From 150 to 170: How Students Actually Make the Jump

The LSAT is a little like climbing a mountain. Getting to base camp (say, a 150) is tough. But hauling yourself up to the summit (a 170+) is a whole different kind of grind.

So how do students actually make that leap? Spoiler: it’s not by doing 47 practice tests back-to-back and hoping for the best. Here’s the real roadmap.

Stage 1: The Foundation (150–158)

At this level, you’re still learning the terrain. Mistakes usually come from:

• Misreading question stimuli.
• Getting tricked by attractive wrong answers.
• Running out of time because you’re second-guessing everything.

The fix? Learn the basics cold.

• Drill the core question types (Strengthen, Necessary Assumption, etc.).
• Start a Wrong Answer Journal. Write down why you missed a question, not just “ugh, I’ll do better next time.”
• Focus on accuracy over speed. You can’t go fast until you know what you’re doing.

Stage 2: The Climb (159–165)

Welcome to the middle zone—the place where improvement slows down and frustration spikes. You know the basics, but your accuracy wobbles under timed conditions.

The difference here is pattern recognition.

• Instead of treating each question like a new puzzle, start spotting the recycled traps LSAC loves.
• Work on pacing: use 35-minute sections to train your internal clock.
• Review like a detective.  Don’t just see what’s wrong, figure out why LSAC wanted you to pick it.

Stage 3: The Summit Push (166–170+)

This is where students separate from the pack. At this point, you probably could hit 170 on a lucky day. The goal is to make it your average.

What changes here? Precision and mindset.

• You can’t afford sloppy errors.  Every point matters.
• Target your weakest section relentlessly. If you’re -2 on LR and -7 on RC, you know where to focus.
• Practice under real conditions: no pausing, no snacks mid-section, no “just checking my phone real quick.”

And here’s the kicker: at this stage, less can be more. Over-drilling often leads to burnout. Instead, refine your skills with high-quality review and trust the work you’ve already put in.

The Big Difference

Going from 150 to 160 is about learning the rules of the game.
Going from 160 to 170 is about mastering the psychology of the test.

It’s no longer just “do I understand this?” but “can I execute under pressure, every time?”

Final Thought

Climbing from 150 to 170 isn’t magic.  It’s all about strategy and discipline. Plenty of students make the leap, and so can you.

And if you want a boost on the climb? Join our waitlist at www.lexprep.ai to be first in line when we launch. Our AI is built to spot your weak points, drill your patterns, and help you scale that last stretch.

Because the view from 170 is worth it.