We live in a time of constant change. Everywhere you look, what was once the norm is evolving to be more inclusive and the admission exams accepted by universities are no exception. Just as MBA programs are starting to accept GRE scores in lieu of GMAT scores, some law schools are accepting GRE scores in lieu of LSAT scores.
Up until 2016, when the University of Arizona decided to go against a decades-old tradition, law schools strictly required applicants to submit LSAT scores in order to be evaluated on how prepared they were for law school. When making their decision, the University of Arizona analyzed a study that showed the GRE was just as reliable in predicting the success of a future law student as the LSAT was.
The American Bar Association states that law schools must require their first-year J.D. degree-seeking applicants to submit scores from a “valid and reliable admission test.” The results of the study analyzed by the University of Arizona showed the LSAT was not the only exam that met this requirement. Since then, the list of law schools willing to accept GRE scores has been growing.
In this article, I will discuss which law schools accept the GRE, compare the GRE General Test to the LSAT, and finally speak to who might benefit from taking the GRE instead of the LSAT.
According to ETS–the writers and administrators of the GRE–the following law schools accept GRE scores for admission to their J.D. Programs:
United States
China
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Below is a comparison of the structure, timing, and score ranges of the GRE and LSAT:
Measure | Number of Sections | Questions per Sections | Time per Section | Score Range |
Analytical Writing | 1 Section | 2 timed essays | 30 Minutes for each essay, a total of 1 hour | 0-6, in half-point increments |
Verbal Reasoning | 2 Sections | 20 Questions | 30 Minutes | 130-170, in one-point increments |
Quantitative Reasoning | 2 Sections | 20 Questions | 35 Minutes | 130-170, in one-point increments |
Experimen –tal | 1 Section (Quantitati–ve or Verbal) | 20 Questions | 30 or 35 Minutes | Not Scored |
Measure | Number of Sections | Questions per Section | Time per Section | Score Range |
Logical Reasoning (Arguments) | 2 Sections | 24-26 Questions | 35 Minutes | Contributes to scaled score range from 120-180 |
Analytical Reasoning (Logic Games) | 1 Section | 4 Logic Games with 4-7 Questions each | 35 Minutes | Contributes to scaled score range from 120-180 |
Reading Comprehension | 1 Section | 27 Questions | 35 Minutes | Contributes to scaled score range from 120-180 |
Experimental Section | 1 Section (Arguments, Games, or Reading Comprehension) | Varies | 35 Minutes | Unscored |
Writing Sample | 1 Section | 1 Essay Response | 35 Minutes | Unscored but sent to score recipients |
Below is a numerical list of some of the main differences between the LSAT and GRE General Test:
The LSAT is specifically geared towards measuring someone’s potential for a legal career. The Arguments sections (Logical Reasoning) contain questions that will test you on your ability to decipher how an argument is put together, assumptions that were made, and what would strengthen or weaken that argument. This line of reasoning appears on the GRE, but not as much.
Below are three primary reasons you might choose to take the GRE over the LSAT when applying to law school. However, the most important aspect you will need to consider is the law school itself. I do not recommend applying to a school simply because they accept the GRE if you feel there is another program out there that is a better fit for you.
One of the reasons universities such as Harvard started to accept the GRE was to attract applicants that had more diverse backgrounds. It is known that one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when preparing for the LSAT is the logic games. On the GRE, many students dread preparing for the math section–particularly the Quantitative Comparison questions. Hence, if you already have a strong math background, you might find the GRE more suitable.
Some of you might want to enter into a joint degree program. Instead of preparing for the LSAT and GRE separately, you can simply prepare for the GRE as long as the law school accepts it. This can save you valuable time and money during the application process. Due to the fact the exams are so different, trying to master both is not a good use of time unless you have no other option.
Perhaps you have taken the GRE and are therefore either familiar with it or you already have a score that will make you a competitive law school applicant. For those of you who took the GRE because you are currently in a graduate program or have completed a graduate program, even better! These are the other types of applicants law schools are hoping to attract by accepting GRE scores.