One of the biggest quandaries students have when preparing for graduate or law school is this: LSAT vs GRE or , which is harder? Although each is intended to measure one’s preparedness for college-level study, they have little else in common in terms of format, content, and cognitive skills required.
The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is a general test that students may take for entry into a number of different graduate programs. It assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. By comparison, the LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, is designed specifically for prospective law students and emphasizes reading comprehension, logical reasoning and analytical reasoning — often called logic games.
Well, then, which is harder on the content side: the GRE or LSAT? That will largely depend on your background in school. The quantitative section of the GRE can trip up students who haven’t used math for years. It involves algebra, geometry and data analysis, all against the clock. In contrast, the LSAT’s logic games section is notorious for its abstract puzzles and odd format. It is often difficult for test takers to develop good intuition for this type of question, particularly in the compressed time frame of the exams, and as a result, it is seen by many as one of the most difficult questions.
One other dimension to consider when wondering is whether the GRE or LSAT is more difficult, and whether the curve is. It’s also true that the GRE’s content tends to be more comfortable for students from many fields. Its verbal and math sections echo what many have seen in high school or early university. The LSAT, though, presents a particular sort of difficulty. Its focus on reasoning structure, logical fallacies, and impenetrable reading material is very different from what most students have ever faced before.
Timing is important as well. The LSAT is infamous for being unforgivingly timed. “They are very timed, the sections themselves, and those tests not only test your reasoning skills, but also your ability to think — including creative and critical thinking skills — under pressure,”. The GRE, though just as demanding, is a tad more flexible, namely in that it adapts the degree of difficulty to your performance.
At the end of the day, the question of is the GRE or LSAT is harder is subjective. The GRE, on the other hand, may feel more doable if you’re more of a numbers and general academics person. If you are good at critical reading and logical reasoning, the LSAT might be your sweet spot. At any rate, both tests are a pretty big deal and do require some serious preparation, and some understanding of what each test is asking for.
Ultimately, it’s not simply a matter of which test is more difficult — it’s about which one better reflects your strengths and academic aims. We’ll explain what each exam tests so that you can make an informed decision and study with assurance. Whether you’re looking at a graduate program in business or law, nothing can transform even the most daunting test into anything more than a stepping stone, like preparation.
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