One of the more frequently asked questions among law school applicants is: “Should I take GRE as well as LSAT? With more law schools now accepting the GRE (Graduate Records Exam) in addition to the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), some students are wondering: Will taking both tests boost my application? Although the benefits of taking both tests can outweigh the time, effort, and cost involved, it is not necessary for everyone.
What each test is meant to accomplish
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) has served as the test most commonly required for admission to law school for a long time. It tests skills that are important for success in law school and legal practice, including logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. However, because the LSAT was built specifically for law school admissions, it is still the gold standard for many institutions.
On the contrary, GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a general graduate school test that measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. (The GRE is accepted by some law schools in an effort to draw a wider pool of applicants, particularly those with a variety of academic backgrounds or those thinking of multiple graduate programs.)
Pros of having both GRE without LSAT
For students applying to schools that consider either test, taking both tests may offer flexibility. If a student bombs one test, they might have a better score on the other to report. Also, for prospective dual-degree candidates (for example, a JD/MBA or JD/MPA), a strong GRE score might smooth entry into law school as well as other graduate programs.
For those uncertain of which exam fits their skills, taking both tests can also be helpful. Some students do better on the logic-based questions of the LSAT than they do on the combined verbal and quantitative reasoning of the GRE, and others may be just the opposite.
Why you may not need to take both
Although taking both tests may allow for greater options, it is not always the best allocation of time and effort. Preparing for the LSAT and GRE at the same time can be a challenging undertaking due to the difference in study strategies for these two exams. The average applicant would likely be better off spending the time to do well at one test rather than aim for two.
Moreover, law schools that accept both exams do not favor applicants who submit both scores. Submitting a high score for just one test is, in most cases, enough. Takeaways: Applicants should research their target schools’ requirements and assess whether taking both tests will yield a significant advantage.
For GRE and LSAT, or both? Final Thoughts
In the end, it's a matter of personal circumstances. If a student is applying to law school as well as other graduate programs, it may be worth it to do both. However, if you plan only to attend law school, doing well on one exam is generally sufficient to develop a solid application.
Henry classen is the author of this article. To know about steps to apply for Master of Science in Law (MSL) please visit our website: lsac.org
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