Harvard Law School announced their decision to accept GRE scores in addition to LSAT for their J.D. programs back in 2017. Many other law schools have also followed suit since then. This decision has created confusion amongst potential law students who are unsure of which standardized test to choose.
The question that is often posed by students is which test do law schools prefer? Before I answer this question, let us briefly look at how these two tests differ from one another.
In this Article
Differences between LSAT and GRE
Format
LSAT is a paper-based test, whereas GRE is a computer-based exam.
Structure and content
LSAT is a verbal only test, whereas GRE is both verbal, writing and quantitative (math).
You will not find any mathematics questions on the LSAT.
LSAT will not test you on your vocabulary, whereas GRE will test you on arcane words. LSAT questions are only logical based, whereas GRE questions are a mix of memorization and logic.
Time duration
Both the LSAT and the GRE are almost the same duration i.e., 3.5 hours long each.
Accepted by
LSAT is an exclusive law test that is accepted by all American bar associated approved schools. GRE is accepted by almost every program.
Frequency
LSAT is offered seven times a year, whereas GRE is offered throughout the year.
Limits per year
You can take LSAT as many times as it is offered in any given year, whereas you can take GRE only five times per year with at least 21 days in between any consecutive attempts.
Total score
LSAT has a total score of 180, whereas GRE has a total score of 340 equally divided into two measures, i.e., Verbal and Quantitative. The analytical section of GRE carries 6 points; however, that score is not included in the total but presented separately.
Multiple attempts
If you take multiple LSAT tests, you will have to report all your previous scores with your application, whereas you can choose which one GRE score you wish to send to a law school.
Section-adaptive
GRE is a section adaptive test, which means that depending on how good or bad you do on the first section of a given measure, the next section will be easier or harder. LSAT is not adaptive in any way.
Types of school which accept the test
GRE is a standardized graduate test that can be used to apply to any graduate program. LSAT is only applicable to Law Schools.
Which test do law schools prefer?
No Law School prefers one test over the other. In fact, both of these tests are equally representative of a student’s ability to study law.
In fact, Spivey Consulting interviewed a number of deans of admissions from various reputable law schools and asked them the same question. Their answers were vividly simple – all Law schools weigh the LSAT and the GRE equally. They were even asked if they will limit the number of applicants who have taken the GRE. In response, they said that they do not limit the number of students who have applied with their GRE scores; however, they have accepted fewer students with GRE scores simply because they had fewer GRE applicants. Therefore, any discrepancy between the number of accepted GRE and LSAT applicants is because of the lower number of GRE applicants who apply in the first place.
The sole purpose of accepting both GRE and LSAT is to help students cut costs and save time. Simply put, Law schools want to increase the number of applicants to their programs so that they have a wide variety to choose from.
Moreover, if you apply with both the LSAT and GRE, some law schools will only consider your LSAT score. Hence, there is no reason why you should submit both.
The bottom line is that you should first figure out if the school of your choice accepts GRE or not. If they do, then you have two options. You should go with the test that you are more comfortable with.
Which test should you take?
Once you have figured out whether a particular school accepts both LSAT and GRE, you should ask yourself which test is better suited to your abilities.
As mentioned previously, GRE is a different test than the LSAT in that it tests you on your mathematical understanding as well.
LSAT is a better choice if you lack mathematical prowess and don’t feel particularly happy about studying it.
Moreover, keep in mind that GRE also tests you on your vocabulary. This means that you will have to go out of your way to memorize difficult words that may appear on the test. LSAT has no such provision.
However, here is something important to consider, if you plan on applying to multiple programs and not just law, then GRE is the option for you as it can also be used for admissions into other graduate programs besides law. LSAT in this regard is different since it can only be used for law school applications.
The format of both tests may help your decision, knowing that GRE is a computer-based test, whereas LSAT is paper-based. Are you more comfortable with typing your answers or writing them?
What if the availability of the exam poses a risk to your application schedule? If you want to take a test any given month, then GRE is the one you should consider. LSAT, on the other hand, can only be taken seven times a year. This may have some bearing on your decision.
Furthermore, if you are an international student, then you also need to know whether your country offers LSAT. In this regard, GRE is the more common test that is administered all around the globe. You may find that LSAT is not provided in your country, in which case you have no other option but to take GRE.
In conclusion, there is no concrete evidence whether law schools over others prefer one test. I have yet to see a school that explicitly states their preference. However, be sure to look into the admissions policy of the law school you are interested in. You can also email your query to the admissions office if you don’t find a definitive answer on their website.
Most importantly, your consideration should be based on the contents, format, and availability of the two tests. Ask yourself which test is more suited towards your abilities and also factor in other constraints. Once you have figured that out, then all that is left is the actual preparation. You don’t want to fret over what happens in the admissions office while preparing for the test. Research both and find out the details before making the decision. Good luck!