Should You Take the LSAT or the GRE?
Although the GRE is not yet accepted by all law schools, applicants whose strengths align better with the GRE should think seriously about choosing it over the LSAT.
Background
In early November 2021, the American Bar Association announced that it will permit accredited law schools in the U.S. to accept GRE scores in place of LSAT scores from J.D. applicants. The ruling represents a major victory for ETS, which administers the GRE and has sought official recognition by the ABA since 2016, when the University of Arizona became the first school to accept GRE scores from J.D. applicants. The move was so controversial that the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), which administers the LSAT, threatened to expel the university from the organization. Arizona Law survived the ordeal, setting into motion a growing trend. The next year, Harvard Law, a perennial top-3 school, followed suit. Now, just five years after Arizona’s decision, the total number of U.S. law schools accepting the GRE has increased to 80.
Two key events in the narrative unfolded in 2021. First, the ABA commissioned a study on the potential role of the GRE in law school admissions. The resulting report, released in September, seemed to bode poorly for GRE proponents. It found “an insufficient basis for a clear recommendation that the GRE and LSAT can be used interchangeably and successfully for admissions to any/all law schools.” However, the report added that, given “certain plausible assumptions…it is possible that the GRE and LSAT might be used defensibly and interchangeably for law school decisions.”
The recent announcement states that the ABA’s Council on Legal Education “voted to permit law schools to accept GRE test scores from applicants in lieu of an LSAT score.” The immediate effect of this decision is to revise standard 503, which had prevented any program from admitting more than 10% of a given year’s applicants without an LSAT score. Thus, the report gives official blessing to the growing practice, removing all restrictions on how many applicants a law school can admit based on GRE scores.
Weighing the Differences between LSAT and GRE
What does this decision mean for current J.D. applicants? So far, the GRE has been slow to catch on. Over the last 3 years, fewer than one percent of enrolled students have submitted GRE scores. This may be, in part, because applicants perceive a bias among law schools in favor of the LSAT, despite overt statements by law schools that they view the two tests as equal.
For now, while the LSAT is accepted at all law schools, the GRE is accepted by less than half of J.D. programs. While we believe the ABA’s recent decision will likely lead to more programs accepting the GRE for future admissions cycles, submitting GRE scores will significantly limit the programs to which an applicant may apply this year. (That said, the list of such programs is diverse, both in terms of geography and overall ranking.)
Several differences between the exams are worth noting:
The GRE tests both math and vocabulary, but the LSAT does not. Indeed, nearly half of the GRE involves math, ranging from pre-algebra to statistics, content entirely absent from the LSAT. Moreover, these questions tend to be posed in tricky ways, necessitating careful preparation, even for those confident in their math skills. And the GRE Verbal test requires knowing obscure, sometimes even recondite vocabulary words. All of this requires months of thorough study. On the other hand, the LSAT’s infamous Analytical Reasoning section comprises “logic games,” which can be mastered but requires intensive and specialized training.
The GRE is administered more often than the LSAT. While the GRE is offered on a continuous, rolling basis, 365 days a year, the LSAT is offered just six times a year.
The GRE is a considerably longer exam, in terms of testing experience. While the LSAT Flex will last about 2.5 hours (plus a 35-minute writing sample, taken separately), the GRE is a nearly 4-hour ordeal.
The tests have different limits on how often they can be taken: GRE test-takers are allowed to take the GRE once every 21 days and up to five times within a 365-day period. LSAT test-takers are permitted to take the test three times within a single testing year, with a lifetime limit of seven attempts.
While GRE reports only the scores you choose, LSAT typically includes all your test scores. This is true unless you choose to exercise the "Score Preview" option for your first LSAT exam. Some schools, such as Yale Law, attempt to level the playing field between GRE and LSAT by requiring GRE test-takers to submit all their scores.
Takeaways for Law Applicants
While you should be aware of some of these logistical differences between the exams, your decision about taking the GRE or LSAT primarily comes down to which test will allow you to exhibit your own strengths, so you can impress admissions committees with a score that stands out from the increasing number of law school applicants. Does math come easily to you, and are you willing to memorize an extensive list of vocabulary words? Then the non-traditional GRE route may be to your advantage. Do you find mastering arcane logic games less daunting? Then you may find the traditional LSAT route more beneficial.
If you plan to apply for a J.D. program, we advise taking a full practice test of both the GRE and LSAT to determine the best fit. Doing so will help you identify strengths and weaknesses, map the content you’ll need to master, and learn how to pace yourself across the different sections.
Our expert GRE and LSAT tutors are here to help as you navigate the daunting terrain of law school admissions tests. Get in touch to talk about our sophisticated approach to GRE and LSAT prep, or to help you decide which test will best position you for success in your law school applications.