With law schools expanding their admissions requirements, potential students have a lot to consider: LSAT vs GRE— which test is proper for you? An increasing number of law programs now accept both tests, but they assess different skills and serve slightly different purposes. Recognizing these distinctions can help applicants make an informed, targeted decision that strengthens their law school application.

Looking at LSAT vs GRE, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is still the tried-and-true, old-school standardized test for law school admissions. It places significant emphasis on logical, analytical, and reading comprehension skills that directly correlate with success in the law. The LSAT’s distinctive logic games portion similarly tests a test taker’s ability to recognize relationships, organize information, and think through difficult hypotheticals—all skills that mimic the rigors of legal problem-solving.

The GRE, on the other hand, is less specific. It has sections in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing — making it more flexible for students potentially considering graduate programs beyond law. In the LSAT vs GRE battle, however, the latter allows you to keep your options open, as it is accepted across disciplines such as business, the social sciences, and public policy.

On the structure side, LSAT is less accessible per year, with fewer matches, and it asks testers to adapt to different question types. The GRE, on the other hand, can be taken year-round and is a computer-adaptive test that offers flexibility in planning and retaking. This can make a difference in strategy. Students who excel at mathematical reasoning may find the GRE a more familiar, organic terrain. In contrast, others who are inherently good at verbal reasoning and logical deductive thought often do better on the LSAT.

Consider also how law schools view these scores, as that may play a role in the LSAT vs. GRE decision. Some schools place greater emphasis on LSAT scores, believing they are a more reliable predictor of first-year law school success. Others welcome the GRE as a way to encourage a broad array of candidates to apply, including those with interdisciplinary or STEM experience.

Cost, time to prepare, and study resources vary as well. LSAT prep is a very specialized animal, concentrating on the narrow topic of legal reasoning. GRE prep, by contrast, can involve materials from a wider variety of general aptitude sources. Before making a choice, candidates must consider their academic profile, test-adaptive level, and career aspirations.

The LSAT vs GRE showdown is not really about finding out which is better, but about identifying which test an applicant’s skills are better suited to and that aligns with their academic aspirations. Well-placed knowledge allows prospective law students to decide what is best for them, based on what they do well and the needs of their desired law schools.

Paul Thomas is the author of this article. For more details about Official LSAT Practice Tests please visit our website: lsac.org.