10 LSAT myths, debunked
The LSAT attracts more bad advice than almost any test. Here are the ten myths we hear most, each answered with facts.
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Myth 1 Law schools average your LSAT scores
Reality: LSAC sends schools all of your scores plus an average, but schools report your highest score in their published medians. Admissions offices overwhelmingly focus on your highest. A better second score helps you. It does not get averaged away.
Myth 2 Guessing hurts your score
Reality: There is no penalty for wrong answers. Each question is worth one raw point if right and zero if wrong or blank. Answer every question, even if you are guessing on the last few as time runs out.
Myth 3 Logic Games are still on the LSAT
Reality: LSAC removed the Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section in August 2024. The current test is Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension only. Old advice and old books centered on games are outdated.
Myth 4 Retaking looks bad
Reality: Taking the LSAT two or three times is normal and schools expect it. What matters is the trend. Improvement shows work ethic. Five flat scores with no improvement raise more questions than three takes with a rising line.
Myth 5 Accommodated scores are flagged
Reality: LSAC does not flag or annotate scores earned with testing accommodations. Your score report looks the same as anyone else's. Schools cannot tell from your file.
Myth 6 You need to be a genius to score well
Reality: The LSAT tests learnable skills, not innate brilliance. Nobody is born knowing how to dissect a flaw question. Months of structured practice move scores substantially for most test takers.
Myth 7 The LSAT tests legal knowledge
Reality: The LSAT requires no legal knowledge, no math, and no memorized facts. Everything you need is on the page. It tests how you read arguments and reason under time pressure.
Myth 8 You can spot the experimental section
Reality: Not reliably. The unscored section looks exactly like a real section and can appear in any position. Treat every section as scored.
Myth 9 You need a prep course to do well
Reality: Many high scorers self-study with official practice tests and a good strategy book. Courses help if you need structure and accountability, but they are not required. Consistent work matters more than the format.
Myth 10 You need a 180 for a top law school
Reality: Even the most selective schools admit students well below 180, and their published medians sit in the low to mid 170s. A score at or above a school's median makes you competitive there. Nobody needs a perfect score.
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