LSAT Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Strategies & Questions

LSAT

LSAT

Law School Admission Test, a standardized test administered for law school admissions.

except

A word used in some LSAT questions where all answer choices have a trait in common except one.

stimulus

The passage or information provided in an LSAT question.

premise

A statement or fact that serves as the basis for an argument.

Conclusion

The final decision or judgment made based on the premises in an argument.

Flaw Questions

LSAT questions that ask about logical errors within an argument.

Inference Questions

LSAT questions that ask what can be inferred based only on the given information.

Argument Method

LSAT questions that inquire about how an argument proceeds.

Paradox

LSAT questions that present seemingly contradictory information.

Parallel Reasoning

LSAT questions that require matching the reasoning in the stimulus with an answer choice.

Point at Issue

LSAT questions that focus on identifying disagreements or agreements between two perspectives.

Principle

LSAT questions that involve distilling an argument to a simple guiding principle.

Principle Questions

Present a principle in the stimulus, match to answer choice.

Role Questions

Focus on specific parts, identify their function.

Main Point Questions

Ask to describe the main point of the stimulus.

Mapping

Can be helpful for role questions, not necessary.

Premises vs. Conclusions

Words like 'therefore' introduce conclusions.

Intermediate Conclusions

Support another conclusion, concluded from premises.

Order of Reasoning

Does not always explain the argument's part.

Question Stem First

Tip 1: Read the question stem before the stimulus.

Pacing

Tip 2: Manage time effectively during the LSAT.

Annotating

Tip 4: Make notes on the stimulus for clarity.

Symbolism

Form of approximate expression in literature gaining meaning through convention

Comte

Believed symbols represent, not reproduce, blending infinite and finite

Symbolist Movement

Influential in French literature, employs conscious symbolism aware of itself

LSAT Interface Tools

Color-coded system for information types, aids in note generation

Connect the Dots Strategy

Summarize thoughts after reading text to identify patterns and connections

Tackling the Question

Answer questions based solely on text information, avoid outside knowledge

Conclusion Indicators

Thus

Therefore

Hence

Consequently

As a result

So

Accordingly

Clearly

Must be that

Shows that

Concludes that

Follows that

For this reason

Premise Indicators

Because

Since

For

For example

For the reason that

In that

Given that

As indicated by

Due to

Owing to

This can be seen from

We know this by

Subsidiary Conclusion

Intermediate conclusion supported by a premise, not the main conclusion

Main Point Questions LR

Find answer summarizing the overall conclusion of an argument

Describe Questions

Select answer accurately describing the reasoning in the stimulus

Anticipation

Try to anticipate the answer before looking at the choices

Question Type 1: Assumption Questions

Question Type 1: Assumption Questions (Premise and Conclusion)

Answering these questions will require you to understand the premise(s) and conclusion of the question stimulus. Sometimes, mapping the argument will help insufficient assumption questions, but it is not necessary.

Question Type 1: Assumption Questions (the correct answer)

Will link the premises to the conclusion, so it can be helpful to look for an answer that has a component of each. Incorrect answers will not justify the conclusion. They are oftentimes irrelevant to the argument overall or justify a conclusion other than the one stated in the stimulus.

Question Type 2: Strengthening/Weakening

For these questions, you're trying to make the conclusion more or less likely to be true. You do not need to completely invalidate or guarantee it. Be careful to stay within the scope of the question, and do not rely on external knowledge and assumptions.

What does the correct answer do in a strengthening question? (Question Type 2: Strengthening/Weakening)

Affirm or support a premise or assumption in the stimulus

What does the correct answer do in a weakening question? (Question Type 2: Strengthening/Weakening)

Undermine a premise or assumption in the stimulus

How should you choose the answer in a strengthening/weakening question? (Question Type 2: Strengthening/Weakening)

Select the answer choice that impacts the argument the most in the required direction

Question Type 3: Flaw Questions:

Flaw questions are asking about logical errors made within the argument.

Question Type 3: Flaw Questions: strategy

After understanding the argument in the stimulus, you can often predict the answer. If you did not immediately notice a flaw in the argument, or noticed more than one, evaluate the answer choices.

What is the distinguishing characteristic of a correct answer in Flaw Questions?

It will be an actual logical flaw that occurred in the argument.

What should the correct answer choice in Flaw Questions represent?

A logical flaw that actually occurred in the argument, not just a weakness.

What should the incorrect answer choices in Flaw Questions not be?

They should not be logical errors or errors that did not happen in the specific stimulus being discussed.

What do inference questions ask? Question Type 4: inference questions

Inference questions ask what can be inferred based ONLY on the information provided.

How are inference questions described? Question Type 4: inference questions

Inference questions are described as straightforward, though they're not always easy to answer.

What are correct answers to inference questions? Question Type 4: inference questions

True and supported by the information in the stimulus.

What are incorrect answers to inference questions? Question Type 4: inference questions

In contradiction to the stimulus, unsupported by the stimulus, or only a possibility based on the stimulus.

Question Type 5: Argument Method

Argument method questions inquire about how the argument proceeds.

Ask you to summarize the argument in the stimulus, understanding and naming the relationship between the premise(s) and the conclusion.

Question Type 5: Argument Method correct answer

The correct answer will accurately describe the argument in the stimulus.

If the correct answer choice is not immediately clear, compare each answer choice to the stimulus, evaluating it for consistency with the argument.

Question Type 5: Argument Method strategies

Pay special attention to the verbs in each answer choice, as they can be clear signals of what the answer choice posits.

→ Does the argument do what the answer choice suggests? If not, the answer choice is incorrect. This question type is evaluating your ability to distill arguments and understand the way arguments are formed.

Question Type 6: Paradox

Paradox questions present information that is seemingly at odds.

Look out for any contradictions, paradoxes, or discrepancies.

What should the correct answer choice do in a paradox question? Question Type 6: Paradox correct or incorrect answer

Remedy the concern and allow both components of the paradox to be true

What is the purpose of filtering through answer choices in a paradox question? Question Type 6: Paradox correct or incorrect answer

To find the answer choice that explains how both components of the paradox coexist

What do incorrect answer choices do in a paradox question? Question Type 6: Paradox correct or incorrect answer

They do not resolve the paradox or are inconsistent with one or both components

Question Type 7: Parallel Reasoning

Parallel reasoning questions are about matching.

You must match the stimulus with an answer choice.

What is a recommended strategy for approaching Parallel Reasoning questions? Question Type 7: Parallel Reasoning strategies

Try to understand the stimulus before evaluating the answer choice.

How can paraphrasing help in answering Parallel Reasoning questions? Question Type 7: Parallel Reasoning strategies

Paraphrasing the argument can help focus on how the argument advances.

Question Type 7: Parallel Reasoning correct answer

The correct answer choice will have an argument that posits a similar relationship between the premises and conclusion.

Question Type 8: Point at Issue

Understanding and naming disagreements and inconsistencies between two perspectives.

These questions present two people's arguments through two to three short responses. The question will task you with spotting a disagreement between their statements. Less frequently, you may be asked to note what they agree about.

Question Type 8: Point at Issue strategies

To answer this question, understand what each of the speakers is saying, and then refer to the answer choices.

Question Type 8: Point at Issue strategies disagreement question (correct answer)

each speaker will have an opinion on the matter, and their opinions will be in opposition.

Question Type 8: Point at Issue strategies disagreement question (incorrect answer)

If one or both speakers do not have an opinion on the matter or their opinions are not in opposition, the answer choice is incorrect.

Question Type 8: Point at Issue agreement questions

both speakers will have an opinion on the matter in the correct answer choice and their opinions will be consistent.

Question Type 9: Principle

You're distilling the argument to a simple guiding principle. Sometimes, principle questions will present a principle in the stimulus, and you'll be asked to identify a situation that conforms to that principle. The same concept of distilling and matching applies.

Question Type 9: Principle correct answer

match the circumstance/principle in the stimulus to the principle/circumstance in the answer choice.