Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: In the LSAT vs GRE decision, the LSAT is accepted by every ABA-accredited law school, while more than 130 accept the GRE. Choose the LSAT if law school is your only goal. Consider the GRE if every school on your list accepts it or you are weighing other graduate programs. Take a practice test of each first.
Why the LSAT vs GRE Choice Matters
If LSAT Logical Reasoning or Reading Comprehension questions keep tripping you up in practice, 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 give up on law school. This is where the old tried and true GRE comes in. The University of Arizona became the first law school to open admissions to all GRE test takers in 2016. [1] Today, more than 130 ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE. [2] Although the GRE is one of the most common tests used for graduate schools, it is newer to the law school scene, and it tests math and vocabulary skills the LSAT does not. 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 abilities 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 help you pick the right test, I have expanded on the differences between the LSAT and GRE, how to make the choice according to your interests and abilities, and how LSAT vs. GRE has so far fared in the JD admissions process. [2]
LSAT vs GRE: Key Differences
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:
| Criteria | LSAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Digital, at a test center or remotely | Computer-delivered, at a test center or at home |
| Exams administered | Several test dates each year | Year-round, on many dates |
| Duration | About 2.5 hours for four 35-minute multiple-choice sections and a break, plus a separate 50-minute writing task | About 1 hour and 58 minutes |
| Law schools accepted by | All American Bar Association approved schools | More than 130 ABA-accredited law schools |
| 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 |
| Unscored variable section | Included | Not included |
| Breakdown of Sections | Four multiple-choice sections (two Logical Reasoning, one Reading Comprehension, one unscored variable section), plus LSAT Argumentative Writing | Five sections: one Analytical Writing task, two Verbal Reasoning sections, two Quantitative Reasoning sections |
| Limits per year | Repeat limits apply; check LSAC’s current policy | You can only take the GRE five times per year, with 21 days in between |
| Score choice | No | Yes |
| Widely accepted by business and other graduate programs | No | Yes |
| Writing sample taken separately from the main test | Yes | No |
| Types of schools which accept the exam | Law schools and certain public policy programs | Law schools and other relevant graduate schools |
| Score scale | 120 to 180 | 130 to 170 per scored section, plus 0 to 6 for writing |
What Changed on the LSAT and GRE
If you looked into these tests a few years ago, both look different now. LSAC removed the Analytical Reasoning section, better known as logic games, starting with the August 2024 LSAT. Today the LSAT has four 35-minute multiple-choice sections: two Logical Reasoning sections, one Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored variable section, with a 10-minute break between the second and third sections. [3]
The writing portion, now called LSAT Argumentative Writing, is taken separately and remotely. You get 15 minutes of prewriting analysis and 35 minutes to write your essay. It is unscored, but you must complete it before LSAC releases your score. [3] For background on how the test moved online, see our overview of the digital LSAT.
The GRE also got shorter. The GRE General Test now takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes, with one Analytical Writing task followed by two Verbal Reasoning and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. The second Verbal and Quantitative sections adapt to how you performed on the first. [4]
Which Law Schools Accept the GRE?
Every ABA-accredited law school accepts the LSAT. The GRE list is shorter but growing: ETS reports that more than 130 ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE, including many of the nation’s top-ranked programs. [2] Before you commit to the GRE, confirm that every school on your law school list accepts it, and read each policy closely. Some schools ask you to disclose any LSAT scores you have already earned, even if you apply with the GRE.
Score reporting also works differently. LSAT scores range from 120 to 180, and your LSAT score report includes all reportable tests from the current and prior five testing years, including absences and cancellations. [5] With the GRE, you can choose which scores to send. If you are torn, remember that the LSAT keeps every law school door open, while the GRE works best when every school on your list accepts it.
Pros and Cons of the LSAT vs GRE
Each test has clear tradeoffs. Weigh them against your goals and the schools on your list.
LSAT Pros and Cons
- Pro: Every ABA-accredited law school accepts it, so you never have to worry about a school on your list rejecting your score.
- Pro: It tests the close reading and reasoning you will use in law school, and practicing for it can prepare you for 1L coursework.
- Con: It is useful mainly for law school, so it will not help if you later apply to other graduate programs.
- Con: Law schools see all of your reportable scores and cancellations from the past five testing years.
GRE Pros and Cons
- Pro: One score can support applications to law school and to other graduate programs.
- Pro: The test is shorter, and you can choose which scores to send.
- Con: Not every law school accepts it, which can limit your list.
- Con: It includes a Quantitative Reasoning section, which may require extra prep if you have not taken math in a while.
Making Your Decision
At the end of the day, LSAT vs. GRE comes down to your abilities, your future plans, and the requirements of the schools on your list. If you’re confident in your logical reasoning skills and know you’re applying only to law school, the LSAT remains the standard choice, since every ABA-accredited law school accepts it. But if you want to keep your options open for other graduate programs, or if you perform better on math and vocabulary than on logical reasoning, the GRE can be a smart alternative.
Take a Diagnostic of Each Test
Before you choose, take a timed, full-length practice test for each exam. LSAC offers official LSAT practice through LawHub, and ETS offers official GRE practice tests. Compare your results with the medians at the schools you want, then decide which test gives you more room to improve. If your practice scores are close, the LSAT is usually the safer choice for a law-only list.
Think About Your Timeline
Plan to finish testing well before you apply. Many law schools review applications on a rolling basis, so having a score in hand by late summer or early fall lets you apply early. Our law school application timeline shows how testing fits with your personal statement, recommendations, and resume. Once you have a score you are happy with, read our guide on what to do after the LSAT.
Consider Your Long-Term Plans
If you are also considering a joint degree, a public policy program, or another graduate path, one GRE score may serve several applications. If law school is your only goal and you enjoy the LSAT’s reasoning questions, the LSAT is the most direct path, and every law school will understand your score. Whichever test you choose, your score is only one part of your application. Your GPA, personal statement, recommendations, and resume all shape how law schools read your file, so leave time to build each one. If you are still in college, our guide to majors for law school explains how your coursework can support your application.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Choosing between the LSAT and GRE is only one step in building a competitive law school application. Our expert team of Former Admissions Officers and Graduate Coaches can help you weigh your options, craft a clear application strategy, and make every part of your profile get noticed.
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