April 22, 2016

How Are Older LSAT Scores Reported?

One point of confusion among test-takers is how LSAC reports older LSAT scores. Currently, LSAC reports any LSAT score from the past five years. They report an average score if two or more LSAT scores appear on your record. However, even though LSAC reports those scores, most schools want to see a score within the past three years.

Some test-takers applying to law school take advantage of this and wait to retake the LSAT until a past poor performance drops off their record. We don’t recommend this since law schools typically only care about the highest score. If your LSAT score record seems to be all over the place, consider submitting an explanation via an addendum to law schools.

But, what if you want law schools to see an older score? Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do. In the past, students could request that LSAC release scores up to ten years old. However, as of July 2015 LSAC only keeps score records for 5 years. So, even if you want to obtain a score for personal reasons, at this time there is no formal way to retrieve that information. LSAC states that “LSAT scores are the property of LSAC and are kept indefinitely,” but interpret that at your own will.

Petra Lau
April 15, 2017 at 8:06am
Can I get my LSAT from the mid 1990’s?

Dave Killoran
April 18, 2017 at 9:49pm
Hi Petra,
Unfortunately, as noted above, LSAC has changed their policy and no longer reports scores older than 5 years. there are no exceptions to this rule (believe me, we’ve tried!). See their page on the current policy: http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/your-score.
Thanks and sorry 🙁

Barbara Cohen
July 20, 2017 at 1:25pm
Do you know of a chart that converts the “old” (out of 800) scores to the “current” scores?

Dave Killoran
July 20, 2017 at 2:56pm
Hi Barbara,
It’s not an exact parallel, but the 200-800 scale is identical to the 120-180 scale in terms of scoring possibilities, and both have 61 separate outcomes. Thus, you can make a direct conversion by taking the 200-800 score, dropping the zero at the end, and then adding a 1 at the front. So, a 560 would become a 156, and a 630 becomes a 163, and so on.
However, please be aware that LSAT scores on the 200-800 scale are from pre-1982, and the test was markedly different in that era. So different, in fact, that I’d say a direct comparison is actually impossible. A 700 on that scale would in no way guarantee a 170 on today’s test. And the LSAT itself would look like a completely different test to an examinee from the 70s or early 80s.
Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

Danielle
August 21, 2018 at 1:32am
Hi Dave,
I have always been told that LSAT scores are valid for up to 5 years. I am currently studying for the LSAT and would like to take the November test, but I don’t want to apply to law school right away. I was planning to take the test and save my score(s) for when I am ready to apply. However, I am beginning to wonder if I am required to submit scores to law schools upon taking the test or within a specific time frame, or if I can opt to wait to send them to anyone. In other words, is it possible to save my score and not have it reported to any law school until I am ready to apply (say perhaps a year from now)?
Thanks in advance!

Dave Killoran
August 21, 2018 at 9:42pm
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for the question! Let’s see if we can sort out the confusion here 🙂 First, what you have been told about LSAT scores is partially true. Each LSAT score stays on your *record* for five years, so it will be released to law schools if you apply within that time frame. Second, as far as what law schools want to see and how far back they see a score as valid, that depends on the school. You can certainly hold your scores for a while, and the usual time frame is about 4-5 years. For example, Columbia won’t use scores from prior to June 2014 (https://www.law.columbia.edu/admissions/jd/apply/faq/submission#Valid%20…) whereas Chicago will go as far back as June 2013 (https://www.law.uchicago.edu/jdfaq/lsat). So, if you are planning on applying anytime within the next 4 years or so, you’d be in pretty good shape overall as far as score validity. Just hold your scores until you apply, and then CAS will automatically send them once you sign up and notify them you are applying.
Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

Danielle Madkour
August 30, 2018 at 5:32pm
Okay, great! I can register with lsac, and sign up for and take the LSAT without having to register with CAS and send my scores to any school until I’m ready.
Thank you so much for your help! 🙂

Elissa Ronquillo
December 30, 2018 at 12:30am
Hi! I took the LSAT in Dec of 2012. That score no longer appears on LSAC because it is 5+years old. I took the LSAT again Feb 2018 and improved. I am applying to law schools now, and one of the applications asked me “How many times have I taken the LSAT?” Can I just say once since my 2012 score won’t be reported? Or will the school know I took it in 2012 and just not see the score?
I also can’t remember my exact 2012 score. I have an idea but I am not 100% certain so I don’t want to state a score if it is not accurate.

Dave Killoran
December 30, 2018 at 7:16pm
Hi Elissa,
Since the question is open-ended and does not specify a time period, you should answer truthfully and include the 2012 take. The ABA takes non-disclosure of anything very seriously, and while it would likely never come up, you don’t want to ever be accused of hiding something you were aware of. However, there is no need to list the score if they don’t ask and you don’t remember 🙂
The good news is that no one cares about that 2012 take, at all, and so it won’t be held against you in any way!
Thanks!

Richard Bentley
February 19, 2019 at 11:33pm
Dave,I got a score of 735 on the 1975 test.Can you tell me what percentile it fell in?

Dave Killoran
February 20, 2019 at 1:39am
Hey Richard,
Thanks for the question! A 740 on that test was a 98.6%, so it would be close to that 🙂
Please let me know if that helps. Thanks!

Richard Bentley
February 20, 2019 at 2:21am
Dave,I got a score of 735 on the 1975 test.Can you tell me what percentile it fell in?
Thanks,Dave for the reply.I apppeciate it.I took that test just for the experience with no intention of attending law school.When I received mw score I thought that it was a lot lower than 800 so i’ve always wondered,until now,if it was a good score.Thanks again.

Comments

M. Sittnick says
March 14, 2023 at 11:34 am
I saved my printout from my 1986 LSAT, and the impact printer ink has faded to almost nothing.
http://www.sittnick.net/LSAT.pdf
At the time, my 40 score was good for 90th percentile. Years ago I asked for fresh printout, and the requested fee was ridiculously high, so I declined.
Reply
BJ says
March 10, 2022 at 5:03 pm
How many times per year was the LSAT given back then?
Also, how many people took the October 1983 test? Around 30K?
Sorry for all the questions. I will leave you alone after these two!
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  March 19, 2022 at 8:07 pm
  The LSAT was given 4 times a year back then, and I don’t have the numbers for any early 80s test immediately accessible–this was 40 years ago and that data is in a storage file somewhere around here but not digitized yet 🙂 It would have been similar in size to Oct 84 though, so 30K at least I’d think.
  Thanks!
  Reply
BJ says
March 7, 2022 at 5:53 pm
I scored 46 in October 1984, which was reported as 99.6 percentile. Is there a way to find out the actual number of people who took the October 1984 LSAT?
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  March 8, 2022 at 11:24 am
  Hi BJ,
  I don’t have the exact numbers immediately accessible, but October would have been a sizable test and likely in the 30K+ range of test takers.
  Thanks!
  Reply
Bob Langley says
February 28, 2022 at 6:18 pm
I was looking through old files and came across my LSAT results. I’ve always wondered what percentile those scores represented and wonder if you might know how to determine that. Thanks.
LSAT score = 685
WA score = 66
Admin date = 12/71
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  March 5, 2022 at 12:39 pm
  Hey Bob,
  Thanks for the question. The test was different back then, and I don’t have the percentile tables from that era handy. That said, my best guess is that you’d be somewhere in the 90-95th percentile or so. Today’s test is totally different though, so that does not translate into the similar percentile on today’s exam. e
  Thanks!
  Reply
Chris says
February 23, 2022 at 11:49 am
Hi, is it possible to convert a score of 42 from February 1991 ? Thanks
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  February 24, 2022 at 6:44 pm
  Hi Chris,
  The comparison is not a direct one, and frankly the LSAT today is far harder than in the early 90s. So the “conversion” here does not mean that your percentile for a 42 now matches the percentile on today’s exam.
  That said, your 42 in 1991 represented about the 90.5%. On today’s LSAT, 90.5% is closest to a 164.
  Thanks!
  Reply
Stan Ellis says
June 16, 2021 at 10:20 pm
Dave
Here’s an oldie for you. I tool the exam in 1966. I have the number score but LASC claims no one there knows the formula for converting it to %ile. Is there a way to find the formula or a person who knows it?
Thanks
Stan
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  June 21, 2021 at 1:34 pm
  Hi Stan,
  Great question, and we don’t often see scores from 55 years ago 🙂 In my years doing this, I’ve come across more than a few older score reports, and I can possibly give you a ballpark (it depends). If you can, can you send a screenshot of your report to lsat @ powerscore.com, and ask them to send it to me? I need to see the results in order to assess whether it matches others I have, and I’ll then post back here with an update.
  Thanks!
  Reply
marty says
December 27, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Any way to convert my 1981 lsat from 590 reading/610 math to a single lsat score now?
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  December 30, 2020 at 7:58 pm
  Hey Marty,
  Thanks for the message! No, there really isn’t. The two tests are very different (for example, today’s LSAT doesn’t have a math section) and so LSAC says the two forms are incompatible as comparison tools, and hence no score conversion. Having looked at both fairly extensively, I’d agree that they can’t be compared well.
  Thanks!
  Reply
  - Stan Ellis says
    November 10, 2021 at 10:41 pm
    Dave
    I just saw your reply. I will have to search for the number score & will send it when I find it. Thanks
    Reply
Jennifer Altemose says
July 30, 2020 at 9:15 pm
I took the LSAT in 1985/1986. Is there any way for me to find out what I scored?
Reply
K B says
July 11, 2020 at 8:52 am
I would be interested in your thoughts on the following scenario –
A person took the LSAT once in 1999 (well before everything was digitized), but due to life circumstances never attended law school. It is now 21 years later, this person has married, changed their name and is signed up to take the LSAT. Would LSAC show me as taking my second LSAT exam?
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  July 11, 2020 at 7:04 pm
  Hi KB,
  Thanks for the questions! We don’t quite know yet, although I’ve already inquired with them about this specific scenario. Our belief, though, is that since you have taken the LSAT before–and their records go WAY back so we think they’d link your SS#s–that you will not be able to use score preview. Is that ridiculous when your first score is from 1999? Yes, which is why I’m hoping there’s some sort of cutoff exemption (any test older than 5 years would be my preference).
  If you get an update before we do, please let us know. Thanks and good luck!
  Reply
ML says
May 2, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Hi. I got a 38 in 1991. What percentile was that and that would the score be according to today’s scale?
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  May 2, 2020 at 2:36 pm
  Hi ML,
  If you got that score in 1991, that must be from the February 1991 LSAT 🙂 A 138 was around the 76th percentile, and strictly from a percentile standpoint that would be about a 159.
  I hope that helps. Thanks!
  Reply
Martin Heilweil says
October 3, 2019 at 8:04 pm
Dear Dave,
2019 oct 3
I found some LSAT scores from Feb 1966, rummaging thru the archives.
This showed 676 LSAT which I gather crudely converts, by dropping the last digit and adding 1 as prefix, converts to 167, of 180, what percentile would that be, ignoring that scores are not comparable.
Since there are 61 discrete scores, is it the case that each score is not quite TWO percentiles, so that the diff between 180 and 167 is 13, which multiplied by two is not quite 26, places me in the 74th percentile? or maybe 75th?
I also found Afternoon:
Writing Ability W 68
General Background B 67
What do these mean? are these also percentile values?
Thanks
Reply
deb says
August 23, 2019 at 1:05 pm
In 1991 I got a 30 on the LSAT (I know, pathetic!). Can you tell what that would translate to by today’s scoring?
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  August 23, 2019 at 5:35 pm
  Hi Deb,
  Thanks for the question. A 30 on the old scale would be about a 148 on today’s LSAT just using the percentiles.
  Thanks!
  Reply
Peter Hairston says
August 3, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Dear Dave, Your blog is very helpful and interesting. I made a perfect 800 on the LSAT in 1981 ; my previous SAT (1975)and GMAT (1981)scores were 99th percentile.
Recently I’ve been asked to consider tutoring, and I believe I could be helpful to students preparing for these tests. I have retained my original LSAT score, but the others have gone missing. I hoped to get proper validation of all of these scores, thinking they might be relevant to my future tutoring activities. But, based upon this article and the comments, I sense that this will not be possible. Am I correct in understanding that the older scores are no longer available. So I should be glad to have saved the LSAT score and be reconciled to the fact that the other records have been lost? Thank you and kind regards, Peter Hairston
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  August 3, 2019 at 6:25 pm
  Hi Peter,
  Thanks for the message! In the case of the LSAT, you should indeed be glad that you retained your records–they would now longer be available from LSAC. With the GMAT, it only goes back 10 years. From their website: “Your GMAT scores are valid for five years, and are available for reporting for up to 10 years. Scores over 10 years are not available.” For the SAT, you might be able to get them, I’m not sure. There’s more information here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/sending-scores/old-scores.
  Good luck!
  Reply
Michael says
June 27, 2019 at 5:10 pm
How do you translate a score on the 48 point scale of 1984 to today
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  June 27, 2019 at 5:27 pm
  LSAC will tell you the two are not comparable, and they have a point as today’s LSAT is harder and contains some different question types than the 1984 version did (no Dispute Characterization, for example!). That said, using just percentiles, the comparison is about to the 170-180 range, although the emphasis is more towards the 170 side. Today’s test has more scores, so it allows for finer differentiation than the old test, hence the range.
  Thanks!
  Reply
Jayme says
June 19, 2019 at 2:59 am
Even if it’s not for a school, there’s no way to see what your score was if it was more than 5 years ago? I took it in 2012 and don’t remember what I got and just want to know for myself.
Reply
- Dave Killoran says
  June 19, 2019 at 5:35 pm
  Correct, they simply stopped releasing old scores. We’ve asked in seven different ways if there’s any possibility, and the response has always been a solid No. I’m sorry!
  Reply

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