The LSAT and the GRE: Two options for law school applications
The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is the preferred test for law school admissions. Recently, some law schools began using the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), creating a second option for fulfilling the standardized test requirement on law school applications.
The LSAT is administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)—its website is www.lsac.org. This test if offered online, and you may take it at home or at a testing center. It has four sections of 35 minutes, with a 15-minute break between sections 3 and 4. There are between 22-26 questions in each section. Each section covers either logical reasoning or reading comprehension; the analytical reasoning section (logic games) was eliminated in the summer of 2024. Scores are normally available within three weeks of the date the test is taken.
The GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Their website is www.ets.org/gre. It is offered on numerous dates at Prometric test centers throughout the US. The test is given on a computer, and consists of two analytic writing sections of 30 minutes, two verbal reasoning sections of 35 minutes (20 questions), two quantitative reasoning sections of 35 minutes (20 questions), and an unscored experimental section of 30-35 minutes. Scores for the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections are available at the conclusion of the test, while the analytical writing score is normally available within two weeks.
Even if you have done well on previous standardized tests, you should devote at least two months to studying for the LSAT. Most students take an LSAT prep course, and numerous options are available. You can also buy study materials and prepare for the exam by yourself. There are also GRE prep courses available.
The decision about which test to take depends on many individual factors, and you should consult with a prelaw advisor before you make this important decision.
