Furthering your education through a graduate program can be excellent for your career options. If you’re for a business or law career, you’ll have to decide: GMAT vs LSAT.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) are post-graduate entrance exams, qualifying students for two separate professional tracks.
Students take the LSAT to get into law school, while the GMAT is used to get into Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs.
Your score on these tests determines what kind of schools will accept you — and the top schools are competitive, whatever career track you decide on.
Knowing how to pass the GMAT with a top percentile score will almost guarantee entrance into some of the best MBA programs in the United States. This decision can have a big impact on where you eventually get hired.
Read on to learn the differences between the GMAT vs. LSAT and how they compare in terms of content and difficulty. This article will help you decide which exam you’re more suited for, and ultimately, whether the demands of an MBA or law degree are a better fit.
Should You Take the GMAT or LSAT?
Many people with big career ambitions consider getting an MBA or becoming a lawyer. This means they either need to take the GMAT or the LSAT.
Even if you are still unsure what kind of career you want, business and law are both excellent options that will open doors for you in the future.
Deciding between the GMAT vs. LSAT is ultimately deciding on a long-term career plan. It should take your strengths and abilities into account.
If you have a love for solving complicated problems and intense attention to detail, the law might be right for you. However, if you thrive in leadership roles and entrepreneurial endeavors, an MBA could be up your alley.
Even then, knowing which entrance exam to take might be confusing since each program has different requirements.
Let’s break it down.
What is the GMAT?
People who want to attend the best graduate business program have to ace the GMAT (okay, maybe, not ace it — just do really well).
The most common program that requires the GMAT is the Masters in Business Administration (MBA). The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) oversees the GMAT.
There are thousands of MBA programs that you can only get into with a high GMAT score.
How does the GMAT work?
The GMAT contains about 80 questions spanning four sections:
- Analytical Writing Assessment
- Integrated Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
The GMAT score ranges from 200 to 800, with most students landing somewhere between 400 and 600. If you want to get into the best MBA programs, you will need to score over 700.
Students can take the three-hour-long GMAT at a variety of testing locations around the country.
The in-person test takes place on a computer. However, there is also a GMAT online exam that is available for students to take virtually.
Unlike lower-level entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT, it is extremely difficult to wing the GMAT and get a high score.
Students need to take online GMAT prep courses led by expert instructors to hone the right skills to pass this test.
What is the LSAT?
Students interested in going to law school will need to take the LSAT.
The Law School Admissions Council administers the LSAT exam. Similar to the GMAT and MBAs, the LSAT is the only way to get into law school. The best law schools will only accept students with high LSAT scores.
How does the LSAT work?
The LSAT has about 100 questions with three sections:
- Logical Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Analytical Reasoning
The scoring range for students who take the LSAT is 120 to 180, with most students scoring somewhere in the middle. However, top-rated law schools are looking for scores of 170 or higher.
The three-and-a-half-hour-long test is available at many testing centers. Although many students opt for the in-person, computer adaptive test, the LSAT-flex offers a virtual option.
Many students develop rigorous study plans to prepare for the LSAT. This increases both confidence and knowledge, which are vital if you’re going to get a good LSAT score.
Why Take the GMAT or LSAT?
The GMAT and the LSAT are two of the most challenging graduate program entrance exams. They’re in the same league as the MCAT (which you take to get into medical school).
Why are GMAT and LSAT so hard?
The tests are difficult on purpose. If anyone could become a lawyer or business executive, then the world would probably look far different.
In some senses, the test qualifies you to perform well in business school or law school. It definitely will weed out people who are less committed to these fields of study.
Students have to meet specific requirements even to take the tests in the first place.
If all of that sounds like… a lot, that’s because it is. Even with the challenge, taking the LSAT or GMAT is incredibly worthwhile. If you do pass and move further into these careers, you can do great things, be a leader and have a fulfilling career.
So, once you’ve worked out your end game, you must start by meeting GMAT requirements or LSAT requirements. Here is what to expect and how to qualify.
Degree Programs That Require the GMAT
The GMAT is required only for MBA programs. To take the GMAT you must be older than 13 years old, have a valid photo ID, and pay a fee of $250.
When applying for MBA programs, you will have to send your GMAT score, just like sending transcripts and other materials.
Students who apply for MBAs usually want to work in the corporate world.
Here are some of the most common undergraduate degrees for MBA seekers:
- Business
- Technology
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Finance
Students can choose from a variety of MBA specialties, depending on career goals. While there are many options, here are a few:
- MBA in General Management
- MBA in Consulting
- MBA in Finance
- MBA in Entrepreneurship
- MBA in Technology Management
- MBA in Marketing
Developing an excellent GMAT study plan is only one step out of many to earn your MBA and the job of your dreams.
Possible Careers After Taking the GMAT
Once you’ve taken the GMAT and graduated from business school, it’s time to start searching for a job.
There are so many career paths to take with an MBA. These are professionals who have knowledge and expertise that others don’t possess.
Here are some careers to go into once you’ve achieved your MBA:
- CEO
- CTO
- Non-profit Organization Manager
- Operations Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Information Technology Director
The biggest qualifying factor to get any MBA-related job is leadership. You can’t be a great manager if you don’t know how to lead others.
Degree Programs That Require the LSAT
To get into law school, you will need to do well on the LSAT. The requirements to take this exam include speaking, reading, writing fluent English, having a valid ID, and paying a $200 fee.
You can only access your LSAT scores if you provide proof that you have an undergraduate degree. Then you can send the score to the law schools to which you are applying.
These are the most common undergraduate degrees that pre-law students earn:
- History
- Political Science
- Business
- Economics
- Philosophy
There is a wide array of law specialties that students can choose to study. These are some of the most popular:
- Criminal law
- Environmental law
- Health law
- International law
- Injury law
There are endless possibilities when it comes to studying law. It’s essential to study hard for the LSAT if you have a specific law program and specialty in mind.
Possible Careers After Taking the LSAT
Passing the LSAT exam and earning your law degree are incredible feats. Applying for jobs allows you to hang your shingle in private practice, join an active legal practice or teach.
There are four kinds of law that a lawyer may work in:
- Criminal law
- Statutory law
- Civil law
- Common law
There are also plenty of positions for people who have a law degree:
- Prosecutor
- Attorney
- Litigator
- Corporate lawyer
- Mediator
- Trial attorney
- Professor of law
Aside from practicing law, lawyers can also pursue careers in education, politics, and arbitration.
GMAT vs. LSAT: Study Material
No matter where you hope to be, you will first need to tackle one of these tests once you finish your graduate degree.
There are all kinds of GMAT study materials such as prep courses, flashcards, and textbooks. Similar equivalents are also available for the LSAT.
Whether you choose to pay for a prep course or stick with a textbook, studying for these tests involves long nights and lots of dedication.
The GMAT and LSAT are not your average exams where you are asked to read passages and answer straightforward questions.
On these exams, you will have to solve riddles, make logical arguments, and be a problem solver.
Which One is Harder?
You may be wondering which is more challenging: the GMAT vs. LSAT? Unfortunately, there is no objective answer to this.
Your success on either the GMAT or the LSAT has to do with your study and test-taking skills. Let’s break down how the tests work so you can get an idea of what to expect:
Is GMAT harder?
The GMAT will test your mathematics, writing, analytics, and verbal skills. You will need to draw conclusions and solve problems based on statistical and qualitative information.
Causation, dichotomy, and correlation are only some of the concepts you will need to study to prepare for the GMAT.
Is LSAT harder?
On the other hand, the LSAT will test your aptitude for reasoning, writing, and reading. You will solve logic puzzles and develop logical arguments.
Analysis of evidence, careful response, and thorough reading are essential to doing well on the LSAT.
It may be useful to take a practice GMAT test and a practice LSAT, just to get a very general idea of which comes more naturally to you. Ultimately, you’ll have to put in the work to pass either.
FAQs
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about the LSAT and GMAT:
Do MBA Programs Accept LSAT?
The LSAT does not qualify for entrance into MBA programs. If you want to get into an MBA program, then you will need to take the GMAT.
How Do People Do On LSAT vs. GMAT?
You can’t “pass” or “fail” either the GMAT or the LSAT. They don’t use the same scoring method. It is difficult to compare the two. However, we can compare the percentage of students who get average scores. On the GMAT, about 27% of students get over a 650, which is considered a good score. On the LSAT, a “good” score is considered about 160, and you would be in the 80th percentile if you achieved it.
How Should I Prepare for the GMAT?
The best way to prepare for the GMAT is to find a review course that fits your budget and needs. You can read about five of the best GMAT prep courses. It is also always good to take a few practice tests, make flashcards and review strategy guides.
Is it Difficult to Score a 600 on the GMAT?
Although some may claim that it is easy to score a 600 on the GMAT, it does take considerable time and effort.
No matter what your goal score is for the GMAT, you shouldn’t assume that you can wing it. Even minimal studying can help substantially improve your score.