LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Types

Flawed Reasoning question stems

“The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?”, “The reasoning in the argument is flawed in that it

Common Flawed Reasoning Answers

Abstract bad reasoning, overlooked info (Weaken-style), or unstated assumptions (Necessary Assumption-style)

Flawed Reasoning Method

Find conclusion/premise → Ask: Why doesn’t conclusion HAVE to be true? Identify flaw (circularity, causation vs. correlation, necessary vs. sufficient)

Flawed Reasoning: Correct Answer Requirements

Must be descriptively accurate and identify actual bad reasoning

Strengthen Question Stem

“Which of the following, if true, most strengthens/supports the argument?”

Strengthen Method

Find the conclusion/reasoning → Identify the gap → Pick an answer that fixes the flaw or strengthens the link.

Stronger, more direct answers are better. Watch out for vague “some” language or weak support.

Strengthen Common Pattern

Author offers hypothesis → Correct answer may eliminate alternative explanation

Weaken Question Stem

“Which of the following, if true, most weakens/undermines the argument?”
Weaken Method Identify conclusion/reasoning → Spot the gap → Choose the answer that most undermines the link

Strong answers are good. Avoid weak or vague ones. Look for alternate causes or contradictions.

Weaken Common Pattern

Phenomenon + explanation → Right answer might be alternate explanation

Necessary Assumption Question Stem

“Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?” or “relies on assuming...”

Necessary Assumption Method

Find term shift between reasoning and conclusion → Correct answer bridges this shift

Correct answers are usually moderate, not strong/extreme

Use the negation test: if negated, does argument collapse? If yes, it’s necessary

Must Be True Question Stem

“If all the statements above are true, which one can be properly inferred?”

Must Be True Method

Treat all statements as facts → Choose the answer that is 100% guaranteed by the stimulus
Avoid strong language like "always" or “all”. Prefer weaker answers (“some,” “could,” “usually”)

Sufficient Assumption Question Stem

“The conclusion follows logically if which of the following is assumed?”

Sufficient Assumption Method

Find conclusion → Find what’s missing → Find the answer that 100% guarantees the conclusion

Diagram conditional logic if needed. Avoid weak or partial answers.

Wrong answers often reverse or negate the necessary condition

Most Strongly Supported Question Stem

“Which of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?”

MSS Method

Read facts → Choose answer 80–99% supported
MSS Tip Prefer weaker statements. Avoid assumptions or strong/extreme conclusions.

Main Conclusion/Identify Conclusion Stem

“Which one of the following most accurately expresses the argument’s conclusion?”

Main Conclusion Method

Find the author's main point → Ask what is supported by the rest

If torn between answers, ask which supports which—supported = conclusion

Role in Argument Question Stem

“What role does the claim play?” or “The claim that [X] plays which role?”

Role in Argument Method

Find premise, conclusion → Then ask what the claim is doing (premise? conclusion? background?)
Role in Argument Tip Intermediate conclusions are both supported and support something

Method of Reasoning Question Stem

“Which of the following describes the argumentative technique used?”

Method of Reasoning Method

Identify conclusion and reasoning pattern (e.g. analogy, generalization, hypothesis)
Method Tip Correct answer is abstract and must match the structure. If no part matches, it's wrong.

Evaluate Question Stem

“Which one of the following would be most useful to know in evaluating the argument?”

Evaluate Method

Identify flaw → Pick a question that helps you judge the strength of the argument
Evaluate Tip Answer is often phrased as a question and relates to flaw in reasoning

Paradox/Resolve Question Stem

“Which of the following, if true, helps explain the apparent contradiction?”

Resolve Method

Understand what makes the situation weird → Find an answer that explains the contradiction
Paradox Trap Answers that explain only one side or restate the issue without resolving

Parallel Reasoning Question Stem

“Which argument is most similar in reasoning structure?”

Parallel Method

Abstract the argument’s structure → Eliminate answers with mismatched logic or strength
Parallel Tip Diagram conditionals when present. Strength of conclusion must match.

Parallel Flaw Question Stem

“Which argument contains flawed reasoning most similar to the argument above?”

Parallel Flaw Method

Parallel Flaw Method Same as parallel, but flaw must match too (e.g. flawed negation, flawed causation)
Parallel Flaw Tip Abstract the flawed logic → Eliminate structurally similar but logically different answers

Point at Issue Question Stem

“James and Yardley disagree about which of the following?”

Point at Issue Method

Break down what each person believes → Find a statement where one says yes and the other no
Point at Issue Tip Both must have clear, opposing views. If only one has an opinion, it's not the answer