Over the past few years, the landscape of law school admission has experienced a notable change in the kinds of exams recognized. This development has led to a heated debate about LSAT vs GRE -a decision that can have a crucial impact on a student's application strategy, and a subsequent legal career.

 The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) has been the single universal standardized test for law school admission for decades. It was designed to test skills like logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and analytical thinking — qualities that are said to be critical to success in law school. The GRE (Graduate Record Examination), on the other hand, applies to more graduate programs and assesses students' skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.

 One of the most obvious differences between LSAT and GRE is test content. The LSAT is a better measure of those skills relevant in legal education, particularly critical reading and the analysis of structured argument. It has unusual sections such as logic games — testing pattern recognition and deductive reasoning. The GRE contains math sections that reward candidates with a strong STEM background, so it is appropriate for students with wider academic interests or individuals pursuing two degrees.

 Also, take into consideration what percent of the class is accepted into law school. Although more than 100 ABA-accredited law schools now allow the GRE, some continue to give preference to the LSAT. Students should investigate the specific requirements for any program in which they are interested. For some applicants who are submitting GRE scores a second level of evaluation may be invoked or the student may be asked to explain the decision. Though both tests are now widely accepted by institutions, the LSAT is still considered by some admissions committees to be the more traditional — perhaps even more rigorous — option.

 And test access and preparation figure into the LSAT vs GRE equation as well. The GRE is also administered year-round with a wide range of options for dates, while the LSAT is administered on specific dates and can be more competitive in terms of scheduling. For students who hope to apply to a wide range of graduate programmes, then the GRE might be more helpful.

 In the end, deciding between the LSAT and the GRE should be a strategic decision. They need to consider their strengths and goals as well as what's expected by the schools they hope to attend. Both tests can provide strong bridges into law school, but each demands its form of preparation and emphasizes different academic talents.

 Knowing the subtleties of the LSAT vs GRE gives prospective law students the information they’ll need to make the right decision for their academic achievements and career goals.

 Henry classen is the author of this article. To know about LSAT writing section guidelines please visit our website: lsac.org