As law schools adapt, an increasing number accept different entrance exams, complicating what was once a clear-cut choice. With the recent law school trend toward the GRE, the LSAT vs GRE discussion is increasingly pertinent to applicants considering law versus other advanced study paths. Understanding the differences between these tests can help students make better-informed choices when planning their academic careers.
The LSAT — or Law School Admission Test — has historically been the gold standard for law school admissions. It is a test specifically crafted to measure skills integral to the study of law, like logical reasoning, analytical reasoning (also known as logic games) and reading comprehension. There’s no math section, which many students see as a plus, but it has a strict format and a near-exclusively logic focus that many require significant preparation for.
The GRE — or Graduate Record Examination — was initially created for general graduate school admissions. Its sections include verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The verbal section tests vocabulary in context, and the two quantitative sections test algebra, data interpretation and geometry. For mathier students or those seeking more flexibility in potential career paths, the GRE may be the more attractive option.
If you’re comparing LSAT vs GRE, the main difference is in specialization. The LSAT has a laser beam focus on legal aptitude, while the GRE gauges a wider-funnel set of academic skills. This makes the GRE particularly appealing for applicants at the margins of law — those pursuing joint degrees, such as JD/MBA or JD/MPP, or unsure if law is their only career goal.
But not all law schools value these exams the same. More than half of all ABA-accredited schools now accept the GRE, but some still prefer, where LSAT numbers are concerned, especially at top 50 places. In an LSAT vs GRE head-to-head, researching each of your target schools’ admissions policies is critical to understanding how they perceive each test.
Another big thing to keep in mind is the format of the test. The structure is inflexible—you have to answer questions in order and under stringent time constraints. The GRE, by contrast, lets you skip and return to questions, and allows for an on-screen calculator. For test-takers that thrive in a less crunched environment, this flexibility can be quite the boon.
If you want to break it down a bit, the LSAT vs GRE debate is not about whether one test is better than the other academically, but whether the test is a good fit for you and your ambitions. Finding the right exam can help you stand out in today’s increasingly elastic admissions realm, no matter how convinced you are that you want to go to law school or if your decision on that front is still up in the air.
Henry classen is the author of this article. To know about Law school preparation guide please visit our website: lsac.org