The extinction efficiency factor and the angular distribution of radiation for polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) droplets have been calculated in the new discrete-dipole approximation (DDA) and compared with the data obtained in the commonly used Rayleigh-Gans approximation (RGA) and in the anomalous-diffraction approximation (ADA). The errors of calculations by the above mentioned methods for droplets with a homogeneous and for droplets with a radial director configuration are considered. The results of calculations of the optical properties of droplets with a radial and with a bipolar director configuration in the DDA are presented. Based on the results obtained the potentialities of the above methods for describing the scattering by liquid crystal droplets are illustrated.