What's the difference between the LSAT vs. GRE exams? Which one should I take?

Are you thinking about going to grad school? Or maybe law school is your calling!

Either way, you’ve probably looked at admission requirements for schools in the US and come across the LSAT and GRE. But what's the difference between the two exams?

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Understanding the differences between LSAT vs. GRE can help you pick the exam best suited to your strengths and goals.

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• The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an exam to test your knowledge and skills for admission into law school.

• The LSAT is a key test for admission to most law schools, along with other factors like undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and transcripts.

• Usually taken by college graduates who wish to enroll in law school in the US and Canada.

Test Format and Questions

The LSAT consists of 3 scored sections and 2 unscored sections.Out of the 5 total sections, 4 feature multiple-choice questions.

Scored

1. Logical Reasoning

• Two sections

• Analyze, evaluate, and construct logical arguments by using critical thinking skills

2. Reading Comprehension

• One section

• Read, understand, and draw meaning from complex texts

Unscored

1. Experimental Section

• One section

• Resembles either the logical reasoning or reading comprehension sections

• Used to test out questions for future exams — you won't know which section is experimental

2. Argumentative Writing

• One section

• Write a logical argument based on a debatable issue

• Take a position, write an essay, and also address the opposing position in your essay

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• The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized exam for admission into some graduate programs.

• It can be used for admission into various graduate programs, including master's and PhD programs, ranging from science and technology to the liberal arts and, more recently, even some law schools.

• Recently, many universities have begun dropping the GRE requirement for some programs.

Test Format and Questions

Students can opt for either the GRE General or GRE Subject based on their field of study and school admission requirements.

1. GRE General: A general test for graduate admissions across different fields.

2. GRE Subject: A subject-specific test for assessing knowledge in mathematics, physics, and psychology.

Let's take a closer look at GRE General!

GRE General tests your knowledge and skills in three sections:

1. Analytical Writing tests your writing skills and ability to explain and support ideas, build arguments, and hold clear discussions.

   

2. Verbal Reasoning tests your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written material.Measures skills like summarizing and recognizing word and concept relationships.

   

3. Quantitative Reasoning tests your ability to solve math problems and apply concepts from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, etc.

   

LSAT vs. GRE Acceptance

LSAT

• Designed specifically for law school

• Accepted by all law schools in the US and Canada

• Quebec law schools don't require the LSAT

GRE

• Standardized test for admission into some graduate programs

• Some universities have dropped the GRE requirement for admission into some graduate programs

• Since 2016, over 80 law schools in the US have begun accepting GRE for admissions

LSAT vs. GRE Test Availability & Limits

LSAT

• Can be taken 5 times within a reportable score period of 5 years, with a lifetime limit of 7 attempts

• Offered about 8-9 times a year

GRE

• Can be taken 5 times in a 12-month period with a 21 day wait period between each attempt

• Available throughout the year

LSAT vs. GRE Scoring

LSAT

• Scores are valid for 5 years

• All scores within the reportable period (5 years) are reported to law schools

• All questions are weighted equally with no penalties for wrong answers

• The raw score (total number of correct answers) is converted to an LSAT scale that goes from 120-180

GRE

• Scores are valid for 5 years

• You can choose to send only your best scores

Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning:

• All questions are weighted equally

• Both sections have 2 parts. The second part's difficulty adjusts based on performance in the first part

• The raw score (total number of correct answers), is converted into a scaled score ranging from 130 to 170

Analytical Writing:

• The writing section is scored on a 6 point holistic scale

LSAT vs. GRE Test Delivery

LSAT

• A computerized test

• Can be taken at test centers or remotely (for the 2024-2025 testing year)

GRE

• A computerized test

• Can be taken at ETS-authorized test centers or remotely from home

LSAT vs. GRE Accessibility

LSAT

Test takers can request accommodations like:

• Additional time and breaks

• Braille

• Use of a scribe or human reader

GRE

Test takers can request accommodations like:

• Extra time and breaks

• Adaptive keyboards, human reader and scribe, interpreter, alternate test formats, etc.

LSAT vs. GRE Fees

LSAT

• Test fee: USD $238

• Credential Assembly Service (CAS)subscription: USD $207

• CAS report: USD $45

• CAS is required by most accredited law schools in the US

• Students with financial needs can apply for a fee waiver

GRE

• Test fee: USD $250 with extra fees for additional services

• Students with financial needs can request a fee reduction

Consider these factors when choosing the right fit for you between the LSAT vs. GRE.

Goals

Keep in mind that the LSAT is specifically designed for law school admissions and the GRE is for a wider range of graduate programs.

1. What is your career goal? Is your mind set only on law school or are you considering other graduate school programs?

2. Which schools do you plan to apply to?

3. Do the law schools you're interested in accept both LSAT and GRE scores?

4. Is GRE required for admission to the graduate program you're interested in?

Strengths & Weaknesses

Based on your skills and abilities, you might find one exam more suited to your strengths:

• LSAT: logical reasoning, read and analyze complex text

• GRE: math skills (quantitative reasoning), language skills (writing and verbal reasoning sections)

Between the LSAT’s focus on logic and critical thinking and the GRE’s emphasis on math and language skills, where do you shine?

Imagine you're a student counsellor guiding students interested in graduate school and law school. The following students are having difficulty deciding between the LSAT vs. the GRE:

• Sasha is interested in becoming a lawyer, but she also enjoys computer science.

• Elle has an undergrad degree in criminal justice and loves to debate. She wants to become a lawyer and has specific law schools in mind that she intends to apply to.

• Harvey is a political science major. He's passionate about law and excels at solving math problems. He's open to applying to any law school.

Whether you decide to go to law school or graduate school, you've taken the first step by learning the difference between the LSAT vs. GRE.

What's Next?

Use the resources and action items below to decide between the LSAT vs. GRE: