What one application cycle costs LSAC-side, line by line
LSAC's fee page lists the basic charges as $253 for the LSAT, which includes the Argumentative Writing sample, and $219 for the Credential Assembly Service. Each law school application then needs its own law school report at $45, and LSAC says a separate report is required for every application, with some schools asking for a CAS report and others accepting an LSAT-only one. The CAS report and the LSAT-only report are both $45.
A candidate who takes the test once and applies to eight schools therefore owes $253, $219 and eight reports at $45 each, which is $832 before Score Preview or any date change. Score Preview costs $46 if bought before testing starts and $87 in the window after testing ends, an official candidate score report that includes nonreportable scores is $50, and a score audit is $150, or $75 with a pre-approved fee waiver.
LSAC also says it no longer offers partial refunds of the CAS fee. Plan the CAS purchase on that basis.
- LSAT registration, with LSAT Argumentative Writing: $253
- Credential Assembly Service: $219
- Each law school report, CAS or LSAT-only: $45
- Score Preview: $46 before testing, $87 after
- Official candidate score report, with nonreportable scores: $50
- Score audit: $150, or $75 with a pre-approved waiver
- Test date change: free through the registration deadline, $153 up to 7 days after it, then $253
The numerical limits, precisely
Two caps, two clocks. The two caps run independently: five attempts within the current reportable score period, and seven attempts across your entire testing history. Tests taken before September 2019 fall outside these numerical limits entirely, and so do the May, June, July and August 2020 LSAT-Flex tests. Someone who already has a 180 in the current and five past testing years is not permitted to retake, and a registration that exceeds the limits is not accepted.
A canceled score, including one canceled through Score Preview, counts as an attempt against both limits even though no score is reported. Weigh that before canceling a score you're unsure about — an absence or a pre-test withdrawal costs you nothing against the limit, but a completed-and-canceled test does.
What law schools actually see and use
LSAC reports every LSAT score taken within the reportable period to every school on your CAS report, along with your Writing samples. Since 2006, ABA-accredited schools have generally been permitted to report only an applicant's highest LSAT score for their own aggregate disclosures, which is why most schools focus admissions decisions on your highest score instead of averaging multiple attempts — but individual school policy can differ, and some do consider the full score history or an upward trend.
Confirm each target school's own stated policy on multiple scores directly instead of assuming every school treats a retake identically.
How long a result stays reportable
An LSAT result is reportable for up to five testing years after the testing year in which it was earned, and LSAT testing years run from July 1 through June 30. When you apply, LSAC reports all your results earned in the current testing year and the prior five, and those results include scores, cancellations and absences. Scores earned before July 2021 are not considered valid for law school admission.
LSAC's example: if you apply in January 2027, every score from the July 2026 to June 2027 testing year is reported, along with scores from the five testing years before that. A score earned in an older year can drop out of the reportable window on June 30, so plan the retake around the application date.
Common questions
How many times can I take the LSAT?+
Five times within the current reportable score period, meaning since July 2021, and seven times over a lifetime, according to LSAC.
Do canceled LSAT scores count toward the limit?+
Yes, including scores canceled through Score Preview, which count toward the five-in-the-reportable-period and seven-lifetime limits. Absences and withdrawals do not count.
Do tests before 2019 count against my LSAT limit?+
No. LSAC says tests taken prior to September 2019 are not counted toward the numerical limits.
Can I retake the LSAT after a 180?+
No. LSAC does not permit a retake if you have already scored a 180 in the current reportable score period.
How long is an LSAT score valid for law school?+
It is reportable for up to five testing years after the testing year in which you earned it. Testing years run from July 1 through June 30.
Do law schools see my canceled and missed tests?+
LSAC reports all results earned in the current testing year and the prior five, and those results include scores, cancellations and absences, not only the scores you kept.
Are LSAT scores from 2020 still valid?+
Scores earned before July 2021 are not considered valid for law school admission and are not in your score report.
When does a testing year start?+
July 1. LSAT testing years run from July 1 through June 30, and a score can leave the reportable window at the end of June.
What to do next
- 1
Check your own attempt count against both the 5-in-period and 7-lifetime limits before registering again.
- 2
Decide your cancellation threshold before test day, in writing, so you're not deciding under stress.
- 3
Confirm each target school's stated policy on multiple LSAT scores instead of assuming highest-score treatment everywhere.
- 4
If retaking, diagnose why the prior score fell short before repeating the same study plan.