Happy (or horrifying) score release day! I’m here to bring some words of hope and encouragement for all of you, especially those of you facing a disappointing result.
In the video I made for August testtakers (which you can watch here), I shared my own thoughts on what a low score does and doesn’t mean. For September (here) we featured a letter on the subject from @DillonChaney, one of our star tutors. This month we’re featuring a video message from another star tutor, @HanaTatsutani.
We've got resources for you today. We're stacking free office hours throughout today and tomorrow so you can get the emotional and practical support you need. You can find those on the live sessions page in the left-hand sidebar of this page. @AlexJacobs, @BaileyLuber, @ShamalaGallagher, and @EthanMadore are also hosting a livestream today at 4:30 ET to answer your questions and share their perspectives and advice.
Please also feel free to use this thread to vent, ask questions, or share your experiences – you’re in good company <3.
47 comments
12 points higher than my last LSAT. Thank you 7Sage🤝
Hey yall,
My original goal was a 165, then a 160 to be above all my schools medians, I got a 155. I’m a little disappointed but I’m not horribly crushed, however, I’m having a hard time feeling excited. I know this is a huge accomplishment to even take the test in the first place, and a 155 really isn’t a bad score especially considering my circumstances (I’m disabled), but I’m struggling to be proud of myself. I kind of feel nothing, I’m in the “well, better start the day” mood. I think I’ll treat myself to a sushi lunch, but does anyone have words of wisdom?
@mjfromcanada Treating yourself is certainly the right move for today. Give yourself a bit of room to feel disappointed before you turn things back around. I really like the things you're telling yourself -- especially your appreciation that taking the test is an accomplishment in itself -- but it's also okay that those reassurances aren't landing right now. That's what tomorrow, the next day, and the next week are for.
@mjfromcanada hi friend, I feel u…I got a 159 which is a ways lower than my goal. Sending hugs, I feel u my Canadian twin
@mjfromcanada hi team! Twinning in the worst way lol was SO CONFIDENT I hit my 165 goal score and it was a 156. Sigh, here we go again🫂🫂
Mom didn’t raise a quitter. On we march 🫡
Scored 2 points above my first lsat and 3 points below my previous lsat. I feel horrible.
@Egpippa Getting low scores back sucks ass. It's okay to feel awful right now. Treat yourself to some creature comforts and let these feelings diminish with time. Once you're ready though, remember that you are not your score, and that if you make use of the valuable data this official test experience provides, you'll show up to your future PTs and officials stronger than you went in.
@MichaelWright Thank you! I don’t plan on taking it again. My last score was 1 point less than the 25th percentile and I got waitlist but I applied super late in April. Gonna apply this week with my last score and hope I get in.
I got a 147 while experiencing a migraine on test day. :( To be completely honest, I got lazy toward the end of my studying leading up to the test (I got content with Pt Scores), which also had a negative impact on my performance, I'm sure. I'm considering taking the January LSAT and locking in these next two months. At first, I felt extremely disappointed in myself, but now I've become more motivated than ever to improve.
I know what I'm capable of, and you know what you're capable of. WE will bounce back.
Hana was my tutor over the summer and she is the best :)
@an12 The only thing wrong with @HanaTatsutani is that she goes to Harvard Law 🤮
got my diagnostic score after studying for 2 months. Is this normal? I was going 10 points better on pt’s
@oliviabyrne same happened to me but 3 months of studying and i was PT 6-8 points higher than my diagnostic
@bunnykp Completely normal, especially if this was your first official test. Official test day comes with tons of novel factors that are difficult to anticipate without experiencing them first hand. This was always gonna be a practice test for you, low key, so focus your attention on pulling what lessons you can from this data point.
@oliviabyrne I was in the exact same boat. I had a 161 diagnostic and after studying for three months got a 158 on the August LSAT. I just kept studying (mostly timed sections and 1 practice test a week) and just got a 169 on the October LSAT. You got this!
@MichaelWright this was a 2nd attempt lol
@bunnykp Same difference though, tbh. Early official takes are learning opportunities first and foremost.
@oliviabyrne same here. Feeling defeated and like 2 months in in the same spot.
Hi! I got a 174! YAY! I am registered for November and considering taking it again to try and eek out a couple of points, because my GPA is pretty low (3.49). I plan on EDing to Gtown! Any thoughts?
@orlandod My unironic take is YOLO
Got the low end of my PTs on the LSAT. Haven’t touched the lsat since Oct 10 since I have a very stressful job. I’m hoping when I retake it in November after the job stress has greatly diminished that I’ll be able to hit my PT average or maybe even higher! On test day I was not prepared to be around other LSAT students, and the headphones hurt and gave me a headache/nausea. gonna get back into studying this weekend! I’m very happy with my PT highs so I know I have it in me!! Need to work on execution
my original goal was 165-170.. but i ended up scoring a 153! 😕. my plan was to take my first lsat in october and take it again in november to maximize my score.
my PTs were ranging from 157-159 in september. seeing the official score of 153 was disappointing but i’m not surprised bc i wasn’t feeling good about it.
i took a PT a few days ago and got my highest score yet, a 164. so im just hoping that will happen in november.
i’m considering cancelling my october score. any thoughts or suggestions? should i cancel it bc its not near where i want to be, or keep it to show the progress?
@Cbmb4444 Keep it. As for this 164 (congrats!), think about what factors you could credit for that performance. For example, did it feel like there was relatively little pressure on you that day?
@MichaelWright thank you! i'll keep it. yes, definitely less pressure. i also just had a super positive mindset the whole time taking the PT. during the official one, i was really nervous and had more of a negative attitude. i also think because i knew i was going to take the test again, that it "didn't matter" as much if i didn't do too good on the october lsat.
this time around though it really matters. i want that 164 and i know it's possible! i am trying to keep a good mindset and not be too hard on myself.
159, been an honor 🫡
7Sage is a great training platform, but after months of studying, I only got one freaking point higher (157 -> 158). Very frustrated. Oh well, back to it.
I was quite disappointed today when I got my results. My first attempt (June 2026) was 157, second in August was 159, and October was 158. Damn. My practice tests, timed and in a very similar testing room to the testing centers, have been between 161-168. I am not even sure what my next steps should be and feel a bit defeated as I've been going at this for approaching 11 months. I definitely have not given up but it is just frustrating to me that my scores between June/Aug/Oct have been basically the same 157/159/158 and I'm not even sure if I should cancel the 158 or not.
@mike23awesome That big (and consistent) a gap between PT and official results points to a mismatch in test conditions between your PTs and test day. The most obvious difference there is usually stress -- the real test is scarier -- so that's a sensible (and actionable) starting place if you're looking to improve.
It's also relevant to consider whether you're allowing yourself leeway during your PTs that are aren't allowed on test day. Little things like pauses or breaks or even being in an unrealistically comfortable environment can all be culprits there.
@mike23awesome @LeviGrant tagging you in
@mike23awesome Same bro.
went from 143 to 149. even with extra time and a better understanding of concepts idk what happened
@GDatria715 that's a great improvement!
@Cbmb4444 yeah but my goal is 160+ by november lsat
@GDatria715 how are your PT and blind review scores?
@MichaelWright scored a pt 161 a few days ago one today was 150
@GDatria715 A fair amount of variance, then, but also you've proven you can hit your goal, which is an awesome thing to have in your pocket going into test day. The november test is so close that the main advice I have for you is to SLEEP and CHILL, but to the extent you're studying I'd focus on execution factors like time management and mood control.
Scored 2 points lower than highest, and 1 point lower than my first test. Should I cancel? I had a disturbance during my exam but didn't report it. Addendum, cancel, or no cancel?
@Simon You basically should never cancel. Upside is near-nonexistent and the downside of having a low score you subsequently beat is also nonexistent.
You might want to take more time to study, though. If my math is mathing, your highest test and your first test were super close. I bet you have more points in you if you give it more time.
@MichaelWright My goal score is still far away. So, what if my October score was 3 points lower than my first exam? Shouldn't I cancel that?
@RaffiG Schools only care about your highest score regardless, so whether you cancel or not makes little difference one way or the other.
i had a diagnostic of 155 2 years ago. i prepped for one year, like lots of money and time put into it and got a 156... i just feel so defeated and don't know what to do maybe law school isn't for everyone
i got a 165 back for october:( i was hoping for an increase in my 169 august score but unfortunately got the opposite. im not planning on retaking but would appreciate some insight into canceling or not!
@user0725 Schools only consider your highest score, so it really doesn't matter either way.
Hi everyone,
I got back my mark yesterday, a 152, and to say I am devestated would be a massive understatement. My highest PT was a 157, going in I was hoping that I would acomplish a 157 on test day or higher but unfortunately the exact oppositie happened. I am feeling incredibly discouraged, lost and now questioning myself if maybe that 157 on practice was a fluke. I was really anxious on test day to the point of shaking and needing to keep bringing my mind back to the test.
I have already 5 months of studying on my belt and I've come too far to give up now, so I know im going to push through and keep going. However, I just don't even know what studying looks like for where I am at.
Any advice on where to go from here would mean a lot.
Thanks
Sarah
@sarahbluestein In addition to the advice in the video (and I'd recommend watching the August video for anxiety-specific content as well), my core practical take is to address the execution factors you're describing (stress and distraction) with the same level of attention and precision as you've brought to learning the content. Practice attunement to your breath in the context of a timed passage. Practice quick 30 second resets when you notice your attention drifting.
Noticing that you were much more anxious on test day gives valuable data with clear direction. You have every reason to expect that if/when you address those factors you'll come into the next test substantially stronger.
I got the same score essentially that I have been getting in my practice tests and 2 points lower than my diagnostic.