As it accounts for 50% of your total LSAT score, it makes sense to take the Logical Reasoning section very seriously.
Of course, unless you take the right approach to tackle it, you could find that it is an insurmountable challenge when you are in the midst of taking the test.
As it accounts for 50% of your total LSAT score, it makes sense to take the Logical Reasoning section very seriously.
Of course, unless you take the right approach to tackle it, you could find that it is an insurmountable challenge when you are in the midst of taking the test.
For anyone who is looking to learn how to crush every section of the LSAT, the following tips for Logical Reasoning should be a great starting point for success.
Consider the question closely
The only way to efficiently and effectively respond to the up to 26 questions that will be included in this section is to work out what type of query is being posed.
There are several common question varieties you are likely to encounter, including flaw questions which task you with pinpointing the problem with an argument and inference questions that expect you to choose the statement from a group that is supported to the most significant degree by the argument in play.
Get to grips with all of these question types and you will not waste time wondering what you are supposed to do during the exam itself.
Make notes
Be sure that you are actively involved in the reading of each question and feel free to jot down thoughts and highlight the most relevant aspects before you push on and provide an answer.
These notes can not only point you in the direction of the most suitable solution, but can also give you a more structured, calm approach to processing the questions so that your excitement and nerves do not get the better of you.
Embrace answer prediction
Keeping up the pace while working through Logical Reasoning questions is all the easier if you are rephrasing the answer you believe will be the correct one ahead of time.
This will mean that rather than going in blind, you will have a very good or even an entirely accurate estimation of what you should be looking for. When the sands of time seem to be slipping past too quickly, this will be your saving grace.
Making this kind of prediction can also be streamlined, and false assumptions avoided if you re-read the question. You can skim through on your second or third pass; this will make sure that you have not missed anything obvious.
Compare the available answers carefully
Acing the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT is all about being able to narrow down your choice of answers quickly and select the best candidate from two or more superficially suitable alternatives.
Careful checking will reveal the obvious red herrings, which you can cross out to avoid them being a distraction as you move forwards. When you have a couple of prospective answers remaining, be rigorous with your reading skills once more and pay attention to every single word, as the distinctions between the right and the wrong option can be subtle at this point.
Move on if you get stuck
Given that you will have little more than a minute to answer each of the questions posed to you in the Logical Reasoning section of the test, there is no point lingering on something that is just not clicking.
This is all the more relevant as a piece of advice given that every question makes an equal contribution towards your end score, so there is no merit to investing precious extra seconds into one which is tripping you up for whatever reason.
By being strategic in your approach, you can move on and deal with the rest of the questions before coming back to the ones which have eluded you earlier.
Practice makes perfect
There are good habits you should bring into the LSAT with you and bad habits that you need to break before the timer starts.
The best way to achieve this is to get in plenty of practice, not just in terms of being able to cope with the potential cavalcade of different Logical Reasoning question types that will be flooding your way soon, but also to give you the impetus to behave rationally on the day itself. Developing an effective study strategy will also provide you with the structure you need to achieve your goals in this arena.
As with the aforementioned need to move on if you get stuck, practicing in a timed environment will ensure that you are not overwhelmed when the pressure of the ticking clock is bearing down on you for real. Preparedness is the thing that will help to calm your nerves more than almost anything else.
Of course always practicing under pressure is not necessary, and can be detrimental. In the case of paraphrasing answers, for example, it makes sense to carry out untimed test runs to enable deeper thought and analysis. All of this will help to build up your arsenal of answer options that you can draw upon in test conditions.
Learn to quash stress quickly
While your preparations should certainly be focused on analyzing arguments and predicting answers to Logical Reasoning questions, it is also necessary to take a look at the bigger picture and come up with strategies that will help you to cope with the inevitable stress of the exam.
One of the main hurdles that can cause upset for candidates is the panic that can come on in a split second when a particularly tricky question rears its head. If you let this spiral out of control, you could lose your cool and make unforced errors.
The solution is to work at recognizing when you are becoming stressed and implementing tactics to fend off unhelpful feelings when it counts. Breathing exercises can be a big help here, as can focusing your inner monologue on a positive mantra, reaffirming that you have the skills and experience to master this particular problem.
Ultimately your approach to Logical Reasoning in the LSAT should be tailored to your own strengths and weaknesses. And most importantly of all, failing to prepare at all is definitely the worst course of action.
Consider the question closely
The only way to efficiently and effectively respond to the up to 26 questions that will be included in this section is to work out what type of query is being posed.
There are several common question varieties you are likely to encounter, including flaw questions which task you with pinpointing the problem with an argument and inference questions that expect you to choose the statement from a group that is supported to the most significant degree by the argument in play.
Get to grips with all of these question types and you will not waste time wondering what you are supposed to do during the exam itself.
Make notes
Be sure that you are actively involved in the reading of each question and feel free to jot down thoughts and highlight the most relevant aspects before you push on and provide an answer.
These notes can not only point you in the direction of the most suitable solution but can also give you a more structured, calm approach to processing the questions so that your excitement and nerves do not get the better of you.
Embrace answer prediction
Keeping up the pace while working through Logical Reasoning questions is all the easier if you are rephrasing the answer you believe will be the correct one ahead of time.
This will mean that rather than going in blind, you will have a very good or even an entirely accurate estimation of what you should be looking for. When the sands of time seem to be slipping past too quickly, this will be your saving grace.
Making this kind of prediction can also be streamlined, and false assumptions avoided, if you re-read the question. You can skim through on your second or third pass; this will make sure that you have not missed anything obvious.
Compare the available answers carefully
Acing the Logical Reasoning section of the LSAT is all about being able to narrow down your choice of answers quickly and select the best candidate from two or more superficially suitable alternatives.
Careful checking will reveal the obvious red herrings, which you can cross out to avoid them being a distraction as you move forwards. When you have a couple of prospective answers remaining, be rigorous with your reading skills once more and pay attention to every single word, as the distinctions between the right and the wrong option can be subtle at this point.
Move on if you get stuck
Given that you will have little more than a minute to answer each of the questions posed to you in the Logical Reasoning section of the test, there is no point lingering on something that is just not clicking.
This is all the more relevant as a piece of advice given that every question makes an equal contribution towards your end score, so there is no merit to investing precious extra seconds into one which is tripping you up for whatever reason.
By being strategic in your approach, you can move on and deal with the rest of the questions before coming back to the ones which have eluded you earlier.
Practice makes perfect
There are good habits you should bring into the LSAT with you and bad habits that you need to break before the timer starts.
The best way to achieve this is to get in plenty of practice, not just in terms of being able to cope with the potential cavalcade of different Logical Reasoning question types that will be flooding your way soon, but also to give you the impetus to behave rationally on the day itself. Developing an effective study strategy will also provide you with the structure you need to achieve your goals in this arena.
As with the aforementioned need to move on if you get stuck, practicing in a timed environment will ensure that you are not overwhelmed when the pressure of the ticking clock is bearing down on you for real. Preparedness is the thing that will help to calm your nerves more than almost anything else.
Of course always practicing under pressure is not necessary, and can be detrimental. In the case of paraphrasing answers, for example, it makes sense to carry out untimed test runs to enable deeper thought and analysis. All of this will help to build up your arsenal of answer options that you can draw upon in test conditions.
Learn to quash stress quickly
While your preparations should certainly be focused on analyzing arguments and predicting answers to Logical Reasoning questions, it is also necessary to take a look at the bigger picture and come up with strategies that will help you to cope with the inevitable stress of the exam.
One of the main hurdles that can cause upset for candidates is the panic that can come on in a split second when a particularly tricky question rears its head. If you let this spiral out of control, you could lose your cool and make unforced errors.
The solution is to work at recognizing when you are becoming stressed and implementing tactics to fend off unhelpful feelings when it counts. Breathing exercises can be a big help here, as can focusing your inner monologue on a positive mantra, reaffirming that you have the skills and experience to master this particular problem.
Ultimately your approach to Logical Reasoning in the LSAT should be tailored to your own strengths and weaknesses. And most importantly of all, failing to prepare at all is definitely the worst course of action.
