A common
question type you will see for a logic game in the
logical reasoning section will be non-conditional questions. Non-conditional questions can be viewed as the opposite of
conditional questions and no new information will be set forth. So how do you tackle this question type? Well, since there is no new information you will have to depend on the information you already have as well as the inferences and diagrams you have already made. The question will either ask you for something that (1) must be true or (2) must be false/could be true. The former is straightforward, and you just need to find the answer choice that is always true, a good hint is to look at the inferences you already made. The latter is a bit more complicated. Here, you will have to play a game of elimination. Most likely you will have to check each rule given and see which answer choice violates a rule. Remember this general rule of thumb to differentiate the two non-conditional questions and you will save time on your approach and analysis.
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LSAT non conditional questions
You may have heard that there are various
types of questions for the logic games within the
logical reasoning section of the LSAT. But what are these types and how do you spot them? This week we will focus in on conditional questions. What is a
conditional question? It is usually one that adds in some new scenario using an if-statement. In order to tackle a conditional question, you usually will need to draw out a new diagram, as you have new information presented to you. The previous information you were originally given still does apply though, so make sure you incorporate the old with the new, unless the conditional question explicitly states not to. This question type is not hard to master at all and with a little practice can even become one of the easier question-types you face!
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LSAT conditional questions
This week we will focus on some general tips and tricks on how to attack the
reading comprehension portion of the LSAT. This section can seem intimidating as the passages are lengthy and the time is minimal- this makes your plan of attack even more important. First, read the questions that follow the passage. Just skim over the
stems so you know what you are looking for while reading. We will call this proactive reading. Now, while you are reading the passage do not just read- but understand. Highlight. Jot down key points and the author’s message. It is important to keep these brief and not include details, just find a specific process that works for you and stick to it. Once you have proactively read the passage, proceed to the questions. You know you properly grasped the passage and its contents when you find yourself being able to answer the general questions without having to refer to the passage. If this is something you do not feel like you can do, they you should go back and fix your way of approaching the passage. The only times you should really refer back to the passage is on the questions that provide you with additional information or facts. By keeping this method in mind and working on it until you perfect it, you will find yourself breezing through the reading comprehension section.
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This week we will review how to diagram an argument in the
logical reasoning section of the LSAT. You may have heard about
diagramming logic games, but how would you diagram logical reasoning arguments? Well, it is pretty simple, and it will go a long way to helping you get to the correct answer. There are three things to look for in your argument. First, find what the argument is claiming or concluding. This will generally be something that is backed by some sort of fact (data/evidence). Next, locate what the argument is conveying. This message will always be true and ties into the conclusion that you found in the first step. Finally, find the evidence. The evidence backs up the first two steps and does not necessarily have to be numbers or data, it could come in any form. While diagramming in logic games entails drawing it out, here it could differ. It may help you to make small bullets points when you first start thinking about logical reasoning questions in this 3-step process, but try to train yourself to do this in your head. By automatically jumping to locating these three points of the question, you will be able to break the information apart and organize it in a manner that will help you find the correct answer in the smallest frame of time. Check out
LawSchooli for some tips and examples.
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This week, we will focus on how to improve your time on the
analytical reasoning (logic games) section of the LSAT. You have probably heard the importance of diagramming, and improving your time ties back to improving your diagramming. If you need a refresher on diagramming, head to
The LSAT Trainer for some techniques and check out
Magoosh for some common rules that will help you diagram. Now, once you are caught up on the basics of diagramming, let’s bring you up to speed on how to be speedy. The first thing you should do once you have made your basic diagrams is make some inferences. What does this entail? Well, every fact given to you in the question is important so make note of it in your diagram and make it a new potential scenario. So, if the question says that X sits in the first seat and Y must sit next to X, then we know that Y has to sit in the second seat if he has a seat. So, make a note of this. There are usually 2-3 of these so look out for these “hidden” rules and make sure you include them in your diagram as the odds are that there will be a question about this “hidden” rule and this will save you 3-4 minutes easily. Imagine all the extra problems you can solve in that time!
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LSAT Prep,
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improve my time on the LSAT