The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are both standardized tests that applicants consider taking when they are applying to law school or graduate programs. But which one is best for you depends on several factors—not least among them, your career goals and personal preferences.
In this post, we’re going to answer FAQs about both tests, compare them, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of both in the context of applying to law school. Let’s go!
What are the main differences between the GRE and LSAT exams?
The LSAT test is the traditional admissions exam for law school. It is accepted by all law schools in the US and Canada. It focuses on logical reasoning sections, which are important for legal studies.
The LSAT was only offered as a paper-based test with set test dates until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change on the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) who administers it. Now, test-takers can choose either the classic in-person format or proctored online options.
The GRE test is a general standardized exam that’s required for admission to most graduate programs. It tests verbal reasoning skills and includes a quant or math section.
The GRE has been computer-based for some years now. Overall, it offers more flexibility in terms of test dates and how many times you can retake it year-round.
Test-taking strategies differ for the LSAT vs GRE. The GRE is section-level adaptive, meaning that test-takers can preview questions, skip and return to them, and change their answers. None of this is allowed on the LSAT, except to the extent that you skip around on the paper version if time allows you to do that.
Test difficulty may feel different between the GRE vs LSAT for most test-takers. The LSAT verbal/reading comprehension sections in particular are more difficult to complete in the allotted time than the GRE verbal, except for very fast readers, and time is always the enemy on these tests.
School policies can differ with regard to the LSAT vs GRE. Certain schools weigh LSAT scores more heavily, but most schools that accept GRE scores weigh them equally.
Taking practice tests for both exams is the best way to determine which test is better suited to your abilities. In fact, you should take at least one of each kind of practice test before you start any formal GRE or LSAT prep to maximize your results and be sure you’ve made the right choice.
Which sections are common to both the GRE and LSAT exams?
Both the GRE and LSAT test reading comprehension. However, the LSAT also tests logical reasoning within these reading sections, while the GRE tests logic skills in a separate reasoning section. So while both tests have some logical reasoning on them, there are far more questions testing logical reasoning on the LSAT.
The writing section of both tests emphasize vocabulary. However, the LSAT argumentative writing sample is unscored, and serves as a demonstration of writing skills for law schools reviewing your application—in other words, LSAC submits this essay along with your other materials. The GRE analytical writing section tests analytical reasoning and writing skills and is scored, but not submitted to schools.
Another difference is how the writing sections of the tests work. The GRE writing section asks you to analyze an issue, while the LSAT writing section asks you to choose one of two options and argue in favor of it.
Quantitative reasoning sections are only present on the GRE. If math is not your strong suit, the LSAT may be a better test for you. However, if you are also interested in other graduate degree programs like business school, you might want to emphasize your broader quantitative reasoning abilities with the GRE.
Starting this year in 2024, the LSAT will no longer have a section with the often-dreaded logic games. This change was made to accommodate some test-takers with disabilities. Instead, the LSAT has added an additional logical reasoning section.
In summary:
The LSAT and GRE both feature 5 sections:
- The GRE has 2 verbal reasoning sections, 2 quantitative reasoning sections, and 1 analytical writing section.
- The LSAT has 2 logical reasoning sections, 1 reading comprehension section, 1 unscored section that could be either logical reasoning or reading comprehension, and the single argumentative writing sample that is taken separately.
Is the GRE harder than the LSAT?
Many law school applicants say the GRE is harder, while others insist the LSAT is a more difficult test. This should tell you that it’s really more about your own abilities and strengths. Here are some things to consider:
Are you a serious test prep person? If so, the GRE might feel easier, because it has more questions that can be studied for and memorized in advance compared to the LSAT which has more logic questions that demand that you work them out on the spot.
Are you a math-phobe or do you have trouble with data-analysis? If you, the LSAT might feel easier, because there’s no quantitative reasoning section.
Do you consistently run out of time taking tests? If so, the GRE might feel easier. There are more reading comprehension questions on the LSAT vs GRE, and they include some logical reasoning components. Overall, this takes more time for most people on test day. The GRE takes about 2 hours total, with the LSAT taking about 2.5 hours, plus the separate 35 minute essay section.
Do you have trouble studying and memorizing in advance? If so, the LSAT might seem easier to you. One reason is the heavy emphasis on vocabulary on the GRE vs LSAT. Many test-takers study hundreds or even thousands of vocabulary words during GRE test prep, so if this sounds like torture for you, consider taking the LSAT.
Do you have trouble focusing? If so, the GRE might feel easier to you for similar reasons. With fewer long, complicated reading comprehension questions on the GRE vs LSAT, it may be easier to hold your focus taking the GRE.
Remember, both tests are tough. The best way to know for sure which is easier for you is to decide on your target score ranges or percentiles for each one and then take some practice tests.
Which is more widely accepted for law school admissions: GRE or LSAT?
The LSAT. All law schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) accept the LSAT. According to ETS, the organization that administers the GRE, about half of ABA-accredited law schools offer the GRE as an option.
Do law schools prefer LSAT or GRE test scores?
There are 196 ABA-accredited law schools, and only about half of them require the LSAT. But do law school admissions officers have a preference in terms of GRE vs LSAT?
Obviously, if the school requires the LSAT, they’ve made their preference clear. If they take both the GRE and LSAT and weigh them both evenly, though, there is no reason to think they have a preference.
One potential gray area is schools who review both if you’ve taken them. But if they do review both tests without obviously attributing more weight to one, again, there is no reason to assume a preference.
Certain schools will import any LSAT scores you have even if you prefer the GRE, but won’t do the same thing if you prefer the LSAT but also have GRE scores. They allow GRE scores for test-takers who only have those scores, however. Can we infer that they prefer LSAT scores?
The best way to determine this is to look at the individual school’s information, including its rates of admittance for students who take the different tests. When you do that, remember that you need to compare not raw numbers, but the comparative number of admitted law students.
Also remember this: law schools are free to set their own rules. They need not accept anything but the LSAT if that’s their preference, so if they do accept the GRE, they have decided that it is a good measure of the ability of their potential students.
How many top law schools currently accept GRE scores?
Some of the top law schools based on rankings that accept GRE scores include:
- Boston College
- Boston University (for some students)
- Chicago-Kent College of Law
- Columbia Law School
- Cornell Law School
- Duke University School of Law
- Georgetown University Law Center
- Harvard Law School
- New York University Law School
- Stanford Law School
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
- Yale Law School
Does Harvard law take the GRE or LSAT? What is a good LSAT score to get into Harvard Law?
Harvard Law School accepts either exam, and requires that you submit all valid scores from both exams if you’ve taken both. HLS also says they have no preference for either exam, and admits test-takers at about the same rate relative to the number of applications they receive.
A good LSAT score at Harvard is between 171 and 176. 171 is the 25th percentile score, with 176 resting at the 75th percentile.
Can I get into law school with just a GRE?
Yes, many students take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT and gain admittance to top law schools. For example, Yale Law School accepts both exams and states it has no preference between them. However, applicants with reportable LSAT scores may not submit GRE scores in their place.
Obviously, the key here is to carefully read the rules for each school you’re targeting.
Can I take the LSAT instead of the GRE for entry to a graduate program in the US?
Some grad school programs accept the LSAT in place of the GRE or GMAT, but this is less common than law schools that accept the GRE in lieu of the LSAT. The most likely programs involve policy or law.
What is the validity of GRE and LSAT scores?
Both test scores have a 5-year validity period. However, as with everything else, you should check your school’s specific instructions to make sure your test scores remain valid.
Final thoughts on GRE vs LSAT scores
No matter what you may hear, the bottom line is that only you can decide which of these tests will be most advantageous to you. It is almost certainly better to submit an impressive score on either the LSAT or GRE versus an average score from any test.
Do your homework, take a few practice tests, and then go with the test that makes the most sense to you.
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