Do you need GRE to apply to law school?

Asked by: Kyle Harris  |  Last update: October 28, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes)

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT)® is known as the standard admission test for law school, but more than half of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA)® now also accept Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)® scores for admissions.

Can you apply to law school without LSAT or GRE?

Already, many law schools do not require that first-year applicants submit LSAT scores. That's because the bar association's testing requirement can be interpreted to allow another standardized test, the Graduate Record Examination or G.R.E., to satisfy the requirement.

Is the GRE harder than the LSAT?

For most test-takers, an elite LSAT score is much harder to achieve than an elite GRE score. However, certain characteristics – stronger verbal skills and weaker quant skills, for example – might make the GRE a tougher test for you personally.

Can I submit LSAT instead of GRE?

GRE exceptions or substitutions are only allowed for the programs as listed on our Standardized Testing Requirements page. No other exceptions or substitutions are permitted.

Do law schools look at GRE scores?

Once the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted to allow law schools to accept applicants' scores from the GRE in lieu of the LSAT® in November of 2021, a larger number of law schools followed suit.

Applying to law school with a GRE score

26 related questions found

Can I take both LSAT and GRE?

You may opt to submit both LSAT and GRE scores, but you are not required to submit your GRE scores if you have a reportable LSAT score on file.

Does Harvard Law require LSAT or GRE?

Harvard Law School accepts either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). We do not have a preference for either exam. Similarly, a candidate is not considered more committed by taking both exams or disadvantaged by taking the same exam multiple times.

Do law schools prefer the GRE or LSAT?

The LSAT remains the primary entrance exam for the vast majority of law schools. Although the GRE is growing in popularity and may continue to do so, that doesn't change the fact that the LSAT is the only test currently accepted by ALL law schools.

Is the LSAT harder than the MCAT?

If you're an experienced test-taker used to memorizing complex facts and information ahead of time, the MCAT may be a bit easier for you. Meanwhile, the LSAT could be the simpler option for proficient readers and writers with logical, analytical minds.

What's a good GRE score for law school?

These are the most sought-after Law Schools, and their average LSAT & GRE reflects that. Therefore, we can conclude from this data that an LSAT score above 170 or GRE score above 328 is considered competitive for the most prestigious law schools in the US.

What is the highest LSAT score without studying?

The LSAT ( law school admission test) exam is scored between 120-180; on average, students sitting in the exam can score 145-153 without studying based on various statistics. LSAT is an exam based on the performance of the test takers, which directly means it is a scalar exam.

Has anyone ever scored a 180 on the LSAT?

Getting an LSAT score of 180 or a “perfect score” is extremely rare. According to data published by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), from 2006-2009 of all LSATs administered, approximately 144,000 per year, only 0.1% received a 180.

Is 5 months enough time to study for the LSAT?

If you have other responsibilities and can only dedicate three to four hours a day to the LSAT, you should give yourself five to six months to study. In total, you should study around 300–400 hours for this exam. This amount of time is generally enough to gain a thorough understanding of how to ace the LSAT.

Will the LSAT no longer be required?

The ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar overwhelmingly voted to resubmit a controversial proposal to end by 2025 the longstanding requirement that schools use the Law School Admission Test or other standardized test when admitting new students.

Can you be a lawyer without the LSAT?

The good news is that several prestigious law schools do not require LSAT scores for admission. Instead, they accept the GRE. This provides an alternative path for students who prefer taking the GRE over the LSAT or have already taken the GRE for graduate school admission.

Why take the GRE instead of the LSAT?

The LSAT has difficult logical and analytical reasoning questions; the GRE has math. The GRE is easier to sign up for; the LSAT is more of a known quantity. GRE scores allow you to apply to more graduate programs; LSAT scores allow you to apply to more law schools.

Is a 170 LSAT good?

170 score: Scoring a 170 on the LSAT is almost always considered a good score — that means you are in the 2-3% of test-takers.

What is the average LSAT score?

Data Summary. The average LSAT score for first-time takers was 151, according to scores tracked from 2006-2013. During this period, second-time test takers had the highest LSAT average score of about 152. The average national LSAT score for full-time, first-year JD enrollees for fall 2022 was about 159.

Does GPA or LSAT score matter more?

Keep in mind that just because the LSAT gets more weight in the decision-making process, a GPA well below a school's typical range is still likely to keep you from being admitted to that school. While LSAT is the most important factor, GPA is still significant.

What LSAT score does Harvard look for?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

Is the GRE very difficult?

GRE is one of the most difficult standardized tests used in comparing students joining the graduate school. What makes the GRE tricky is the reading and vocabulary sections.

Is a 172 on the LSAT good?

A 99th percentile score on the LSAT is about a 172, meaning if you get a 172, then you did better than 99% of all test-takers. That's clearly an excellent score. However, even though most people put in a decent effort to prep for the exam, only 1% of test-takers will hit that or above each year.

How hard is a 175 LSAT?

A 175+LSAT test taker will be able to identify specifically what word, idea, or phrase makes an answer choice incorrect. For most questions, there will be multiple problems with each answer choice.

Does Yale Law School require LSAT or GRE?

We do not have a preference among these standardized tests. However, you may submit score(s) from one standardized test only. If you have a reportable LSAT score, you may not submit a GRE score for consideration. If you choose to apply with the LSAT, you must take the LSAT no later than January 2024.