What are the alternatives to the LSAT?

Asked by: Monserrat Hodkiewicz  |  Last update: December 15, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (6 votes)

The most common alternative test accepted by law schools is the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). Some schools may also accept the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or other standardized tests. 3. Is it easier to get into law schools that do not require the LSAT?

What can you take instead of LSAT?

Complete the GRE

Many law schools that have waived the LSAT offer students the option to take the GRE instead. The GRE is a general standardized test that applicants take for graduate school.

What is the alternative test to the LSAT?

The Council of the ABA Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar generally authorized law schools to accept the GRE, administered by the Educational Testing Service, as a “valid and reliable” LSAT admissions test alternative in November 2021.

What is going to replace the LSAT?

Test Structure Change: Starting in August 2024, the LSAT will transition to two Logical Reasoning (LR) sections and one Reading Comprehension (RC) section, plus one unscored section of either LR or RC that enables us to test questions for future tests.

Can I get into law school without LSAT?

While many law schools still require potential students to take the LSAT and submit their scores, there is a growing trend away from this requirement. Today there are several highly respected law schools that no longer require this specific type of test, and more schools are following suit each year.

Should I Take the LSAT or GRE for Law School? | GRE vs LSAT

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Why is the LSAT no longer required?

Those who want to get rid of the test requirement have argued that the LSAT is a flawed measure and a barrier for minority would-be lawyers because on average they score below white test-takers. A 2019 study found the average score for Black LSAT takers was 142, compared with 153 for white and Asian test-takers.

What is harder, GRE or 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.

Are law schools dropping the LSAT?

Update: As of spring 2023, the ABA has paused this change to their LSAT requirement. Beginning in the fall of 2025, law school applicants may be able to skip the formidable task of studying for and taking the LSAT.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. 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.

What is the hardest part of the LSAT?

Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games)

This may not seem like a lot, but with a 35-minute time limit, students will only have about eight and a half minutes to complete each individual “logic game.” These “logic games” are one of if not the most notorious sections of the LSAT because they are meant to trick the test-taker.

Are they getting rid of the LSAT in 2025?

The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.

What LSAT score do you need for law school?

According to U.S. News, law school admissions experts recommend striving for at least a 150; however, for a top-ranking law school, you should aim for a 160 or better. For a Top 10 law school, a 170 or more is desired.

Can the LSAT be taken at home?

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, LSAC moved quickly to offer the online, live, remote-proctored LSAT. As LSAC moved to return to in-person testing in August 2023, LSAT takers expressed their preference to keep the online, live, remote-proctored environment as an option.

Can you get into Harvard law without LSAT?

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 do most people get on LSAT without studying?

Average LSAT Score Without Studying

You can expect to score between 145 and 153 when taking the LSAT without studying. This would generally fall within the 26th to 53rd percentile. Your individual score will vary depending on your familiarity with aptitude, logical, and reading comprehension tests.

Which part of the LSAT is the easiest?

Practicing problems, as well as developing an understanding of basic logic will help you score high on these sections. The easiest LSAT section on which to improve is the 'games'. The Analytical Reasoning or “games” section is frequently considered the most difficult part of the LSAT.

What was Obama's LSAT score?

The easiest to predict, by far, is Barack Obama's score, mostly because we have some data. Based on admissions records, we can deduce — somewhat reliably — that Barry-O scored between the 94th and 98th percentile on his LSAT. Using today's grading system, that would place him somewhere around a 170.

Is a 135 on the LSAT bad?

Average LSAT Score

LSAT passing score of at least 165 on the LSAT. In recent years, the average LSAT score has stayed at around 151-152. Correspondingly, applicants should aim to score 151 at a minimum to get into an accredited law school because of how competitive and challenging admissions are.

What is the hardest law school to get into?

According to Lawschooli, the ten hardest law schools with the lowest acceptance rates are:
  • Yale University: 6.9%
  • Stanford University: 9.72%
  • University of Pennsylvania: 14.6%
  • University of Virginia: 15.3%
  • Harvard University: 15.6%
  • Columbia University: 16.8%
  • University of Chicago: 17.5%
  • Duke University: 20.2%

How to go to law school without LSAT?

The most common alternative test accepted by law schools is the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). Some schools may also accept the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or other standardized tests.

How expensive is the LSAT?

What fees are associated with the LSAT? It costs $222 to take the LSAT and receive one free score report. In addition, subscription to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required for application for most law schools. This subscription costs $200 and includes on score report for $45.

Is Yale getting rid of the LSAT?

‍The LSAT isn't going away.

But it won't take effect until 2025. And remember: all we're doing here is removing a requirement to use an admissions test.

Does the LSAT have math?

No, the LSAT does not explicitly test math. You may see some questions about percentages in the logical reasoning (arguments) section, and some analytical reasoning questions (i.e., logic games) may resemble math problems, but these questions are designed to test your logical reasoning, not your mathematical knowledge.

Is LSAT as hard as MCAT?

The difficulty of the LSAT vs MCAT is subjective and depends on an individual's strengths and interests. Some may find the MCAT more challenging due to its extensive scientific content, while others may struggle more with the LSAT because of its emphasis on logical reasoning and comprehension skills.