Scoring and Goal Setting
Summary
The essence of preparing for the LSAT involves understanding the scoring system, setting realistic goals based on initial practice test scores, and developing a personalized pacing strategy to improve performance.
- LSAT scores are scaled from 120 to 180, with points awarded for correct answers and no penalties for incorrect answers.
- The most common score on the LSAT is 150, placing a test-taker at the 50th percentile, with higher scores increasingly difficult to achieve due to stronger competition.
- Setting a realistic score goal involves taking a timed practice test, calculating the scaled score, and applying a specific formula to determine a reasonable target for improvement.
- Aiming for a realistic score rather than overshooting is crucial, as attempting to achieve a significantly higher score can lead to missing easier points and ultimately lower performance.
- The process of setting a goal includes understanding the scoring system, taking a practice test to establish a baseline, and using a formula to set an achievable target score.
Chapters
00:00
Understanding LSAT Scoring
02:19
The Significance of Practice Tests
04:18
The Importance of a Targeted Approach
Q: Which practice test should I take?
A: For the current LSAT, we recommend taking PrepTest June 2007. For the new LSAT starting in August 2024, we recommend taking the nearly equivalent PrepTest 123. (For more details on how old PrepTests correspond to the new ones, see our Mapping Guide.)
If you're taking the test on Magoosh, your scaled score will be calculated for you at the end. But if you're taking a paper version of the exam, check out our score conversion table PDFs to calculate your final score for your version of the exam.