LSAT Raw Score Conversion
Raw score is simply the number of questions answered correctly.
Scaled score, the familiar 120–180 number, is a conversion of the raw score. Here, a raw score of 67—that is, 67 correct answers—converts to a scaled score of 156. A raw score of 58—meaning 58 correct answers—converts to a scaled score of 151. On a different test, a raw score of 58 might convert to a 150 or a 152. To account for differences in overall difficulty, each test has a slightly different raw score-to-scaled score conversion table.
Percentile score indicates how a test taker performed relative to other test takers over a three-year period. The conversion from scaled score to percentile score remains relatively stable, with only minor variations over the years. Test after test, a 151 scaled score is approximately a 50th percentile score.
Take a look at an example conversion chart based on PrepTest 74:
| Raw Score | Scaled Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | 139 | 10th |
| 44 | 143 | 20th |
| 49 | 146 | 30th |
| 54 | 149 | 40th |
| 58 | 151 | 50th |
| 63 | 154 | 60th |
| 67 | 156 | 70th |
| 74 | 160 | 80th |
| 80 | 164 | 90th |
| 85 | 167 | 95th |
| 92 | 172 | 99th |
The way in which the LSAT is scored has three important implications for your performance:
First, the number of right answers determines your score. There is no guessing penalty. Never leave a question blank on the LSAT.
Second, every question is worth the same, regardless of how hard it is. Learn to spot difficult questions and leave them for the end of each section. Find the easy questions and rack up points. If you’re going to run out of time or need to guess, you want to do so on the tough stuff.
Third, every additional correct answer can leapfrog you ahead of hundreds—or even thousands—of other test takers, your competition. How’s that for inspiration?
