152 Diagnostic - Any Hope for 170+ Forum

[cause8191]

I just took a diagnostic LSAT and I only scored 152. That's horrendous! I tried to take off some of the pressure by running the stopwatch in reverse. Even then the longest I took was about 43 minutes on a particular section. Is it at all possible to see that jump at least 20 points when I take the real thing?

I am only a sophomore in college, and I have plenty of time to get that score up in the year or more that I have before I actually take the LSAT. I wouldn't want to waste a potentially high gpa, which is currently 3.99, with a poor LSAT score.

[elterrible78]

I just took a diagnostic LSAT and I only scored 152. That's horrendous! I tried to take off some of the pressure by running the stopwatch in reverse. Even then the longest I took was about 43 minutes on a particular section. Is it at all possible to see that jump at least 20 points when I take the real thing?

I am only a sophomore in college, and I have plenty of time to get that score up in the year or more that I have before I actually take the LSAT. I wouldn't want to waste a potentially high gpa, which is currently 3.99, with a poor LSAT score.

I'm an LSAT instructor and I definitely have had students make it from the low 150s into the 170s (albeit low 170s). It's not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it definitely can be done.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

I went from 155 to 174. It's possible.

[gaud]

148 - 170 here. Good luck!!

[Nova]

151 to 167... and I regret not retaking.

Its definitely possible

[sinfiery]

The diagnostic means nothing.

157 cold --> ~5 hours of studying -->164-->176 this past october

[eric922]

Diagnostics really meaning nothing in terms of predicting your score. Remember this isn't an IQ test. The LSAT is learnable. Diagnostics are really meant to show you where your weakest areas are so you know what to focus on.

[Br3v]

Believe my cold PT was a 152 (either that or 154/156 but for sure not higher) and I ended up with a 170. Very possible and -somewhat- common on these boards. Takes work though.

[ScottRiqui]

Agree with all the posters upthread. Also, there are "152s" and then there are "152s", if you know what I mean. Were your mistakes spread evenly across the sections, or was there one of the three that was giving you more trouble than the others? On my cold diagnostic, I lost 3/4 of my points on the Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) section. I barely finished the third game and guessed on the entire fourth game. But with a few hours of studying and practice so far, I've already improved greatly.

[LSAT Hacks (Graeme)]

If you take a few more tests and you're still low 150s, then it's going to be very, very tough.

If, however, you take a few more tests and you're actually high 150's, then it will be a lot more doable. The initial test can sometimes be imprecise.

[StylinNProfilin]

151 to 168. If you want it bad enough, you'll make it happen.

[willwash]

Initial diagnostic of 158 here and I've since preptested as high as 180. Still waiting on the official test results but I'm retaking anything under 170. If your GPA is really that high then you should not accept an LSAT below 172 or 173. You are Y material.

[cause8191]

Initial diagnostic of 158 here and I've since preptested as high as 180. Still waiting on the official test results but I'm retaking anything under 170. If your GPA is really that high then you should not accept an LSAT below 172 or 173. You are Y material.

I hate to disappoint, but my gpa is probably going to fall at least .15 points after this semester. I have not been given any of grades for this semester yet, but my stupidity in taking advanced courses that have nothing to do with my major - or even GE's - will certainly make it drop. Hopefully I'll bounce back next semester.

[willwash]

So even if you drop from 3.99 to 3.84 and can hold or bring that up between now and graduation, you still have a shot at Y with a strong LSAT.

Don't do any LSAT prep that detracts from your ability to maintain that high GPA. Take it from a 3.49 to whom the doors of HYS are likely closed forever, even with a 180. You can take a year off and do nothing but study for the LSAT later...

To answer your original question, it's definitely possible to go from 150s to 170s. Especially if your biggest weakness is in the logic games.

[Teflon_Don]

151 to 169, you can do it

[SportsFan]

I had a 152 diagnostic. Scored a 171 on the real LSAT (only took it once). Its 110% possible.

[Br3v]

I had a 152 diagnostic. Scored a 171 on the real LSAT (only took it once). Its 110% possible.

The 10% part ruins this

[bp shinners]

Just adding to the chorus of "definitely possible". I've seen it many times. Especially if your weakest section is Games, and especially if timing was an issue on the first go-around (which it sounds to have been).

[blackandstrong]

I just took a diagnostic LSAT and I only scored 152. That's horrendous! I tried to take off some of the pressure by running the stopwatch in reverse. Even then the longest I took was about 43 minutes on a particular section. Is it at all possible to see that jump at least 20 points when I take the real thing?

I am only a sophomore in college, and I have plenty of time to get that score up in the year or more that I have before I actually take the LSAT. I wouldn't want to waste a potentially high gpa, which is currently 3.99, with a poor LSAT score.

Don't be alarmed. You'll be OK. Diagnostics aren't predictive of your future score.

[buddyt]

149 cold diagnostic, peaked in my PTs at 3x 174, under-performed on test day and got a 166.

[Alorain]

151 cold. 166 on the real LSAT, but I have PT'd above 170 numerous times.