GRE vs LSAT: Which Test Should You Take for Law School?
Key Takeaways
- LSAC says the LSAT is the only test accepted by all ABA-approved law schools.
- ETS says more than 130 ABA-approved law schools accept the GRE, including every T14 school.
- The LSAT has no maths and tests logical reasoning and reading; the GRE adds Quant and vocabulary.
- LSAT scores run from 120 to 180; GRE Verbal and Quant each run from 130 to 170.
- Take the LSAT for a law-only list; consider the GRE if every school accepts it or you are also applying to other programs.
Table of Contents
The LSAT is the law school test: LSAC, which runs it, says it is the only test accepted by every ABA-approved law school in the US. The GRE is the flexible alternative: ETS says more than 130 ABA-approved law schools now accept it, including every school in the T14. So if your list is all law schools, the LSAT is the safe choice. If you are also applying to other graduate programs, or every school on your list takes the GRE, the GRE can do both jobs with one score.
This guide compares the two tests on format, scoring and acceptance, and sets out who should take which.
For a test-by-test comparison with business schools, see our GMAT vs GRE guide.
Which law schools accept the GRE?
On its law school page, ETS says more than 130 ABA-approved law schools accept the GRE, including every T14 school (the 14 schools that have long led the US law rankings). ETS keeps a list of law schools that accept GRE scores for their JD programs, and says many also consider GRE scores for scholarships.
On the other side, LSAC’s About the LSAT page describes the LSAT as the only test accepted by all ABA-approved law schools. Both statements are true at once: every school takes the LSAT, and most well-known schools take the GRE too, but not every school does.
So check each school on your list. ETS itself advises contacting a school directly if it is not on the list, and a school that accepts the GRE may still say how it compares GRE and LSAT applicants.
GRE vs LSAT: how do the formats compare?
| Feature | GRE General Test | LSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | ETS | LSAC |
| Accepted by | 130+ ABA-approved law schools, plus graduate and business programs | All ABA-approved law schools |
| Sections | Analytical Writing (one Issue task, 30 min), Verbal Reasoning (2 sections, 41 min), Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections, 47 min) | Four 35-minute multiple-choice sections: two Logical Reasoning, one Reading Comprehension and one unscored section, plus a 10-minute break |
| Writing | Scored Issue essay, part of the test | LSAT Argumentative Writing: unscored, taken separately, 50 minutes, sent to schools |
| Maths | Yes: Quant is half the scored multiple-choice test | None |
| Scores | Verbal and Quant each 130–170; Writing 0–6 | One score, 120–180 |
| Total time | About 1 hour 58 minutes | About 3 hours (LSAC’s figure for standard test takers) |
The GRE details come from the ETS test structure page; the LSAT details from LSAC’s pages on LSAT question types, LSAT scoring and its LSAT FAQs.
One change to know if you are planning ahead: LSAC says that from the August 2027 LSAT, the unscored questions will be built into the three scored sections instead of forming a separate fourth section, and every test will start with Reading Comprehension. LSAC says the test will still measure the same skills with the same types of questions.
What does each test measure?
The LSAT is built for law. Logical Reasoning asks you to analyse short arguments: find assumptions, flaws and what would strengthen or weaken a claim. Reading Comprehension uses long, dense passages similar to what you will read in law school. There is no maths and no vocabulary section.
The GRE is a general graduate test. Verbal Reasoning tests reading and vocabulary through Reading Comprehension, Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. Quantitative Reasoning tests arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis at high school level. The Issue essay asks you to take and support a position.
That difference decides a lot. If argument analysis comes naturally and maths does not, the LSAT plays to your strengths. If you are comfortable with maths and have a strong vocabulary, the GRE may be the easier route to a competitive score.
Should you take the GRE or the LSAT for law school?
| Take the LSAT if… | Consider the GRE if… |
|---|---|
| You are applying only to law school | You are also applying to master’s or other graduate programs |
| Any school on your list does not accept the GRE | Every school on your list accepts the GRE |
| Maths is your weak area | Maths and vocabulary are strengths |
| You want the score every school knows best | You are applying to a dual degree, such as a JD/MBA or JD/MPP |
| You have time to prepare for a law-specific test | You already have a recent GRE score |
ETS points out that a GRE score can be used for law and non-law programs with one test, which is its main advantage for anyone still deciding between law and another graduate path.
How many times can you take each test?
LSAC says you can take the LSAT five times within the current reportable score period and seven times over a lifetime. LSAC also reports all your reportable LSAT results to schools, up to 12, unless you use its paid Score Preview option to see a score before deciding whether to keep it.
The GRE lets you choose which scores to send with its ScoreSelect option. For retake rules, score sending and validity, see our guide to GRE results; for booking a test, see GRE registration.
What about law programs outside the US?
The GRE versus LSAT choice is mostly an American one, for the JD degree at ABA-approved schools. The LSAT is also used by law schools in Canada, and LSAC publishes a guide to Canadian JD programs. Law degrees elsewhere use different routes: in the UK, for example, many universities use the LNAT, and in India undergraduate law admissions use national entrance tests rather than either of these. If you are a law graduate planning an LLM in the US, check each program’s requirements; LLM admissions usually work differently from the JD.
How should you decide?
- Write your school list first. Check each school’s admissions page, and the ETS list, for whether it takes the GRE.
- Take a practice test of each. LSAC offers official LSAT practice tests through LawHub, and ETS offers free official GRE practice tests. Compare where you start, not just which test sounds easier.
- Think beyond law. If you might apply to a master’s or a dual degree, one GRE score covers both.
- Pick one and commit. Preparing for both at once splits your time between two very different tests.
To see where you stand on the GRE, take the free GRE mock test. To understand what a GRE score means, read about GRE total marks and percentiles.
If you are planning a master’s or law degree abroad, our counsellors can help you build a school list and choose the right test. Talk to an admissions counsellor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do law schools accept the GRE?
Many do. ETS says more than 130 ABA-approved law schools accept the GRE, including every T14 school. Not all do, so check each school on your list.
Is the LSAT accepted by all law schools?
LSAC says the LSAT is the only test accepted by all ABA-approved law schools in the US.
Is the GRE easier than the LSAT?
Neither is simply easier. The LSAT has no maths and focuses on logical reasoning and dense reading. The GRE adds Quantitative Reasoning and vocabulary. Which feels easier depends on your strengths, so take a practice test of each.
Do law schools prefer the LSAT over the GRE?
Every ABA-approved school accepts the LSAT, so it is the safest choice for a law-only list. Schools that accept the GRE may say how they compare the two; check their admissions pages.
How long is the LSAT?
LSAC says the LSAT has four 35-minute multiple-choice sections with a 10-minute break and takes about 3 hours. LSAT Argumentative Writing, 50 minutes, is taken separately.
How long is the GRE?
ETS says the GRE General Test takes about 1 hour 58 minutes, with Analytical Writing, two Verbal sections and two Quant sections.
How is the LSAT scored?
On a scale of 120 to 180. LSAT Argumentative Writing is unscored but is sent to the schools you apply to.
How is the GRE scored?
Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored 130 to 170, and Analytical Writing 0 to 6.
Is there maths on the LSAT?
No. The LSAT tests Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension only.
How many times can I take the LSAT?
LSAC allows five attempts within the current reportable score period and seven over a lifetime.
Is the LSAT changing?
Yes, slightly. LSAC says that from the August 2027 test, the unscored questions will be built into the three scored sections instead of a separate section, and the test will start with Reading Comprehension. It will test the same skills.
Should I take the GRE if I am also applying to other programs?
Often, yes. One GRE score can be used for law and for master’s or business programs, which is why ETS points to dual degrees such as a JD/MBA.
