.png)
Yes, you can retake the LSAT. LSAC no longer caps how many times you can sit it in a single testing year, but you may take it five times within the current reportable score period (since July 2021) and seven times over your lifetime, according to LSAC's Limits on Repeating the LSAT policy. Cancelled scores and absences generally count toward these limits, so retaking is allowed but not unlimited.
By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.
Yes. The LSAT is designed to be retaken, and many test-takers sit it more than once to raise their score. LSAC does, however, set limits: there is no longer a cap within a single testing year, but you may test five times within the current reportable score period (since July 2021) and seven times over your lifetime, according to LSAC's Limits on Repeating the LSAT policy.
Most retakers test again because their first score fell below the medians of their target law schools, and even a few extra points can shift admission and scholarship outcomes. Because schools report only your high score to the ABA and generally weight it most heavily, a stronger retake usually helps. A retake makes sense when focused preparation is likely to move your score.
Cancelled scores and absences do not reset your LSAT count; each sitting draws from your allotted limits. Law schools can see every LSAT score on your record, though most emphasize the highest. Repeatedly testing without a clear improvement plan can look aimless, so retake with a specific point goal and a study change in mind.
Before registering again, compare your score to each target school's median and set a realistic improvement target, then change something concrete in your preparation rather than repeating the same routine. Time the retake so your final score arrives before your earliest deadline. A structured diagnostic, like the one in Lovare's LSAT tools, can show whether a retake is worth it.
The LSAT registration fee is currently $253, which includes LSAT Argumentative Writing, and most applicants also pay for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) that nearly all law schools require, currently $219, according to LSAC's LSAT and CAS fees page. LSAC provides need-based fee waivers that cover registration and several related services for applicants who qualify.
LSAC no longer caps how often you can sit the LSAT within a single testing year, but limits you to five times within the current reportable score period (since July 2021) and seven times across your lifetime, according to LSAC's Limits on Repeating the LSAT policy. Cancelled scores and absences generally count against these limits, so plan each registration deliberately rather than treating early sittings as free practice.
Take the LSAT far enough before your application deadlines to leave room for one retake, which usually means testing in the summer or early fall of the year you apply. Because most law schools admit on a rolling basis, submitting a complete application early in the cycle generally improves your chances.
Verified August 2026.
August 21, 2026
August 21, 2026