LSAT vs GRE Accommodations: 7 Mistakes That Get Students Denied

Thinking about law school and grad school? Good news: you can often use one accommodations evaluation for both the LSAT and GRE.

But here’s the catch—the LSAC and ETS don’t follow the same rules. If you’re not careful, the same report that gets approved for one could be denied by the other.

As a psychologist who helps students prepare these evaluations, I see the same avoidable issues crop up again and again. Here’s what to watch for:

1. Outdated Testing

The GRE has a 3-year rule; LSAT allows reports up to 5 years old. If your evaluation is older than three years, don’t panic—but do consider a short update that includes a current interview and symptom measures. This is something I can usually do quickly.

2. Missing Timed Task Data

GRE reviewers are strict: if your evaluation doesn’t include timed tasks (like processing speed or attention testing), they’ll often reject it. LSAT is a little looser—but if you want one report to work for both, you’ll need this testing.

3. Vague Descriptions of Functional Impact

A common GRE rejection reason is: “Functional impairment not demonstrated under testing conditions.” To avoid that, I include concrete language like:

“When reading under LSAT timing conditions, the client’s reading rate was 45% below average.”

This shows reviewers the connection between symptoms and test-day struggles.

4. Weak Documentation of Past Accommodations

If you used extra time in college or high school, include that! LSAC puts a lot of weight on prior use. If you didn’t, that’s OK—we can emphasize current clinical needs instead.

5. Using the Wrong ADHD Scales

GRE requires adult-focused measures like the CAARS or BAARS. If you only have childhood ADHD ratings (like the SNAP), that could be a problem. I always use tools that meet both boards’ expectations.

6. Forgetting the Review Checklist

Each board uses an internal checklist to process your file. When I write evaluations, I structure the content to hit all those required fields—so there’s no guessing on their end.

7. Upload Confusion

Let’s be honest: uploading your paperwork can feel like a mini test of its own. GRE wants a single PDF under 10 MB. If you accidentally upload a separate doctor letter, or exceed the file size, your request can get delayed. When I work with students, I give you a ready-to-submit final packet.

Quick Comparison

Requirement	LSAT	GRE
Evaluation age limit	5 years	3 years
Timed cognitive tasks	Preferred	Required
Past accommodations	Important	Less so
Adult ADHD scale	Optional	Required
File format issues	Fewer	Stricter

Want One Report That Covers Both?

I offer a focused evaluation package tailored to meet both LSAT and GRE standards. It includes:

• A deep-dive clinical interview

• Timed and untimed cognitive testing

• ADHD symptom ratings using adult-normed tools

• A report designed for easy upload to both platforms

  
  

Turnaround is 10–14 days, and I’m happy to talk through what your specific situation calls for.

👉 Book a free 15-min consultation or learn more about my accommodation services.

This post was updated June 2025 to reflect LSAC and ETS policy changes.