LSAT vs GRE for Law School: Which Should You Take?
Most ABA-accredited law schools now accept the GRE in addition to the LSAT. That gives applicants a real choice — and raises a real question: which test gives you the best shot at admission to your target schools?
The answer depends on your strengths, your target schools, and how your numbers would compare. This guide breaks down the key differences between the LSAT and GRE for law school applications, and helps you decide which path makes sense for you.
After reading, use the LSAT Score Calculator to see how an LSAT score would translate to school-tier fit.
Which Law Schools Accept the GRE?
As of 2025, the vast majority of ABA-accredited law schools accept the GRE, including all T14 schools. Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, and the rest of the top schools all accept either test.
However, acceptance of the GRE does not mean equal treatment of GRE scores. This distinction matters enormously for your decision.
The Key Difference: How Schools Use Each Score
Law schools report their median LSAT scores to the ABA, to US News, and to the public — and these medians directly affect their US News rankings. LSAT medians are a rankings factor. GRE scores are not.
This creates a structural incentive: when a school admits a student with a low LSAT, it hurts their rankings. When they admit a student with a low GRE (but no LSAT), it does not. Some schools have strategically accepted GRE applicants with scores below their LSAT median without affecting their published rankings.
This is not necessarily a disadvantage to you — it means some schools may be more willing to take a chance on a GRE applicant than an LSAT applicant with numerically similar credentials. But it also means GRE applicants may face uncertainty about how they are actually evaluated relative to LSAT applicants.
LSAT vs GRE: Key Differences in Content
| Feature | LSAT | GRE |
|---|---|---|
| Primary skills tested | Logical reasoning, reading comprehension | Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing |
| Math required | None | Yes (algebra, geometry, data analysis) |
| Logic Games | No (removed August 2024) | No |
| Test length | ~2 hrs 20 min | ~1 hr 58 min |
| Score scale | 120–180 | 130–170 per section (Verbal + Quant) |
| Score validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Cost | $215 | $220 |
| Retake policy | 3x per year, 5x in 5 years, 7x lifetime | Once every 21 days, 5x per year |
Who Should Take the LSAT
The LSAT is the right choice for most law school applicants. Take the LSAT if:
- Law school is your primary goal: The LSAT is purpose-built for law school admissions. Schools know how to interpret it, rank it, and compare applicants on it.
- You are strong at verbal reasoning and logic but weak at math: The LSAT has no math. If quantitative reasoning is not your strength, the LSAT immediately removes that vulnerability.
- You want to maximize your ranking-competitiveness: LSAT scores directly affect school rankings. Schools have strong incentive to admit students with high LSATs.
- You are targeting T14 schools: At the very top schools, admissions officers have decades of experience comparing LSAT scores. The LSAT is the known quantity.
- You have time to prep seriously: The LSAT is learnable. With 3–6 months of structured prep, most test-takers significantly improve. See the LSAT study schedule guide.
Who Should Consider the GRE
The GRE may be the better choice in specific circumstances:
- You already have a strong GRE score: If you took the GRE for a graduate program application and scored in the 90th+ percentile on Verbal, using that score for law school avoids additional test prep entirely.
- You are applying to joint-degree programs: Many joint JD/PhD or JD/MBA programs require the GRE for the non-law component. One test for both purposes is efficient.
- You are genuinely strong at quantitative reasoning: The GRE’s Quant section differentiates test-takers in ways the LSAT does not. If your Quant score is exceptional, it may strengthen your overall profile.
- You have very limited prep time: The GRE is shorter and some test-takers find it less demanding to prep for — though this varies by individual.
- You are targeting schools explicitly recruiting GRE applicants: Some schools have publicly stated they actively seek to diversify their applicant pool via GRE, and may view GRE applicants favorably.
Can You Submit Both LSAT and GRE Scores?
Yes. If you have both, you can submit both or choose which to submit. Most applicants submit only their best result on whichever test they performed better on. Submitting both is generally only advisable if both are strong — submitting a weak score on either test adds information that works against you.
How Schools Convert GRE to LSAT Equivalents
ETS (the maker of the GRE) publishes a concordance table that maps GRE Verbal + Quant combined scores to approximate LSAT equivalents. Law schools use this table to compare GRE applicants to LSAT applicants.
The concordance is imprecise — a 162 Verbal GRE is not perfectly equivalent to any specific LSAT score. But as a rough guide, a 90th percentile GRE Verbal score (~162+) is often treated as approximately equivalent to a 163–165 LSAT for admissions comparison purposes.
This means GRE applicants need to score near the top of the GRE Verbal distribution to be competitive at top law schools.
Bottom Line
For most applicants with law school as their primary goal, the LSAT is the better choice. It is purpose-built for law school, directly affects rankings (giving schools strong incentive to reward high LSAT scores), and has a clear, learnable structure.
The GRE makes sense if you already have a strong score, are applying to joint programs, or have tested the waters and genuinely score better on the GRE format. For everyone else, invest your prep time in the LSAT.
Next Steps
- Use the LSAT Score Calculator to see how LSAT scores translate to school-tier fit
- Build your prep with a structured LSAT study schedule
- See LSAT test dates for 2025–2026 to plan your timeline
- Read What Is a Good LSAT Score? to understand score benchmarks by school tier
- Check Should I Retake the LSAT? if you already have a score and are weighing options