LSAT vs. GRE: Which One Should You Take?
If the logic games in your LSAT practice tests keep tripping you up or if you’re unsure about your chances when the LSAT goes digital this summer, it might be time to take a step back and reconsider whether the LSAT is the right test for you. Don’t worry, you don’t have to completely abandon your law school dream. This is where the old tried and true GRE comes in. You may have already heard, but as of December 2020, 67 law schools and counting now accept the GRE as an alternative standardized test, since University of Arizona first decided to implement it in 2016. Although the GRE is one of the most common tests used for graduate schools, it’s very new to the law school scene, and it covers much more general knowledge. How do you decide which test you should take when considering LSAT vs. GRE?
The introduction of the GRE in JD admissions helps students who might be looking at more than just law school for postgraduate prospects to keep their options open. It also allows students who are set on law school to take a standardized test that highlights strengths that the LSAT may not, such as math and vocabulary skills. But these are not the only factors that go into deciding which test you should take when applying to law school. To guide you through picking the right test for you, I have expanded on the differences between the LSAT and GRE, how to make the choice according to your interests and strengths, and how LSAT vs. GRE has so far fared in the JD admissions process.
Differences Between LSAT and GRE: Which One to Choose
Although they can both be used for law school admissions (depending on which law school you apply to), the LSAT and GRE are in no way identical standardized tests. Check out their differences as displayed in the table below:
| Crieteria | LSAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper LSAT in June, half-paper, half-digital in July, digital September onwards | Digital and paper, digital preferred if available |
| Exams administered | 9 per academic year | 3-4 times per month |
| Duration | 3.5 hours; 5 multiple choice sections of 35 minutes each (including 1 experimental section), one writing section of 35 minutes | 3 hours, 45 minutes; 1 hour total for analytical writing tasks, 1 hour for the verbal reasoning sections, 75 minutes for the quantitative reasoning section, the timing of the unscored or research section varies |
| Law schools accepted by | All American Bar Association approved schools | 23 schools (see below) |
| Personalization | Not personalized | Computerized version changes difficulty of later sections based on student’s performance in earlier sections |
| Math and vocabulary questions | Not Included | Included |
| Logic Games | Included | Not included |
| Breakdown of Sections | Six sections: five multiple-choice sections (one reading comprehension, one analytical reasoning, two logical reasoning) and one writing sample – choosing between two positions and defending your selection | Six sections: two verbal reasoning, two quantitative reasoning, two analytical writing |
| Limits per year | No limit on how many times you can take the LSAT per year | You can only take the GRE five times per year, with 21 days in between |
| Score choice | No | Yes |
| Ability to see scores before reporting or choosing to cancel | No | Yes |
| Curved | Yes | No |
| Types of schools which accept the exam | Law schools and certain public policy programs | Law schools and other relevant graduate schools |
| Fee | $200 | $205 |
As you can see, when comparing LSAT vs. GRE, the LSAT is far more tailored towards future law students. Deciding which test to take comes down to your skill sets in terms of topics and test taking abilities.
To quickly view the differences between the two tests, you can check out the infographic below!
