{"id":16921,"date":"2024-10-01T10:52:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T10:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=16921"},"modified":"2024-10-01T15:54:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T15:54:37","slug":"guide-to-lsat-logical-reasoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/lsat\/guide-to-lsat-logical-reasoning\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LSAT preparation is a tough process, and making the commitment is an impressive decision when you have a job or school or a million other things you could be doing. As far as the nerves are concerned, we are going to try and cut down on that anxiety in a couple of ways. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Logical Reasoning makes up about two-thirds of the LSAT and can make or break your score if you\u2019re not prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>[ RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/lsat\/top-4-tips-for-logical-reasoning-on-the-digital-lsat\/\">Top 4 Tips for Logical Reasoning on the Digital LSAT<\/a>\u00a0<strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Kaplan Method for Logical Reasoning features 4 steps for each question.<\/p>\n<p><div  style='height:15px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 1: Read the question stem<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Identify the question type so you know what to do.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 2: Untangle the stimulus<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Actively engage with the stimulus\u2013 you should be circling structural keywords for EVERY question, then applying the specific method for the question type. Be consistent!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 3: Predict the answer<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>You should be doing this whenever you can! This is the single biggest boost you can give to your Logical Reasoning performance. The exceptions: are inference questions (without formal logic), point-at-issue questions, and paradox questions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 4: Find the answer choice that matches<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Notice the fourth step doesn\u2019t say \u201cfind the answer choice\u201d, it says find the one that matches your prediction. Many students go as far as making a prediction and then don\u2019t use it, or forget about it after answer choice (A). Be tenacious! Hold on to your prediction, repeat it against every answer choice the same way. Reading answer choices can affect how you worded your prediction, so be strong. Don\u2019t let them change anything you pulled from the stimulus.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >LSAT Logical Reasoning Question Types and Strategies<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While having a strategy for each question is important, so is having a general strategy for each section. What&#8217;s the best strategy for Logical Reasoning? Skip questions! You need to get all the way to the last question in the section before the 35 minutes is done, because you need to make sure that you get to all of the questions you can definitely get right\u2013 don\u2019t miss something easy because you were getting in a battle with a question earlier in the section.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let&#8217;s look at the question types you will encounter in the Logical Reasoning sections. Knowing what question types are your strengths and weaknesses will help you determine which questions to tackle and which questions to skip.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Assumption<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evidence + <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: Inference vs. Assumption\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-inference-vs-assumption\/\">Assumption<\/a> = Conclusion is the bread and butter of LR. Remember to use keywords as well as critical thinking to locate the conclusion FIRST. Then ask \u201cwhy is the conclusion true?\u201d and identify the evidence, ignoring any filler or background. The assumption is what\u2019s missing, what the author takes for granted in drawing his\/her conclusion from the stated evidence. Remember to differentiate between\u00a0<a title=\"LSAT Formal Logic: Necessary vs. Sufficient\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-formal-logic-necessary-vs-sufficient\/\">Sufficient and Necessary<\/a> Assumption\u00a0questions.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Strengthen\/Weaken<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, we break the stimulus into conclusion and evidence, then predict the assumption. To <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen &amp; Weaken Questions\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-strengthen-weaken-questions\/\">strengthen<\/a> the argument, you must confirm the assumption in the correct answer choices\u2013 remember that you do not have to prove the conclusion is true, just make it more likely. For <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: Strengthen &amp; Weaken Questions\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-strengthen-weaken-questions\/\">weakening<\/a> questions, we deny the author\u2019s assumption in the correct answer and make the conclusion less likely (again, we don\u2019t have to disprove it). The biggest things to keep in mind are as follows: don\u2019t go outside the scope of the argument, and do not call evidence into question. On the LSAT, evidence is accepted as truth.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Flaw<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final assumption family question type is <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: Flaws &amp; Common Flaws\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-flaws-parallel-flaws\/\">flaw<\/a>. All we are doing is finding the conclusion and evidence in the stimulus and drawing out the flawed assumption the author makes. The biggest difference between a flaw and an assumption question is that the flaws are usually described in general terms in the answer choices, so remember that if the answer choices get confusing, try to lay out the specifics of the argument against the general description in the answer choice; if something doesn\u2019t fit, then it\u2019s not the right answer. Memorize the <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: Flaws &amp; Common Flaws\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-flaws-parallel-flaws\/\">common flaws<\/a>\u00a0you see\u00a0in all\u00a0assumption-based\u00a0questions.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Inference<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest question type that doesn\u2019t involve an argument-based stimulus. The biggest things to keep an eye on with <a title=\"LSAT Logical Reasoning: 5 Tips for Inferences\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/lsat\/lsat-logical-reasoning-5-tips-for-inferences\/\">inference<\/a> questions include remembering the stimulus is not an argument with conclusion and evidence, so we need to inventory the information in order to find the answer. The answer to a standard inference question is something that MUST BE TRUE based on the stimulus information, so for each answer choice you should ask one question: does it have to be true? Refer back to the stimulus as often as needed, and look out for formal logic.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Principle<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Principle questions can go one of three ways: most commonly, identify the principle, which means that we get a specific argument in the stimulus and a general principle in the answer choice. \u00a0We break down the specific argument (conclusion\/evidence\/assumption) and then look for a general version of the assumption in the answer choices. In the second sub-group, applying the principle, we see a general principle in the stimulus and specific situations in the answers. Pay specific attention to the question stem, since it can ask for a situation that follows OR violates the principle.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, we have parallel principle questions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These LSAT questions are pretty rare, and they incorporate both of the above activities; we get a specific argument in the stimulus and specific arguments in the answer choices. We need to find the argument in the answer choices that follow the same general principle as the stimulus. On any principle question, first identify where the principle is: answer choice, stimulus, or only pulled from an argument.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Method of Argument\/Role of a statement\/Point at Issue\/Main Point\/Paradox\/Parallel Reasoning<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The smaller question types are not, taken individually, as important to your score as the heavy hitters mentioned above, but together they still pack a punch. Make sure you are familiar with them and know what to do with each when you encounter them. A great resource to get good at this is through timed section work.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last '><div id=\"text-68\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"b09e45baf32bb094b1db7ecb7bbced76db6d5ddeedea46d11ddd040e8de23baa\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"text-69\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_text\">\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><span data-sumome-listbuilder-embed-id=\"47f64185b039c44474f0041fb26ab7c506845672b7ebef37d1d95bc82f27b02f\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LSAT preparation is a tough process, and making the commitment is an impressive decision when you have a job or school or a million other things you could be doing. As far as the nerves are concerned, we are going to try and cut down on that anxiety in a couple of ways. Logical Reasoning [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[25],"tags":[26,333],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16921"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47370,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921\/revisions\/47370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}