Dealing with Over-Ambitious Academic Aspirations: GRE or LSAT?

A common question among students who are prospective graduate school applicants is this: Should I take both the GRE and LSAT? These are both gates that open up two different academic pathways, but deciding to take both requires some serious thought.  The new MCAT is a formidable creature, setting intense expectations for both test-takers and educators. With the beast that is it’s very reasonable to feel overwhelmed by all this learning — i.e., organic chemistry, general chemistry, biochemistry, and biology — that’s tested along with language arts/comprehension.

The GRE Exam is accepted by thousands of universities from across the world, regardless of what educational disciplines (science, social sciences, engineering) you wish to pursue your higher education in. It consists of verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. In comparison, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized entrance exam for law schools and assesses reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning.

Even if you are applying to graduate schools and law schools, taking both exams also seems like it should be the plan. However, that should not be the only factor influencing your decision. With a substantial amount of preparation time required for each one, and vastly different question styles. While the LSAT tests logical games and legal reasoning, and features a writing sample, the GRE has more emphasis on Math. Both may also mean learning two very different test-taking strategies at the exact same time.

Cost is another element to consider. The charges stack up — registration fees, textbooks, and potentially doing it all over again. In addition, the mental energy and planning it requires to prepare for both exams can cause even the most disciplined students to strain. If you decide to take both, focusing on the spacing effect of studying is huge because these two tests test such different skills 

Additionally, find out if the schools you are interested in have a preference or if they require both of these tests. The GRE in place of the LSAT is now accepted by some, but not all, law schools, and some schools require using the LSAT only. Most graduate programs that are not law-related in nature, on the other hand, do not require the LSAT whatsoever. This can save time, money and effort by knowing what is required in advance.

So, the final answer to Should I take both GRE and LSAT? This one is simply because it depends on what you wish to achieve with your career and academics, as well as the amount of time you are willing to put into them. And if you are pretty set on going down one road, you may be best off just concentrating on mastering 1 exam. But if you genuinely care about both areas and are willing to put in the time, studying for 2 exams can create flexibility and expand your scope.

Based on your goals and the programs to which you plan to apply, you can find out for yourself whether taking both exams works in your favor.

Paul Thomas is the author of this article :- For more details about Top Legal Master’s Degree Options Here  please visit our website :- lsac.org

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