Top Law Schools

I apologize for this if this thread has already been made. I tried to search a few terms but found nothing. My question is simple: Can anyone get a really good score on the LSAT? Is it truly a matter of just "learning" the test? Does hard work and dedication really pay off for this sort of thing, or does everyone hit a peak because of their actual intelligence?

There is no way to prove or disprove whether any person can get 170+. Certainly, there are many people who spend an enormous amount of time studying and fall short - often significantly short. Whether they hit a peak because of natural intelligence, because they didn't learn the right basic skills earlier in life, or because they didn't study in the right way is not something that can be objectively determined.

As a private LSAT tutor, I am going to have to say "no". There are some people who cannot score a 170+ if their life depended on it IMHO.

+1

I taught an LSAT class of 40 through my undergrad. No matter what I did, or how much effort they put in, there were some students in there who never broke 150, even after a full semester of work and 15 full tests.

Yes, I firmly believe that anyone of average intelligence can get a 170 with enough work and enough oopportunties. Obviously the way it scale, not everybody could make a 170 at the same time.

gbpackerbacker wrote:Yes, I firmly believe that anyone of average intelligence can get a 170 with enough work and enough oopportunties. Obviously the way it scale, not everybody could make a 170 at the same time.

This is not true.

If you are trying to work out whether YOU can get over 170, measure your head.

--LinkRemoved--

I just hope LSAC doesn't get any ideas.

Might be a better predictor of LS performance.

No.

AntipodeanPhil wrote:There is no way to prove or disprove whether any person can get 170+. Certainly, there are many people who spend an enormous amount of time studying and fall short - often significantly short. Whether they hit a peak because of natural intelligence, because they didn't learn the right basic skills earlier in life, or because they didn't study in the right way is not something that can be objectively determined.

+1

I like this answer.

its multiple choice so technically yes, but in the real world most people can't get a score that would qualify them for membership in mensa

PJENNEWE wrote:I apologize for this if this thread has already been made. I tried to search a few terms but found nothing. My question is simple: Can anyone get a really good score on the LSAT? Is it truly a matter of just "learning" the test? Does hard work and dedication really pay off for this sort of thing, or does everyone hit a peak because of their actual intelligence?

No, but studying can make a VERY significant difference, especially in LG and a a little less for LR (least for RC, but still meaningful). Double digit increases happen.

BUT:

Statistically speaking, half the people who take the real thing get below 150. 90% below 164. 95% below 167. Only one in a hundred people taking the actual LSAT--not a practice test, the real thing--scores 172 or above.

There are people who take it without preparing, but it's not 99 out of a hundred. Or 95, or 90.

I think people approach this question in the wrong way.

The point of the LSAT is to test your analytical skills and reading comprehension level.

In general most LSAT prep includes just learning the test, not improving those skills very much. Which can help, but what you're learning is how to handle the stress of the testing situation. You learn to anticipate what the test will throw at you and not be flustered by it. However learning all of that will only improve your score as far as your intellectual skills allow.

I find it hard to believe if someone devoted a couple of years to improving their reading and critical thinking abilities that they wouldn't see a large improvement. I mean actually working on those skills outside of how they relate to LSAT prep. Hammering away at LSAT exams over and over again won't teach those things.

It makes little sense in actual practice to do that though. In reality you should be learning/developing those skills from grade school all the way through college.

No. Many people can do better than they think they can, though.

dpk711 wrote:

gbpackerbacker wrote:Yes, I firmly believe that anyone of average intelligence can get a 170 with enough work and enough oopportunties. Obviously the way it scale, not everybody could make a 170 at the same time.

This is not true.

Haha if had a nickel for every time somebody on here quoted me with that exact phrase.