Good LSAT Score to Become a Lawyer in the United States
Feb 12, 2020
If you want to become a lawyer in the US, it is essential to go through the conventional route and complete formal education. However, even before completing a bachelor's degree in law, it is crucial to look forward to a handful of law tests that are mandatory in the US. A few years ago, the law wasn’t considered a strong profession but in today’s time, everyone is swooning over the field as paralegals and veteran lawyers make more money than other professions.
So if you are planning a career as a lawyer in the US, it is important to know what it entails to become one. Since the center of the discussion is LSAT, let's discuss this test first.
What is LSAT?
LSAT, which stands for Law School Admission Test, is a test that all applicants in the US law schools have to take. This test is inclusive of several questions, all of which are central to testing the skills of the applicants. So if you’re appearing for LSAT, you must be strong enough in answering logical, reasoned and advanced questions. The total score of the test ranges from 120 to 180. Apart from a few short questions, the second part of the test is a written essay called LSAT writing.
Why is a Good LSAT Score Important?
If you’re applying in the US, it is a must for you to take this test. Although there are other law tests as well, this one is considered as the most potent law test in the US. It holds the distinction for being the only test that is supported by ABA-accredited law schools. If you have a better LSAT score in the test, the chances of getting admission in a law school get higher. So anyone who scores between 120 to 180 has higher chances of getting admission in a well reputed US law school.
Scores that are above 160 and 170 are considered very competitive. However, every law school has an average range and median score so they can shortlist applicants. Most law school experts suggest students to score more than 150 to stay competitive. However, if an aspiring applicant wants to get admission in a highly reputable law school, the score should be around 160 or more. Furthermore, the applicant can also go the extra mile to score more than 170.
The intriguing part about this test is, it is not just the total score but also the percentile that has to be taken into account. For example, a 50th percentile score would be better than 50 percent of all people who took the test. Most people often get invested in the total score so much that they forget the percentile ranking. Experts of this field say that it is not necessary for students to only focus on the total score because there is no perfect figure that defines the best score. Every year, the average score is different from the previous one. If you don’t know about the test fees, it is crucial to consult someone to see how much it can cost.
Another intriguing thing to note about LSAT is, every school has a different policy for this test. Some schools only look at the highest score, whereas many schools prefer to accumulate the total score to reach a figure. Most law schools find it very difficult to standardize a perfect score, which is why aspiring students are always in confusion when preparing for the test. Therefore, the LSAT can be a little more challenging than you think.
Another shocking thing about LSAT is, most schools find it difficult to improve this score. Experts suggest students take an abundance of such tests before their final appearance in the examination hall. This way they can learn faster from their mistakes. Although most people can improve the LSAT score by studying on their own, most find it very hard to prepare for the LSAT exam for the first time. If you have a lower LSAT score, there is no need to not apply to a law school in the US. Experts say that people who have a lower test score should also apply in law schools and should not waste time.