GRE vs. LSAT for Law School Admissions: Which Is Better?
Over the years, several applicants have asked me whether they should take the LSAT or the GRE. I almost always advise students to take the LSAT, although the GRE can make sense for applicants in certain specific situations.
After speaking with my team of expert law school admissions consultants about both exams, I put together this guide to break down the differences between the two exams and help you determine which one makes the most sense for your application.
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Why Juris Education Recommends Law Applicants Take the LSAT Over the GRE
We recommend the LSAT over the GRE because every ABA-approved law school accepts it, and it remains the far more established test in law school admissions. The Educational Testing Service (ETS), the organization that administers the GRE, reports that 130+ ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE, out of the 198 ABA-approved law schools in the United States.
Recent admissions data also shows how much more commonly schools use the LSAT: for the 2025 first-year entering class, 41,847 students were accepted with LSAT scores, compared with 531 students accepted with GRE scores. Considering the LSAT's much broader acceptance, we recommend it to students who want to keep the widest range of law schools open.
Beyond these reasons, our law school admissions counselors have seen many more students be successful with the LSAT than with the GRE. In a webinar, Juris counselor Tamar Alexanian, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, says:
"I have not seen the GRE be successful for my students yet, but that’s not to say that it can’t. There's much less data to know what kind of schools are looking for a GRE score. I think law schools haven't totally figured out how they're thinking about it yet because it’s still so new."
Tamar brings up a great point about the GRE being new. The American Bar Association only just approved the GRE for law school admissions in 2021. Standardized tests for professional graduate programs aim to forecast how well an applicant will do in school.
Since many law schools only recently started accepting the GRE, there's not enough data yet to know how good an indicator it is of law school success. Law schools have been using the LSAT for admissions since 1948, and law schools trust it.
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Do Law School Admissions Committees Treat GRE and LSAT Scores Equally?
Law schools that accept both the GRE and LSAT imply they weigh the scores equally, but in practice, the LSAT is still the gold standard. For example, on its student affairs page on entrance exams, Northwestern Law School says the following about the GRE:
“At this time, only around half of the ABA-accredited law schools will accept the GRE score for admissions, and for that reason it is recommended you take the LSAT, except in specific circumstances.”
I echo the advice Northwestern Law School gives its applicants that unless you have a very strong reason for choosing the GRE, the LSAT is the preferred choice for any law school applicant.
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GRE vs. LSAT Compared
| Test Factor |
LSAT |
GRE |
| Accepted by Law Schools |
Every ABA-approved law school accepts it. It's the only admissions test every ABA-approved J.D. program accepts. |
More than 130 law schools accept it, including many highly selective programs, though not every ABA-approved law school does |
| Designed For |
LSAC designed it specifically for law school admission to measure the skills that predict success in legal education. |
ETS designed it as a general graduate admissions test, and graduate, business, public policy, law, and other programs use it. |
| Main Skills Tested |
Tests logical reasoning, critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and argumentative writing. |
Tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. |
| Math Tested |
No dedicated math section. The scored multiple-choice test consists of Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension. |
Yes. Quantitative Reasoning covers mathematical problem-solving and data analysis with an on-screen calculator. |
| Current Test Structure |
The current LSAT format consists of four 35-minute multiple-choice sections: two scored Logical Reasoning sections, one scored Reading Comprehension section, and one unscored LR or RC section. |
Five sections: one Analytical Writing section, two Verbal Reasoning sections, and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. |
| Writing Component |
Candidates complete the Argumentative Writing separately online and it does not count toward the 120-180 LSAT score. First-time test takers need an approved writing sample before LSAC releases their score. |
Analytical Writing is part of the GRE itself and receives a separate 0-6 score. |
| Test Length |
Four 35-minute sections plus a 10-minute intermission; LSAC says standard test takers should expect the testing process to take approximately three hours. |
Approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. |
| Adaptive Testing |
Not section-level adaptive. Test content does not change based on how well you perform on an earlier scored section. |
Section-level adaptive. Performance on the first Verbal or Quantitative section determines the difficulty level of the second section for that measure. |
| Scoring Scale |
One primary score from 120-180. All scored multiple-choice questions carry equal weight, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. |
Three scores: 130-170 Verbal, 130-170 Quantitative, and 0-6 Analytical Writing. |
| Test Availability |
LSAC offers the test during specific administrations throughout the year, and each administration generally includes several testing days. |
ETS offers the test year-round rather than during a few fixed annual administrations. |
| At-Home Testing |
As of the August 2026 LSAT, testing is moving to test centers for almost all candidates, with limited remote-testing exceptions. |
Available at home or at a test center. Where available, ETS offers at-home GRE testing around the clock, seven days a week. |
| Retake Rules |
You can retake the LSAT up to five times during the current reportable score period and seven times over a lifetime. Canceled scores generally count toward these limits. |
Can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period. |
| Score Validity |
Reportable for the current testing year plus the previous five testing years. |
Scores are reportable for five years following the test date. |
| Control Over Which Scores Schools See |
When applicants use CAS, law schools receive their reportable LSAT history, including multiple scores, offering less control. |
ETS ScoreSelect allows applicants to choose which GRE test administrations to send. However, individual law schools can require applicants to disclose all GRE scores. |
| Score Release |
LSAC releases scores on a scheduled date for each administration, typically several weeks after testing. |
Official scores are normally available 8-10 days after the test date. |
| Estimated Prep Time to Reach a Competitive Score |
Most applicants should plan to study for 3–6 months, or roughly 250–350 hours total, depending on their diagnostic score and target. Applicants aiming for a higher score increase will generally need more time. What qualifies as a good LSAT score depends on the law school, though a 160+ is generally considered good and 170+ excellent. |
Most GRE test-takers prepare for approximately 1–3 months, according to ETS. The time needed to reach a competitive score depends on your starting Verbal and Quantitative scores and the expectations of the law schools you’re targeting. |
Sources: Law School Admission Council and ETS
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Specific Situations When You Might Want to Consider Choosing the GRE
For most law school applications, the LSAT is the better choice over the GRE. The GRE is more of an alternative for certain applicants who fall under a specific set of circumstances.
Before you consider taking the GRE, first confirm whether every law program you’re planning on applying to accepts it. If even one of your target schools only accepts the LSAT, I don’t recommend taking the GRE.
That being said, these are the few cases to consider submitting a GRE score:
- If you’re applying to a joint program, like a JD/MBA, several schools allow you to submit only the GRE. For example, the University of Chicago Law School and Booth School of Business offer a joint degree and specify that: “Applicants must submit a valid GRE, GMAT or LSAT score. We do not require an LSAT score, but if one exists you are required to provide it.”
- If you already have a valid and competitive GRE score from prior grad school applications.
- Some students who have taken several practice LSAT and GRE tests, consistently score higher on the GRE, and choose to submit that score instead. If this is the case for you, I strongly recommend studying with LSAT tutors to improve your score.
I want to emphasize that the LSAT is the gold standard for law school admissions. In the event that it comes down to you and another similarly qualified candidate competing for the same seat, it is very possible that an admissions counselor may look more favorably on the applicant with a strong LSAT score over a strong GRE score.
So, if you’re considering the GRE because you’re worried about your LSAT performance, working with an LSAT tutor can help you build confidence and improve your score.
All of our tutors have scored 173+ on the LSAT, placing them in the top 1%, and can help you work toward a competitive score for your target law schools.
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FAQs
Do T14 Law Schools Accept the GRE?
Yes, all T14 schools accept the GRE for JD admissions. However, you should still check each school’s testing policies because requirements for applicants with existing LSAT scores can differ.
Is GRE Easier Than the LSAT?
Yes, the GRE is considered easier than the LSAT for many test-takers. The LSAT places more demands on logical reasoning and dense reading under time pressure, while the GRE spreads its difficulty across verbal reasoning (including vocabulary), quantitative reasoning (math), and analytical writing. That being said, the LSAT is still considered the gold standard for law school applications.
Should I Take Both the GRE and LSAT if the Law School Accepts Both?
No, you should not take both the GRE and LSAT solely for law school admission. Some schools prioritize or only consider your LSAT if you have a reportable score. For example, Harvard won't consider your GRE if you have a valid LSAT score, and Yale doesn't allow applicants with a reportable LSAT to submit the GRE for consideration.
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