Is it better to take the LSAT or GRE for law school?

Asked by: Napoleon Kihn  |  Last update: January 10, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (7 votes)

GRE scores allow you to apply to more graduate programs; LSAT scores allow you to apply to more law schools. The GRE has fewer practice tests but lets you retake it more often and more times total. For most applicants, this choice will come down to which test can give you the most useful score to apply to law school.

Which is harder the LSAT or GRE?

Most people who have taken both the LSAT and the GRE would agree that the LSAT is more difficult. The GRE tests information that you can memorize whereas the LSAT does not, the GRE does not have logic games, and the LSAT is unique from any other exam whereas the GRE is similar to the SAT or the ACT.

Do you need LSAT and GRE for law school?

Though the LSAT is still required for admission at a majority of J.D. programs in the U.S., many programs have embraced the GRE. Some of the most prestigious law schools in the nation now give J.D. applicants a choice between the LSAT and the GRE, including the following high-profile academic institutions.

Can you get into law school with the GRE?

As of May 2019, 26 law schools accept GRE scores from applicants. These schools have cited studies showing that GRE performance is a reliable indicator of their students' first-year law school grades.

Do law schools care more about LSAT or GPA?

While LSAT is the most important factor, GPA is still significant. When you get down into schools lower in the rankings (outside the top 10 schools), numbers alone become an even better predictor of how likely you are to get into a specific school. LSAT is still the more important number than GPA.

LSAT vs GRE for Law School Applications

24 related questions found

Can a 3.0 GPA get into law school?

So generally, if you're trying to get into the top schools, a GPA below 3.6 will be considered low. But to answer the question what GPA do you need to get into law school, any law school, then the answer is at least a 2.5. That is realistically the lowest GPA you can have to get into law school.

Can the GRE replace the LSAT?

A better GRE score won't replace your current LSAT score, but a better LSAT score will replace your current LSAT score, practically speaking. Almost all law schools use your highest LSAT score.

Is the GRE like the LSAT?

The two tests are fundamentally different in that LSAT provides one composite score while the GRE also breaks out scores in three categories (analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning).

Can I get into law school without taking the LSAT?

Every year, more and more law schools no longer require the law school admissions test (LSAT) as a requirement for the law school admission process.

Does Harvard law take 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.

What's a good GRE score for law school?

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.

Is there math on the LSAT?

Does the LSAT have math? The LSAT is not a subject-based text and does not have traditional mathematics sections. There are, however, numerals present and mathematical concepts may arise in one or more of logic, reasoning, and even comprehension sections.

How long should I study for the LSAT?

For most students, a three-month period of preparation (of approximately 20 hours per week) is a great goal. This is, of course, an estimate; most students are not all students. To find out how much LSAT prep time you're likely to need, we recommend taking a practice LSAT to get a baseline score.

Is the LSAT the hardest test?

Over the years, we have heard a number of pervasive myths discussed as people attempt to compare one particular LSAT administration to another, perhaps the most common of which is that one test is typically easier, harder, or somehow different than the others. The truth is that every LSAT is more or less the same.

Is it worth going to a low ranked law school?

It is far from true that all graduates of lower-ranked law schools are doomed to scratch out a living. Earning a law degree from any reputable program is an impressive achievement. A glance at the bios for any major law firm will reveal many successful lawyers who attended low-ranked schools.

How hard is the LSAT?

With roughly 100,000 LSATs administered in the past year, that would suggest that about 30 people received a perfect score. When only 30 people achieve this score out of 100,000 test takers, the inference is that this is a very, very difficult exam!

How many times can I take LSAT?

How many times may I take the LSAT? Starting with the September 2019 test administration, test takers are permitted to take the LSAT: Three times in a single testing year (the next testing cycle begins with the August 2021 test and goes through the June 2022 test).

How good is a 163 on the LSAT?

From your raw scores, the test is graded on an LSAT score scale from 120-180. The average LSAT score is about 150. To get into a top 14 law school, you need to score above 162, and to get into a top 50 law school, you need 154 or above.

Is a 3.0 good in law school?

At times, employers will even specify a GPA cut-off in the application process. They will indicate that they will not consider any applicant whose GPA is not at least, for example, a 3.0. Or they will not consider any applicant who is not in the top ten percent or top twenty-five percent of their law school class.

Can you get into Harvard law with a 3.5 GPA?

Earning a high GPA isnt enough. As the Harvard Law School statistics indicate, even those with a 3.5 GPA or better who dont do well on the LSAT have only about a four-percent chance of admission. Consider some additional statistics.

How much does the LSAT cost?

If I've already taken the LSAT and want to take it again, what would it cost? The cost of the LSAT is the same for both first-time and repeat test takers. For the August 2021-June 2022 testing years, LSAT registration costs $200.

Is LSAT all multiple-choice?

The LSAT is comprised of five sections of multiple-choice questions: Logical Reasoning (two sections), Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and an unscored Variable Section. A Writing Sample is administered at the end of the test.

Is the LSAT or SAT harder?

Both the LSAT and the SAT are timed exams, and each of them clock in at about three hours (not including the essays), but the time limits on the LSAT are much more challenging than those on the SAT.