LSAT vs. GMAT: which test should you take?
Short version: the GMAT is for business school. Law schools do not accept it. If law school is your goal, the LSAT is the test.
Admissions tools: the what-if chances tool shows how your score changes your odds, and the list builder finds target schools.
The tests at a glance
| LSAT | GMAT Focus Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Law school admissions | Business school (MBA and related programs) |
| Format | Four 35-minute sections: two scored Logical Reasoning, one scored Reading Comprehension, one unscored variable | 64 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights |
| Scoring | 120 to 180, single score | 205 to 805 total; each section scored 60 to 90 |
| Math | None | Yes: a full Quantitative section plus data analysis |
| Writing | Separate unscored essay | No essay (removed in the Focus Edition) |
| Cost (US) | $253 (2026-2027 testing year) | About $275 (varies by region) |
| Offered | About eight times per year | Year-round |
| Retakes | 5 in the reportable period, 7 lifetime; schools see all scores | Up to 5 times in 12 months, 8 lifetime; you choose which scores to send |
Do law schools accept the GMAT?
No. Law schools accept the LSAT and, at many schools, the GRE. The GMAT is not an accepted law school admissions test. A great GMAT score does nothing for a JD application.
What about JD/MBA dual degrees?
Dual-degree applicants usually need both tests: the law school wants the LSAT (or GRE), and the business school wants the GMAT (or GRE). Check each program's policy before you study for either one. Do not assume one test covers both.
The honest verdict
Take the test your target program actually wants. Law school means the LSAT. Business school means the GMAT. Studying for the wrong test is the most expensive prep mistake you can make, because none of the work transfers to admissions.
Fees verified October 12, 2026. GMAT facts from GMAC-published materials.
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