buffalo SUNY). Improving an LSAT score of 153. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 153, the average increase in LSAT score was 2.7 points. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 153 by taking the LSAT again but, before being hasty, note that less than 23 percent of the LSAT score 153 retakers see a drop in their LSAT score while almost half (49 percent) see a modest increase (1-6 points) and 18 percent see an impressive increase (7-16 points). If you have rational reasons for thinking you will do better the second time around and if these reasons include your having plenty of time to improve your LSAT score, go for it.

RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 157

CHANGE AFTER RETAKE Average change: 2.3 points		NUMBER OF RETAKERS Total: 669 retakers		PERCENT
Increased by 13 to 23		6		0.9
Increased by 3 to 12		321		48.0
Increased by 1 to 2		105		15.7
No change		39		5.8
Decreased by 1 to 7		186		27.8
Decreased by 8 to 17		12		1.8

Summary. An LSAT score of 157 is a decent score (approximately at the 74th percentile) and will not make a law school applicant unwanted and retaking the LSAT is certainly a viable option. Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 157.  An LSAT score of 157 will be at or above 75th percentile (that is, in the top 25 percent) of the entering class at 62 law schools and strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at 59 law schools; these 66 law schools include five second tier (top 51 to 100) law schools (University of Nebraska, Mercer University, University of Indiana at Indianapolis, Seattle University, and University of Buffalo SUNY). Improving an LSAT score of 157. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 157, the average increase in LSAT score was 2.7 points. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 157 by taking the LSAT again but, before being hasty, note that less than 23 percent of the LSAT score 157 retakers saw a drop in their LSAT score while almost half (49 percent) saw a modest increase (1-6 points and 18 percent saw a serious increase (7-16 points). If you have rational reasons for thinking you will do better the second time around and if these reasons include your having plenty of time to improve your LSAT score, go for it.

RETAKER DATA FOR LSAT SCORE OF 163

CHANGE AFTER RETAKE Average change: 1.6		NUMBER OF RETAKERS Total: 236		PERCENT
Increased by 7 to 16		33		14.0
Increased by 1 to 6 points		110		46.6
No change		12		5.1
Decreased by 1 to 3 points		50		21.2
Decreased by 4 to 13 points		30		12.7
Decreased by 14 to 23 points		1		0.4

Summary. An LSAT score of 163 is a very respectable score (approximately at the 90th percentile) and will make a law school applicant feel very welcome at well over 50 of the top 100 law schools. Retaking the LSAT is an option for those those willing to prepare to close to the maximum. Admission to law school with an LSAT score of 163.  An LSAT score of 163 will be at or above 75th percentile at 137 law schools including 5 of the top 50 and 45 of the second fifty, strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile at 34 law schools, but at or below the 25th percentile at the sixteen elite law schools: Fordham University (New York City), University of California (Berkeley), University of Southern California, Cornell University (NY), Duke University (NC), University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University (DC), Northwestern University (IL), Stanford University (CA), University of Virginia, Yale University (CT), Columbia University (NY), New York University, University of Chicago, and Harvard University (MA). Improving an LSAT score of 163. For those retaking the LSAT after a score of 163, the average increase in LSAT score is only 1.6 points; a small increase like this makes a retake somewhat risky. One may be tempted to be conservative and not jepordize an LSAT score of 163 by not retaking the LSAT; with the small average increase in LSAT score of 1.6 points, improving an LSAT score of 163 is not easy but a little over 60 percent do increase their score including about one-seventh who increase their score by seven to sixteen points while a little over one-third see their score decrease including about one-eighth seeing a decrease of four or more points.

LSAT INFORMATION BY LAW SCHOOLS

For each given LSAT SCORE (first column), we partition the law schools into three categories. The first category indicates the number of law schools at which the given LSAT SCORE would fall at or below the 25th percentile with respect to the LSAT scores of the first-year class; the second category does the same for strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile; the third category does the same for at or above the 75th percentile.

For each given LSAT SCORE (first column), we partition the law schools into three categories. The first category indicates the number of law schools at which the given LSAT SCORE would fall at or below the 25th percentile with respect to the LSAT scores of the first-year class; the second category does the same for Strictly between the 25th and 75th percentile; the third category does the same for At or above the 75th percentile.

LSAT SCORE		At or below the 25th Percentile		Strictly between the 25th and 75th Percentile		At or above the 75th Percentile
Below 147		177		10		0
148		173		14		0
149		169		16		2
150		155		30		2
151		137		46		4
152		121		56		10
153		107		66		14
154		93		76		18
155		83		77		27
156		74		62		51
157		66		59		62
158		50		60		77
159		43		55		89
160		34		50		103
161		26		45		116
162		21		44		122
163		16		34		137
164		13		22		152
165		11		20		156
166		9		15		163
167		5		11		171
168		1		13		173
169		1		9		177
170		0		9		178
171		0		6		181
172		0		3		184
173		0		2		185
174		0		2		185
175		0		1		186
176		0		0		187